If you’re a Mom who feels like there’s just not enough hours in the day to accomplish everything that needs to be done, I hear ya! Life is crazy busy and it’s difficult to just get the day-to-day tasks done to keep little ones alive and healthy. Does your little one constantly ask to be allowed to use Mom’s sewing machine? Who can blame them! These amazing machines are so fun and fascinating for little ones to watch, I totally understand why they want to be a part of the fun too! However, having a child use a regular sewing machine can be a bit dangerous as well as just too much for them to handle. If they have an interest in learning to sew, encourage them in that skill! This guide will help you find a kids sewing machine that’s designed specifically for them.
Finding A Sewing Machine For Kids
Researching and finding the right kids sewing machine for your child can be a rather daunting task but don’t worry! We are here to help eliminate the frustration and stress for you. After all, you’ve got a few other things to take care of, right?
The biggest thing you want to consider when purchasing a kids sewing machine is safety. You don’t want to risk them sewing their fingers into the fabric or anything traumatizing like that! It’s also important to find a machine that is lightweight, easy to operate, and will allow them to sew at their own speed so they don’t feel overwhelmed or discourage. Ideally, you want a machine that protects them while still giving them the ability to learn, practice and improve at their new skill. I know, this seems like a tall order, but I promise that it can be done!
5 Things To Look For In A Kids Sewing Machine
Pedal or Push Button
This is one of the major ones, because it’s largely governed by the skill level of your child and which option they’re more comfortable with. If your child struggles with coordination, you might want to have them use the push button model. Using the pedal to control the machine and their hands to feed the fabric through is ideal as this is of course the way normal machines are built, but you want them to use something they’ll feel comfortable with.
One of my personal favorites is the [easyazon_link identifier=”B00EA08MWE” locale=”US” tag=”sewingmac05b5-20″]Janome Fast Lane Fuschia[/easyazon_link]. It’s lightweight and portable, and comes in a wide variety of vibrant colors. Let your child choose their favorite color and have a blast experimenting with the 10 different stitch options that come pre-programmed! Pretty nifty.
This is obviously related to the pedal or push button decision. It’s really important that your child be able to control how fast they’re sewing. Typically, this is easier with a push button model but some kids don’t want to use that because they want the pedal like you use! Use your judgement in this, or have them experiment carefully with the pedal to see how well they’re able to operate it.
Threading
Well, the kids aren’t alone in this – threading the needle is a pain and something that takes a lot of people time to master. It can be discouraging for a child if they can’t figure out how to thread a needle, especially because they’re likely to be doing it very often as they will be doing many small projects as opposed to larger projects that take more time. Find a machine that has a self threading feature or makes it very simple for them. Personally, I think a simplified threader is easiest so the child still learns how to do it.
The [easyazon_link identifier=”B0012PTMAG” locale=”US” tag=”sewingmac05b5-20″]Janome Hello Kity[/easyazon_link] is a great example of this! The machine requires the user to thread their own needle but it’s simple and easy to figure out. Your child won’t have any problem memorizing the steps to thread this machine!
Stitch Options
Okay, this is probably the least important of the four we’ve mentioned so far. All you need is a machine with a few different stitch patterns so that your child has some variety to work with. They won’t make a huge difference in them learning to sew, nor will they restrict the type of projects your kid wants to do. Don’t spend a lot of extra money investing in a machine with tons of stitch options.
At the end of the day, you want to find a kids sewing machine that will offer your child the ability to work on the projects he or she has interest in doing. Consider their age and skill level when you’re shopping and seek to find a machine that will not only meet their current needs but also allow them to use the machine for a little while down the line.