Sewing machines NOT to buy!

If a child in your life wants to make their very first quilt, they’re going to need a sewing machine. It can be tempting to buy the very cheapest machine you can find. After all, you don’t even know if they’re going to like quilting! When it comes to sewing machines, though, quality matters. You don’t want your child so frustrated by sewing machine problems that they can’t even work on their quilt.

Poor quality sewing machines don’t have the power needed to make a quilt; the needle simply won’t go through the layers of fabric. They’re too small to maneuver the quilt, and the thread will often break or get jammed. They also often have problems with the tension, resulting in weak seams that will come apart in the wash. A good quality sewing machine, on the other hand, easily stitches through the three layers of the quilt, is designed with enough space for larger projects like quilts, and feeds the thread through smoothly for continuous, strong, stitches.

Here are five types of sewing machines NOT to buy.

A toy sewing machine might be cute, and it might even come pre-threaded, but it’s not meant for real sewing. It’s great for imaginative play for younger kids, but a kid who wants to sew a quilt they can snuggle under will be very disappointed. These are usually under $25.

For informational purposes only, the link to this machine is here, though we do NOT recommend this machine for making a quilt.

A battery operated machine sounds good (who wouldn’t want to sew under a tree in the backyard?), but these machines don’t have the power to go through the layers of fabric needed to make a quilt. Accurate seams are difficult, and the machine is made with plastic parts which break easily. They’re also very small, making it impossible to fit the fabric pieces of a quilt through the throat space. These machines are usually under $30.

For informational purposes only, the link to this machine is here, though we do NOT recommend this machine for making a quilt.

Shaped like staplers, handheld sewing machines are meant for emergency mending jobs and can not handle quilt making. Because one hand is needed to hold the machine, accurate, straight seams are impossible. Uneven stitches, crooked seams, and frustration are all this machine will cause. These machines are usually under $20.

For informational purposes only, the link to this machine is here, though we do NOT recommend this machine for making a quilt.

Compact sewing machines look more like regular sewing machines, but they’re smaller and more lightweight. Like portable sewing machines, they don’t have the power for quilt making and can’t accommodate the size of a quilt. These machines are often poorly made and break easily. Typically priced under $75, these machines will quickly cause frustration when sewing a quilt.

For informational purposes only, the link to this machine is here, though we do NOT recommend this machine for making a quilt.

When you want a good quality tool, it’s best to stick to reputable, established brands. Sewing machines by unknown brands are often cheaper quality and unreliable. The major sewing machine brands all make beginner models that can handle the size and thickness of a quilt. Sewing machine brands that we DO recommend are Brother, Singer, Pfaff, Janome, Baby Lock, Bernina, Juki, Necchi, Husqvarna Viking, Elna, and EverSewn. If it is any other brand, then it’s likely to be a poor quality machine that will cause more frustration than joy. Non-brand name machines are usually priced under $100.

For informational purposes only, the link to this machine is here, though we do NOT recommend this machine for making a quilt.

As tempting as it is to buy a super-cheap sewing machine as a test to see if your child will even enjoy quilting, that only sets them up for frustration and failure. If you want them to succeed, invest in a sewing machine that can get the job done and give them a positive first experience with quilting. 

You can always purchase a used machine on Facebook Marketplace or at a secondhand store, or you can borrow a sewing machine from a friend! A good quality sewing machine doesn’t have to cost a fortune, though! Check out THIS POST for the five best sewing machines for kids – all under $300!