Should I Buy a Child-Sized Sewing Machine for my Child?

One of the first things children do, especially little girls, is to imitate whatever Mommy is doing. If Mommy is cooking, they want to cook. If Mommy is vacuuming, they want to vacuum. If Mommy is sewing, they want to sew.

An adult’s first instinct when their child shows an interest in sewing is to think about getting a child size sewing machine for them.

If your child has already learned how to thread a needle, how to sew on a button, and maybe even how to do a few basic embroidery stitches, he is probably pestering you to let him use the sewing machine.

That six or seven year old looks pretty small to be sitting in front of your adult-sized sewing machine, but getting a child sized machine for them is usually not the best solution. Most online reviews of small sewing machines made especially for children are negative.

Some of the criticisms are that the machine is made of cheap plastic that tends to crack easily, especially when their small owners forget to put their machine away and it falls from a table to the floor and splits into two or more pieces.

Another frequently voiced comment is that the thread on the small sewing machines constantly breaks and jams, resulting in an unhappy child who may look back on their first sewing experiences as more frustrating than fun.

True, the price of a small, child-sized sewing machine is attractive. Usually less than $35, but if the machine does not perform well, the monetary saving is not worth much.

With a booster seat, even a very small child can learn to operate a regular sewing machine. An added perk is that his or her mother will feel more comfortable helping with the machine she is used to sewing on and, together, she and her child can create something they can be proud of.