5 Reasons Not to Use a Toy Sewing Machine
When I was a kid I remember getting my very first sewing machine. A lovely little pink toy sewing machine. I sewed up a quick straight seam but saw that the stitches were too loose, and the ends not secure. I couldn’t figure out where the other missing buttons and levers were. The little toy sewing machine sat in the corner never to be used again.
Fast forward to today, after teaching sewing to children for the past 12 years, one of the most repeated questions that I get asked is, “Should my child’s first sewing machine be a Toy sewing machine?”. Thinking back to my childhood, my answer to this is question is always a resounding, “No!”, and here are 5 reasons why.
They are plastic and not heavy duty and don’t offer much stability.
Their small size is not ideal for sewing medium to larger projects.
They have a tiny foot pedal that doesn’t sit well under the foot and does not offer secure control.
They often don’t have a backstitch feature, making it difficult to lock in thread ends. They also often only include one straight stitch mode.
Threads often get jammed and problems often occur, which can frustrate any new learner or experienced sewist alike.
My best advice is to teach children safety and proper use and give them real tools that are good quality. Children will surprise you on how they will learn to use a full sized sewing machine with respect, care and confidence and how they will build on their skills with their machine over time.
Once I tell parents this, their next question is, “how do I know if my child is ready to use a full sized sewing machine?”. Generally I recommend that if a child can sit comfortably in a chair and reach the foot pedal with ease, clearly see what they’re working on, and they are roughly around the age of 9-10 then they may likely be ready to use a sewing machine. However, keep in mind that every child is different and you know your child best. I find that any younger than this age, and children require a lot of one-on-one support and a lot of guidance.
All in all, although a toy sewing machine may seem like a great idea and a safer way for younger kids to practice learning how to sew, from personal experience, it really only results in a frustrating experience with poor sewing results. It may be best to wait until your child is ready, and try out some other fun hand sewing projects in the meantime.
Happy Sewing!
Miss Eva
Want to get started in hand or machine sewing for kids and families and create your own one of a kind handmade goodies? Learn more about our online sewing classes here:
