Teaching kids to sew is easier than you think, even if you don’t sew yourself. Sewing is a skill that can bring loads of joy and personal satisfaction—a huge confidence builder for sure! From practice sheets to beginner projects, learning to sew can be fun. These ideas will help you get started!
Learning To Sew!
A couple of weeks ago Bella, my 7 year old daughter, spent the night at a friend’s house. This little friend had received a sewing machine for Christmas.
The mom said that well past 10:00 p.m. she could hear the hum of the machine in the basement. The little girls were creating “clothes” for their dolls out of little pieces of fabric and simple straight stitches. Sure, they weren’t perfect, and some might not even qualify as clothes, but they were having fun and being creative—how wonderful!
My friend, assuming that since I sew and have this crafty blog, that I, of course, had taken the time to teach my daughter. She said to Bella, “I bet you sew at home.” Bella replied, “No, my mom is too busy!” OH MY, shot to the heart!
While her response was a bit embarrassing (mostly sad), it was also eye-opening! I knew what I needed (wanted) to do!
Passing on the Gift of Sewing
Sewing is something that I love and I am beyond thankful that my mom took the time to share it with me. It has not only has brought me hours of joy. It has also been a practical skill that has served me well. Thank you, mom!
I want to pass this gift forward. So today, I begin a little sewing adventure with Bella. I don’t want to miss this opportunity to share something with her that is so important and useful to me!
To make it fun and stress free, I have created several beginning sewing projects for us, and I hope you and your young crafter will join us in this learning adventure. Please show us what you are making, and give us ideas of things to make!
We would love to hear your tips and stories, and please feel free to ask questions! I do sincerely hope that you will share this special time with us. So grab a kid and let’s get stitching! It is easy to have a sewing class right at home.
Teaching Children to Sew (Worksheets)
First, even before we wound the bobbin and threaded the machine, was have some fun. I printed out a maze and dot-to-dot so Bella could practice handling the machine. Then we situated her at the table and I showed her how to use the foot pedal and bring the needle down.
These sheets really help improve working in a straight line, lining up the needle, and they provide practice with changing direction and feeding the material in smoothly. You might also like these inspirational practice sewing sheets.
Bella loved the dot-to-dot and trying out new stitches around the maze. Both these activities helped her learn to make the machine stop and go, to stitch straight and make a pivot stitch. The practice sheets are a great idea for low-stress, basic sewing experience. If you mess up a stitch, there’s no pressure, and no need to cut the thread or start over.
As she practiced, Bella became an expert at lowering the needle down into the paper and raising the presser foot to turn a corner and make a pivot. Notice her complete concentration.
Do you remember the first time you sat with your mother or grandmother and learned to sew? How about the first time you tried threading a needle and pushing the needle through the fabric? I can still remember the pincushion and sewing supplies my mom had stashed away. These are memories that last a lifetime. You are creating wonderful memories!
She thought it was funny what shape the dot-to-dot made. Shhhhh, we can’t tell! Oh how I have loved teaching her to sew.
Here are the sheets we used if you would like to have some fun! Download and print using the fit-to-page mode. Print as many copies as you need to, and watch your little one refine their skills.
Dot-to-Dot Sewing Sheet
Maze Sewing Sheet
We have more practice sewing sheets: Free Printable Practice Sewing Sheets
My Favorite Sewing Tools
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Sewing Projects for Kids
Finally, I want to leave you with some resources to check out! We have so many easy sewing projects to help your children develop their sewing skills. From toys and ornaments to pillows and functional projects, something in this list is sure to spark inspiration.
- Drawstring Backpack
- Teddy Bear
- Easy Tote Bag
- Bookmark
- Kids headband
- Doll Dress
- Hanging rainbow cloud
- Hedge Hog Ornament
- Carrot Pencil Holder
- Pillow
- Towel Swim Bag
- DIY I Spy Bag
- Sling Library Bag
- Zipper Pouch ~ this is a bit more advanced but you will be surprised at how easy it is to put a zipper in.
Tell us what you and your kids liked the most. What projects have you tried? Are there other cute ideas for introductory machine sewing that you have discovered? Please share your sewing tips for teaching kids in the comments!
I’ve been teaching my friend to sew, she is having a hard time with sewing a straight line, I’m going to print these of for her to practice! I’m also going to print off the maze to practice on my treadle!
Yay for this series! There has been a request that we do a ‘sewing camp’ for our family this year. This will be so helpful for me getting my act together and planning it! They want to do a yoga camp, too, so if you have any other bright ideas… Thank you.
Thanks so much for doing this, my girls and I are learning together how to sew. Iam really looking forward to these posts.
As a first project, my 5 year old grandson and I made a small embroidered pillow for Valentines day. He picked the colors of thread, learned to start and stop the embroidery and snip the thread. I stitched it together and he stuffed it. Our next project will be in-the-hoop bunnies. I will let him try these stitching diagrams but I’m not sure how he will reach the foot pedal. I hope you will also have boy friendly projects.
Chelle, we were using regular copy paper and no thread and didn’t have problems. It didn’t seem to bother our machine. You might just try stitching a little bit and see how your machine reacts before doing the whole maze or dot to dot. Listen to make sure it sounds as it does when you are normally sewing.
Astreia, I just printed the sheets on regular copy paper and it worked great. We were not using any thread. If you wanted to use thread I would use cardstock and possibly a heavier needle.
What a fantastic idea! My daughtter took a recent interest when she saw me at my sewing machine and I had no idea where to start. I’m looking foward to trying out this activity w/her and see how it goes.
Thanks for the dot to dot sheet! I’ve never seen anything so cool and useful for teaching. I used the maze sheet in 4-H when I was learning to sew. We also had a circular one. I’m looking forward to teaching my daughters to sew, just like my mom and grandmother did for me.
Do you think this needs to be printed on cardstock or will regular paper be fine?
This is perfect! My daughter (also Bella) has a Hello Kitty sewing machine and has been begging me to learn how to sew. I’m no expert, I think these sheets will help me out too!
I LOVE this idea, but I’m concerned about sewing on paper with my machine. Should we use a special needle? I just messed up my old machine by sewing on paper (scrapbooking), that is why I ask.
These are so cute!! What a great idea!
wow, this is FANTASTIC! i never learned to sew and i really wish i did. THANK you for doing this!! i have a daughter (she’s 1) but i hope that she will learn my passion for crafting and eventually sewing! i’m taking notes – keep the posts coming!
Let me know how they go!
Let me know how it goes Sara!