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
I would love to keep you fully stocked with creative ideas, yummy recipes, fun crafts, and loads of free printables. Subscribe to Skip to my Lou to get new ideas delivered to your inbox. Follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram for all my latest updates.
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!
Thank you! My 18 year old already knows how to sew. We decided we’d teach my 11 and 8 year old how to sew this spring break. Your sheets and guidance will be a tremendous help!! Wonderful!
My 8year daughter and I will be following…. I just got my first Machine and she has been wanting to learn with me, but didnt know how to start…… she is gonna love this Thanks…
What a clever way to teach a child to sew! I love it! My 10yr old son has asked me to show him how to sew and I wasn’t quite sure where to begin. Until now. Thank you! I look forward to the future postings in this series. 🙂
What a great project!! I want to learn to sew and just received a singer from a friend who had to move out of the country. I am so excited. I have been pinning so many ideas on Pinterest but since a I am going at this alone, I have not been brave enough to actually get started. I am so glad you are doing this. I will print out your worksheets and see if one of my boys will want to join me. You knows, maybe I can inspire the next Tommy Hilfiger. 🙂
This is awesome and came at just the right time since my 8 yr old is going to have a term break coming up and I’ve been looking for activities for her to do. She’s been begging to sew on my machine and she’s done it a few times but not actually complete a project on her on. I have a friend with 2 girls and we can actually set up our own sewing camp!
Connie, Just start slowly with her. Let her sit on your lap and you push the pedal and let her guide the fabric or paper (if you are doing the sewing sheets). Then start letting her use the pedal. I would give it go!
this is fabulous!!! love those dot sheets, never seen anything like that before!
thanks for this! it is a great idea, my datter has thought a Janome mini sewingmachine to her birthday, we will try it!
greetings from denmark ulrike
Ooo, I’m having flashbacks to my home ec class when I was 13. We had to sew various shapes on paper, including a few circles before getting our licence to sew. Thanks for the memories! It’s a few years before I’ll do this with my kids, by I hope I remember when the time is right!
Love this. How old do you think a child should be before learning to use a sewing machine? I have a 6 yr old that wants to but I’m afraid to let her try it yet. She hands sews pretty well.
Fantastic idea…I just know my daughter will be so eager to give this a go…I think my son may like to have a go too. Thanks we are looking forward to this series.
This is incredible! Bella is one lucky girl to have you for her mom! This is such a great idea, Cindy. Can we send our sewing projects to Bella now?! 😉 Can’t wait to see what she makes!
I am estatic to have found this post! My girls are 6 and 8 and have been wanting to learn to sew every since I got my sewing machine for Christmas this December (we now have two – 1 for me and one for them). I’m looking forward to all of the good stuff on this site. Oh, and Bella looks about as estatic as I feel. 🙂
Love this! Just printed off a few sewing sheets for my grandaughter. I’m curious, what age would you recommend for these classes? Also, can you recommend any sewing machines for kids to use. I’m not sure I’m ready for her to get all comfortable with my really nice machine. A sewing machine might make a really nice birthday present for her.
My daughter will love this. She needs to gain confidence in sewing. Yours is one of my very favorite blogs. I pin and link all the time. Thank you for such a valuable resource.