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!
This is such a good idea! I can’t wait to do this with my 7 years old girls and maybe even my 5 years old son!!!!
Thank you for these posts! And the printouts. My daughter is getting a sewing machine from her grandpa for her 8th birthday next month and these will be good projects for her!!
Thank you so much for sharing this with us. What a smart idea to get them started. My daughter and I will be doing these today.
Thank you for these sheets. I have been looking for somthing to teach my 3and 5 year olds an easy way to stich a straight line. I grew up with my Mom and Grandma sewing and sort of just picked it up I have know idea where to start for such youngsters. I also voleneer at our local school teaching sewing (15year olds much easier than wee ones). I think these sheets will give the students the confidece to opperate a sewing machine. Thanks again.
Wow, this is so timely. I just bought a sewing machine for my 6 yr old son last week. Plus I’m teaching a scout troop to sew next month
Thank you very much for these activities. My daughters (7 and 5 years old) had a lot of fun while ‘sewing’ your sheets. They were very motivated and concentrated. Then, they tried to ‘write’ their names with the sewing machine, on paper, but it was a little bit too complicated!
Thank you! We’re doing this activity now, and my kids love it. My eight year old son looks adorable at the sewing machine!
Thank you! We’re doing these activities right now, and my kids love them.
These sheets are brilliant! I got a new, fancy Singer for Christmas and my daughter has been begging to learn to sew. Then my son also wanted a try. I’ll be using these sheets!
This year we bought a second machine so that I could teach my daughter age 10 how to sew. As I started my son age 10 was upset that he was not included. First, I again was faced with another way my children are different. My daughter is very artsy and wanted to CREATE but did not want the basics. My son has a beautiful straight stitch and took right to the basics and wants to make things (that look like the thing he intended it be). I is a blessing for me whenever I am able to slow down and help them sew.
I do not remember learning to sew, I was raised at the knee of both my mother and grandmother, who sewed all my early clothes. So, it was hard to find a starting point with my children.
I am a stay at home mom and was thinking that I may teach a few of the basics to a small number of my kid’s friends this summer to earn a little pin money. I love the idea of the print outs to help teaching control. I had the idea of setting a few projects up as the goal of the class, ie one class do a pillow case, another a tote bag, your post is encouraging me to go ahead with the idea.
Hello,
I teach children, teens & Adults sewing lessons locally, Buford, GA at Hobby Lobby. I was looking for some practice sheets like this for my students. These are awesome and I will incorporate these into my lesson plans. I will be posting some pictures at http://www.threadedfromheaven.blogspot.com soon. There are some pictures there of some of my students. I will stop back and let you know how they like the exercise. THANKS!
My 7 year old daughter has shown some interest in the sewing machine. My neighbor’s 5 year old son loves to run fabric with contrasting thread through as fast as he can. Maybe he’d be interested in a real project. My sewing machine has a feature where I don’t have to use the pedal; it can all be done on the front of the machine. I hadn’t even thought about short little legs, so I will teach them how to do this sans pedal. I’ll practice too – my straight lines aren’t so straight. 😛
Wonderful printables! And so timely! I have my sewing machine out doing some stuff this week, and my boys have been begging me to let them “sew” something. I’ve been a little “skeered” of how exactly to go about that, but these will be perfect for them!
this is wonderful!! thanks so much for the printables!!
My 7 year old has been begging me to teach her how to use my machine. We started with some of the American Girl hand sewing projects but I can’t wait for her to try your “practice” sheets out! What a great idea! We will defiantly be following along!
Thanks so much for doing this~