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!
My mom taught me to sew doll clothes. I love sewing, but mostly I like small projects, especially mending. There’s something about laying down beautiful strips of fabric and taking a pair of scissors to them that just cuts me to the heart. Sigh. I have taught my cousin how to sew a skirt, and I have created lacing cards for sewing practice for my toddler. I used her baby shower cards, laminated them and used a giant-size hole puncher, then collected shoelaces and drawstrings for the lacing.
I just love these. My daughter really wants to learn how to sew, and I think this would be perfect for her to learn out to maneuver the sewing machine that I have. I am a novice sewer myself, so as crazy as it sounds, it might be helpful for me to learn how to create straight lines as well! Haha! Thank you for your blog and for providing the sheets. I am sure she will have a blast doing them!
I cannot get the sheets to print? Thank you.
I just came across this post looking for simple sewing projects for my son (4) who has just discovered another machine he is interested in: the sewing machine. He liked the activity so much, was so concentrated and happy when he finally reached the “heart”. Thanks for sharing.
I could not get printables to print. Any suggestions.
I have just started teaching my 6-year-old granddaughter how to sew. These sewing sheets are brilliant! Thanks so much!
Please help! I can’t get the sewing sheets to print! Thank you so much!
I’m starting to teach my granddaughters to sew and would like to use these sheets, but I can’t seem to find a place to print them. Help?
Thank you for this !! My 9 yr old granddaughter asked for a sewing machine for Christmas after watching me sew. I decided to get her a real sewing machine instead of a toy so she took it seriously and didn’t think it was just a play thing. We started out by sewing the lines on lined paper and she is doing remarkably well and almost all the lines were straight, the Dot to Dot and Maze sheets will help teach her to square off and to do curves!! I am so excited about this I can’t wait until our next lesson.
I too have search this site and can not find the printable versions, free or for purchase. Please help. Thank you.
wow, so smart and useful, your templates give a kid an easy way to understand how the machine works, thank you! thanks to you i realised that teaching sewing should be like teaching writing – first tracing, then nest steps. thanx a lot!
I can’t seem how to figure out how to get the printable sheets. I bought a sewing machine for my granddaughter for Christmas. Help please.
Thanks,
Renee
891-602-6984
Thank you for these wonderful work sheets. I too learned to sew by just watching my mother. My granddaughters love to create and play in my sewing room. My 8 yr old really loves to sew, cook and create everything. She has already outgrown the beginner’s machine and is asking for a real machine like grandma’s. She is begging to learn to serge now and use the felting machine. Her only problem is that her stitch still isn’t straight enough for her satisfaction. These worksheets will help I think. They are more fun than the ones I’ve drawn for her.
Where can you find copies of the maze, etc to learn to use the sewing mating.
What project would you suggest for an 11 yr old?
Thanks
I just purchased a Singer Simple sewing machine for my 8-yr-old daughter who loves art. She’s had numerous art kits and fashion design sets, but I never even thought of teaching her to sew until recently when she excitedly showed me a pillow that she that she stitched together with yarn in her after-school class. When she brought home the second pillow, I asked her if she would be interested in getting a sewing machine, and her eyes lit up when she answered yes! I intend to give her the machine for Christmas (I start shopping early), and I wanted to search for some kid-friendly resources ahead of time. I am so glad I found your site among a couple others. Excellent information, and it looks like so much fun! I never learned to sew, especially after the one outfit I created back in home ec turned out so hideous–I can’t wait to learn this skill with her. Thank you!