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!
LOVE this!!! I can remember doing these sheets when I learned to sew!!
For the past 2 years we have done small sewing projects with our Sparks and Brownies and they LOVED it!!! This has inspired me to spend more time teaching my daughter how to sew!!! Great idea to share something you love to do!!!
A fellow homeschooling mama just posted this page on our study groups, and I am THRILLED!!!! My daughter and I have been puttering around with sewing, and I even bought her a little machine for her fifth birthday last year. Never did I think to actually get her doing practice activities like the printables you have attached! THANK YOU!!!!
I love teaching kids to sew! Thanks for sharing.
I have helped my grandson (then 10ish) sew a pair of lounge pants (first project), but he wanted a pocket so he could wear them to school. He wore them so much, his step-mom had to wash then at night.
Then his sister (then 6) sewed an apron and potholder set for her mom for Christmas. Her mom still wears it every get-together. Brave soul-it’s red and yellow.
They both got bored with “learning” so we just jumped right in. The grandson was visiting his mother in Texas, and called to have me walk him through how to thread a sewing machine, long distance. So funny, but I tried.
I am an art teacher and after school I have an art club. Right now I have 6 girls in 4th and 5th grade who have been sewing with me for about a year, on and off. They love using the machine. They know how to thread and trouble shoot basic problems when it doesn’t sew. We have made several small projects such as tooth fairy pillow, cell phone purse, giraffe (sewn like a pillow) and now are finishing a patch quilt pillow. In the past I have made lounge pants and gym shorts using a patter (even taught them how to alter the pattern). I just love their energy to sew.
For those of you who had difficulties printing — give it some time to load — it will show up!
Great idea Ann S.
Wow! Thanks, this is so simple that who would have thought about it?
Thanks for sharing, my little grand daughter will be seeing soon and this is a great place to start!
-K
I made mittens and fingerless gloves with a bunch of kids during a “fun day” at our church. We traced the pattern onto fleece with a marker, then stitched on the line before cutting. A great first sewing project!
Great Job! I can’t wait to show my granddauters
I love this. Thank you so much. I have taught my children a little about sewing, but this will inspire me to do more. I love the dot-to-dot idea. Absolutely brilliant.
My granddaughter will turn 4 in June. She is already interested in winding/unwinding and cutting threads off bobbins (she calls them spools) with Nana’s ‘sharp scissors’ (oh my, with supervision of course) and calls that her ‘sewing.’ I can’t wait to get her started. I had (and still have) a red toy crank Singer machine that I got when I was about 5. I started sewing on my mom’s big Singer machine when I was 8. I read the manual and taught myself although had wonderful role models in my mom and grandmother.
I just starting teaching my 8 year old son how to sew. He has been making some “cage comforters” for the the Humane Society. So easy. I wish I had been able to find this on my pin board before I started, but he is still doing great. Maybe I will still print these off?
Thank you–my granddaughter ( 7) will be coming to visit an i want to teach her how to sew ;this will be very helpful
Thank you for your great sewing ideas. I gave my nine year old granddaughter a sewing machine last Christmas. I have been working with her every time we get together and your paper line templates will help. To my surprise her twelve year old brother was more interested then her so my friend donated her extra sewing machine to him. Thanks