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If you want to teach your kids to sew, the best time to begin is when they start to show an interest, whether that is at 4, 10, 16, or older. If it’s their idea, you’ll have more success.
When your child is ready to learn, you need to keep the process fun so they stay motivated. Here are some tips for teaching them to sew.
Let Them Use a Real Sewing Machine
I’m sure you’ve seen those mini, toy sewing machines on the market…
They are a joke.
If you really want to teach your kids to sew, get them a REAL machine that can handle more than two layers of cotton fabric.
There are plenty of beginner sewing machines on the market that won’t break the bank.
Kids don’t need a ton of fancy stitches or special features when they’re learning to sew. They can upgrade to a better sewing machine when they have proven they’ll actually use it.
Of course, if you already own a sewing machine, you could let your child use it. Personally, I am very protective of my machine — it cost a lot of money and I don’t want to take the chance of my son turning the handwheel the wrong direction, messing with the tension, or damaging it in any other way…
You should also get your kids their own sewing kit… Check out my Checklist of Items to Include in a Beginner Sewing Toolkit.
Teach Sewing Safety Rules from the Beginning
Sewing isn’t super dangerous, but your kids will be working with sharp objects and machinery. That means some sewing safety rules should be set in place.
Read: Sewing Safety Rules: 8 Tips to Avoid Injury While You Sew
Start by teaching your child how to handle scissors and other sharp objects. Then talk about where to place their fingers while they sew.
Kids should always be supervised whenever they are using a sewing machine, especially when they are just learning. They have a tendency to try and sew faster than they should, and this can cause injuries.
Read: 3 Exceptional Products that Make Sewing Safer
Choose Age-Appropriate Sewing Projects
Anyone can learn to sew — even very young kids. You can buy lace-up cards to start them off with hand sewing. The important thing is that you choose age-appropriate sewing projects for your kids.
Jenny from Everything’s Famtastic said, “I have 3 children (aged 12, 9, and 7) and all have shown an interest in sewing. Obviously, I have to pick and choose what projects or tasks they can perform before they sit down in front of the machine. For example, my 12 year old has made scrunchies, cushion covers, and cute stuffed toys with just a few technique tips and me hovering in the background. Whereas my 7 year old is great at pinning or unpinning but I have yet to sit him down at the machine itself for more than a few moments. I think it is important that children are invited into choosing the sewing project (or designing their own!) and the fabrics. Giving them the chance to participate even at the planning stage makes it more fun for them, increases the chance of them actually caring enough to complete the project. and gives them even more personal satisfaction when they’re done. My tips would be: involve your kids in the decision-making, take it slowly, be patient and tolerant of mistakes, and stay cool.”
Let your kids make the choices when it comes to their learning. Let them be creative. That’s what makes sewing fun.
Don’t Insist on Perfection and Take It Slow
All beginners make mistakes — that’s just part of the learning process. They will get better at sewing with more practice. Instead of insisting on perfection, focus on helping your kids learn one new sewing skill at a time. Start with straight sewing and then add in simple things like pockets, zippers, buttons, etc.
Also, don’t do any of the sewing for your kids. They can easily get in the habit of reserving the hard steps for you. If they don’t try, they won’t learn.
Older kids should learn how to read sewing patterns, too. When I was young, I got in the habit of having my mom explain every step to me. This wasn’t good because I didn’t really learn to read patterns on my own until my mom wasn’t always available.
Good luck on this new sewing adventure with your kids. I hope you have success!
Do you have any other tips to share for teaching kids to sew? Share them in the comments below.
Also Read: 4 Important Things to Remember When You’re Learning to Sew
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