Some sewing instructors, however, recommend waiting till your child is around 6 years of age before introducing them to a sewing machine. Prior to this, hand sewing is the best option. Because hand coordination is required for sewing, another indication of whether your child is ready can be based on hand-eye coordination.
Remember to start off any lesson on the sewing machine with a ‘safety talk’ so your child understands where to and not to put their hands. One possible way to start a child on a sewing machine is to allow the child to work the pedal, while you control the fabric. This will allow the child to feel a part of the process, without being scared of having fingers near the needle. Once more comfortable, you can allow your child to take over control of the fabric as well.
The ‘slowly’ tip also works for hand sewing. While kids can only sew as fast as their hands can move, there is no need to rush hand sewing. If it takes all day to sew a square — that’s okay. It is better that they feel good with their accomplishment rather than needing to make several corrections because they went too fast.
One exception to this ‘rule’ is to provide advice if your child wants to use a pattern that is really complicated (e. g. a shirt) or a fabric that is difficult to work with (e. g. velvet). You don’t want to set your child up for failure, so you may need to encourage an alternative in this situation.
As your child is sewing the same project again, suggest they change something up. Add a different feature, or a different colour combination, etc. One small and simple project can actually teach kids a large variety of sewing skills that will help them with every new project they take on.
Thick card stock paper may work, as well as the cardboard cereal boxes are made from. Instead of pinning the pattern to the fabric (as you would with the tissue paper), simply have your child trace the pattern onto the fabric with a fabric pencil. Cutting around a pinned pattern is not easy, even for more experienced sewers. Tracing the pattern directly onto the fabric will make it easier for your child to cut it out properly.
Demonstrate to your child how to lay out all the pattern pieces so you maximize your use of the fabric. Encourage them to do the same. Indicate that more projects can be made if less fabric is wasted!
Thicker thread could include the thread used for hand-quilting or upholstery. ‘Regular’ thread is quite thin and can tangle very easily. An embroidery needle — around size 5 — works best. The eye of this needle is easier to see and thread.
Attach the mesh to the cardboard using the stapler. You want the mesh to be approximately 1. 5” longer and wider than the cardboard frame. Pull the mesh taught over the cardboard so it’s not too flexible in the frame.
Once you show your toddler how to stitch, let them go at it however they want. Don’t worry about ‘normal’ sewing rules. If they want, you can use a marker to draw a pattern on the mesh for your toddler to follow.
Making a string of beads is incredibly simple. For the ‘string’ you can use plastic gimp, yarn, or thick thread. The beads can be any type that you find at a craft or fabric store. The younger the child, the bigger the beads should be. You can even use buttons instead of beads. Demonstrate how to put the beads on the string, then allow your toddler to take over. The resulting string of beads can be used for just about anything: bracelet, necklace, bookmark, keychain, etc.
For visualization purposes, you should be able to hold up the entire length of thread, with one end in each of your hands, and the needle should dangle in the very middle of the piece of thread. You can then bring the two ends together to tie the knot. The knot will be at the opposite end of where the needle will dangle.
One type of practice stitching could be to sew along the edge of the fabric, so make sure that at least one side of your scrap pieces line up to each other. If necessary, cut the fabric along one edge so it lines up. You may want to select fabric and thread that are two very different colours. This way your child can easily see the stitches made on the fabric.
The end result may be one or more sets of scrap fabric with all sorts of crazy and uneven stitches in them. But the point is to allow your child to get the hang of hand sewing with practice. Using this method will also allow your child to see improvement between each attempt.
The styrofoam plates stay stiff while kids are sewing, helping them get the hang of the stitches without getting frustrated with fabric. The styrofoam is also easy to poke a dull-ended needle through. For this type of practice you can use tapestry needles as they have large eyes and dull ends. This will help your child get use to threading a needle without accidentally poking themselves with the needle. You can start by having your child get use to pulling the needle in and out of the plate to make stitches. Then work from there and have them stitch straight lines or objects (e. g. stars, letters, flowers, etc. ). You can even draw the shape onto the plate with a pen first so your child has something to follow.
Once the two squares are cut, cut strips out of all four sides that will be 1” wide and 2. 5” long.
Complete knotting 3 of the 4 sides of the pillow case.
Note that ONLY fleece works for a project like this because the edges do not fray. The same method can be used to make blankets, seat covers, pet beds, etc.
These sheets have a variety of fun patterns like mazes and dot-to-dot patterns. The purpose is to teach your child how to control the sewing machine BEFORE you put thread in it.
Once your child has a handle on the straight-forward functions of the machine, use the patterns you printed to practice these various functions. All that is happening is that the paper is having tiny holes punched in it from the needle. No thread is being used. Use these practice sheets to show your child how to do a pivot stitch around a corner (where the needle stays down, but you turn the paper in a new direction).
It might be too early to demonstrate how to thread the machine and create a bobbin, so you may just want to do this on your own. Show your child how to line up the edge of the fabric with the edge of the lowered foot. This allows the stitching to be about ¼” from the edge of the fabric. If it helps, you can draw this line directly onto the fabric for your child to follow. Show your child how to lower the needle into the fabric before touching the pedal. You should instruct your child that the needle must always be all the way down before pressing the pedal. Practice pressing the pedal slowly and lightly to start the needle. Show them how to use the back button to do a backstitch over top of the forward stitches already in place. Practice anchoring the stitching by using the backstitch (which should always be done at the start and end of every line of stitching). Continue practicing along the edge of the fabric, including pivoting around corners. When finished a line of stitching, remember to anchor the end of the stitching. Demonstrate how to use the wheel to raise the needle all the way up, and then raise the foot off the fabric. Finally, show your child how to pull the fabric away from the machine and cut the thread.
The fabric and thread can be any colour your child wants — they don’t have to match!
Cut two pieces of fabric so they’re 2” by 9” in size. Sew the two buttons (which will be eyes) to the ‘right’ side of the end of one piece of fabric. The buttons should be between ⅜” to ½” from the edges of the fabric piece. Cut the red ribbon (which will be the tongue) so that it’s 1. 5” long. Cut a triangle out of one end so it looks like a forked snake tongue. You can cut the fabric and ribbon using scissors or a rotary tool. Pin the red ribbon to the ‘right’ side of the fabric, between the buttons. The flat end of the ribbon should line-up with the flat end of the piece of fabric, the forked end of the ribbon should point towards the other end of the fabric piece. (The tongue should not be hanging off the end of the fabric. ) Pin the two rectangular pieces of fabric together, with ‘right’ sides facing inwards.
Starting on one of the 9” sides of the fabric, sew a straight line from one end of the snake TOWARDS the end with the eyes. The stitches should be ¼” from the edge of the fabric (which should be easy to measure by aligning the edge of the foot with the edge of the fabric). Pivot around the corner and sew a straight line below where the eyes are (keep in mind you won’t be able to see the buttons, as they’ll be on the inside of the two pieces of fabric). This stitch should also anchor the red ribbon onto the fabric. Pivot around the second corner and sew a straight line down the second 9” edge. Remember to anchor your stitching with a backstitch at the beginning and end. Take the fabric off the sewing machine and cut and trim all the thread.
Turn the pieces of fabric so the ‘right’ sides are facing outwards. Use a stick to straighten out the corners (near the eyes) if you need to. The tail end of the snack should be open — fold the raw edges of the fabric inside at the tail end by at least a ¼”. Fill the snake with 3 tablespoons of plastic pellets. Use a funnel if you have to. Use a hand stitch to sew the tail end of the snack together so the pellets don’t fall out. Enjoy!
