Teach a Child To Sew

You can teach a child as young as six years old to sew with supervision.

1. Get a piece of regular ruled school paper.

2. Take all the thread from your machine including the bobbin.

3. Put the paper under the needle and drop pressure foot.

4. Simply have them sew the lines only (the needle will make holes). Do this until they can follow the lines exactly, or really close to it.

5. Draw slightly curved, long flowing lines on a blank piece of paper, not too many to a sheet. Have them sew the curved lines until they can follow them exactly.

6. Draw right angles on blank paper (you can use old paper sacks for this). This will teach the child to go right up to the corner, leave the needle down, pick up the presser foot, turn, put the presser foot back down, and sew the other side. Do this until it starts to get too easy and they get bored.

7. When you feel like they are ready, proceed to a piece of scrap material and draw the same lines.

8. Thread the machine (don't try to teach them that yet) and have them sew either a straight stitch on the line or a narrow zigzag (they can't go real fast or they can't follow the lines, and they have to pay attention). When they get bored, I change projects and leave this one as is until later.

These are the first basics I teach for those who have no idea how to use a machine or sew. It's very easy and if you sew, your boys and girls will adore this. After you get them comfortable with sewing, draw a simple outline of a picture and have them zigzag inside until it is as full as you want it. You'll have a simple picture you can cut out and applique or glue to something they like. I love to see their faces when they're through. Sorry I don't have a picture, everyone has taken theirs home.

Note: Please understand that children learn at different levels, so don't expect them to be the same. This has to be fun learning. Frustration in the child or adult will usually bring about a bad outcome.

By gbk from GA