Teach Kids to Sew
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For a while I it has been one of my goals to teach kids to sew. Occasionally, I will pick up books on the subject and file it away. Somehow, life gets in the way and I have not quite gotten around to creating a course. I am talking with a small quilt shop about doing some teaching in the future ~ possibly that will include kids, too. For now, I got nuthin’.
All is not lost. Since I don’t have much to offer you in this area I thought I’d look into books on the subject and find one that I could recommend. That way, you can still teach a child to sew this summer.
There is a brand new book on this subject which I really recommend. Creative Kids Complete Photo Guide to Sewing starts with the absolute basics of stitching ~ hand stitching ~ then, gradually introduces skills and techniques to get kids sewing in a safe way. Where kids and sewing are concerned I am ultra-cautious because sewing machines, pins, needles, scissors, and seam rippers can be dangerous for little ones. I appreciate a book that takes this seriously and makes a point to stress safety.
Here’s why I like this book:
- The book is well written and uses excellent photos to show a child how to sew. I think a sharp 10 year old could navigate this book alone and learn to sew. (although I really recommend having an experienced sewist teaching a child to sew)
- The first two projects are hand sewing projects. It’s a great way to learn how to handle needles, thread, and fabric.
- The sewing machine is introduced carefully.
- The first machine stitching is on paper with no thread. The first machine project is on card stock and uses decorative stitches.
- The projects included in the book are useful things a child would want to use.
- There are three garment projects in the book.
- The Appendix is full of colorful photos alongside useful information.
- There are templates in the back for all of the projects.
- It includes imperial and metric measurements.
Each of the projects in the book list the sewing skills used to make it and the projects are rated for difficulty. There is always a box at the beginning of the project that says: You Already Know and beneath that, a box that says: You Will Learn. If your student didn’t quite master something in the previous lesson, go back and perfect the skill before moving forward.
That way, kids will learn and grow as they develop dexterity and coordination. A child will learn to sew by making simple projects that build skills by practicing the essentials.
The book is written by Janith Bergeron and Christine Ecker who founded The Sewing Tree (in New Hampshire) which teaches sewing to kids, teens, and adults. I like that they are experienced at teaching kids to sew which means their projects are tested for both likability and safety.
I’ve looked at several books on teaching kids to sew and I highly recommend Creative Kids Complete Guide to Sewing as a way to safely introduce kids to the world of sewing. While not a flashy book on sewing, it handles all of the basics in an easy-to-follow format that I believe will bring results. Even an adult with very limited sewing skills could open this book and teach (while learning herself) sewing to a child.
If you don’t feel like you have the teaching skills or patience to teach a child to sew, then Craftsy has a solution. Their Craftsy Membership is family friendly and dedicated to teaching new crafts and skills. This is an ideal do-it-together way to share your passions with the next generation.
So, brush off your superhero cape and share your ninja sewing talent with the next generation!
