Has anybody tried to let a 4-5 year old sew on a newer machine on the slowest speed? My granddaughter is very creative but I'm not sure she's coordinated enough yet. I would start with slow straight stitches, maybe on paper first so she could learn to guide it. Need to figure out how to make the pedal reach her too or teach her the stop/go button.

My 5 y/o greatgranddaughter wouldn't sit still to do this. Her 8 y/o sister got a sewing machine last Cmas from her Daddy's mama. They brought it here once and I opened the box. She sat and listened very carefully and all I did I had her do the same and she followed exactly. Lots of difference between the 2 children. They have not come to visit in a long time. Her mother can sew but says she has no time anymore. All the girls in my family has sewn on a machine but none seem to like it and besides I am too handy to fix their needs. I quit trying. Good luck and yes, the paper route is best way to go for her to get the feel of trying to follow straight lines and curvy lines. That is what I had tried to do in the past with 4H students. Get them to know the machine first and what each thing does-where to put their hands etc. Some kind of stand for the foot unless you can get an adjustable table that goes up or down with notches. Good luck, she sounds very interested.

Great ideas, thank you all for your input!

I truly believe you will know best! I think she could help - on your lap - maybe with her hands on top of your hands. She sounds like my granddaughter who is 9 now and has sewn pillowcases with just a little help from me. It is such fun to have a grand who is interested in crafting!! Hugs!

I was 7 when my mother put me on her lap to learn to use the machine. It had a knee lever and I wasn't strong enough to use it. I loved guiding the fabric, using the markings to keep it straight. I'm so glad she took the time and effort to teach me how to use a sewing machine, how to lay out patterns and by the time i was 9 I could match checks and plaids. Kudos to your granddaughter to have a goal to learn to sew and kudos to you for wanting to help her safely meet her goal.

When my grands were 7 I downloaded some stitching files that had straight to wavy lines and taught them to go slow. They were younger when I supervised embroidery sewing on my lap

I would strongly encourage her! I let both my granddaughters at that age, sit on my lap and I controlled the speed and kept my hand only an inch or so from theirs. They did quite well and were very proud when they created a doll blanket

No. The yongest has been 7. The challenge has been coordinating fingers and feet, both speed and position, but also sudden lack of interest (looking at something else och a sound distrubing). I have had to jump several times to avoid risks. In school, they are about 12-13 before they use sewing machines, but of course there is not personal enough to have one/one guidance... On the other hand, just allowing them to sit there and get started is an important step, even if "nothing" comes out of it....

Being in control is most important because even 'us' the expieranced sewer can do stupid things like reaching into the needle while running and get caught!!! A slow speed doesn't change this LOL

I,m guessing her feet don't reach the floor.Find a box or something to put the pedal which is height is comfortable while sitting on the sewing chair.Maybe you put the machine on a child size table for her & you supervise from the sideline..

My grandson at a earlier age enjoyed sitting on my knee and operating my embroidery machine. As he was on my knee I was in full control of the machine. If you used the same method you would be in control of the foot pedal and would be deciding the speed. Have fun

1 comment

by sewmom 12 Jun 2022

Good idea. Thank you!