Help, need ideas for first time projects for 7-9 yr olds b&g's wanting to learn how to sew. Must be having senior moment-brain not working-been working in yard and think I over did. Thanks Brenda

When I taught my grand daughter we started with a simple bag. It was easy sewing and something she could use.

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by brendaburgess 04 Apr 2011

I'm leaning toward this, also a way to use my stack of stitchouts to emblish their bags.

well I will offer my suggestion too, as I sew with my gd & I have done a bit of this too! We just recently made donut pin-cushions! Which she loved! I agree with many of the suggestions below too, as any young age, they have a shorter attention span, sew a couple of things to keep in mind: quick & easy & fun! With my gd I pick 3-4 projects to show her & then I let her pick her choice, then she can help go through the stash pile (I pick out ahead of time) & anything else reqired for said project. This way she is involved in the descision making process too!

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by brendaburgess 04 Apr 2011

Thanks, would not want them going into my stash(too big) will start pulling out today.

Some great suggestions, I like little bags. I started sewing when I was a little less than 5 years old and I started off hand stitching little bags to put stuff in. I am not sure why I can't remember if it was my mum or my granny that encouraged me. But simple little bags were a good start for me.

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by brendaburgess 02 Apr 2011

The first thing I made was a pin cushion and still use it some 50 plus years later.

Why not aprons with Mother's Day coming up? I did these with a couple of neighborhood children that wanted to learn to sew. They made one for their mom and both grandmas, and were thrilled to be able to give them something the children had made themselves.

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by brendaburgess 02 Apr 2011

Thank you will give this some thought.

Brenda, There is a really good tutorial on youtube for a tube pillowcase. I may have gotten the idea from this site--I'm not sure. But I watched it and used the idea to teach my granddaughters to sew by making one of these pillowcases for themselves. Then a week later we made a different one for each girl they had invited to a sleepover. They were a big hit and made my granddaughters excited about sewing. I think they would work for this age child because there are just straight seams involved and they don't take a long time to complete. Kathy

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by brendaburgess 02 Apr 2011

Kathy this sounds like fun, will check it out. Thanks

Just a thought - do you want them to sew by hand or machine. I think that hand skills should come first but you may not agree!

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by brendaburgess 02 Apr 2011

I'm thinking both, will have a few days with them.

I did a strip pillow with my grand daughters several yrs. ago. I had fabric from dresses I'd made them. They chose the ones they wanted, cut it into strips, sewed the strips together, then used that for the front of the pillow. Plain muslin back. I squared them off (they were fairly young at the time) and they pined & sewed them together. Before they started using the machine, I turned the speed down low, had drawn lines on paper, they used an unthreaded needle & practiced following the lines to get the feel of the machine. Those pillows are still on their beds...they did design an embroidery for the back with the date, etc. on it. They LOVE to use my program to design things to be embroidered. Good luck. Oh, if you have several kids, you may want to pre-cut the strips.

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by brendaburgess 02 Apr 2011

Gerry, I like this thanks.

I do a lot of this (and with much younger children). I try to encourage dexterity and creativity and try to choose projects which will give a good result in not too much time. We start with Binca fabric (large scale Aida) and 6 stands of embroidery floss. The do bookmarks with simple running stitch first, exploring the possibilities. Then I show them how to thread another colour through the stitches. After that they decide what to do for themselved. I've made tissue holders with a strip of 10 count Aida, pencil cases or totes with a stip of Binca. I teach the more proficient more stitches and the tote bag can turn into a sampler. Another idea is the design on squared paper and then transfer to thin sheets of coloured foam with a needle mounted in a wooden handle. The design can then be stitched. Some of my boys have made beautiful signs for their bedroom doors like this.
I could go on forever on this - I think it is really important to get children interested in crafts and skills which could easily die out.

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by brendaburgess 02 Apr 2011

This sounds good for the boys, thanks.

Hi Brenda,
I used to do a lot of Girl Scout troops beginner sewing classes, so understand your dilemma. For the 7-9 y/o group, I would keep it very simple and fairly quick for their first project.

Here are some ideas that might help:
1-small tote bag with different fabric (or denim) for b/g; or use purchased inexpensive totes and have them sew on a design (see #3 below)
2-small pillow
3-super easy (& my kids loved doing this) -- repurpose a tee shirt for them to wear... have each bring a tee shirt from home; have some sturdy patterns for them to cut shapes (like a guitar or a flower or an animal, etc) from fabric; then have them sew the cut out onto the tee. They even get to wear it home! :)

Here's a site that might give you more ideas and freebie patterns too:
http://www.freeneedle.com/

HTH
Marion in KY

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by spendlove 02 Apr 2011

That sounds like an entry for the April Challenge!

by brendaburgess 02 Apr 2011

Thanks Marion, checked this out got a couple of patterns.

If it is just a sewing project pillows work really well. They could choose the shape heart, round, their initial etc.

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by brendaburgess 02 Apr 2011

Thanks, this might be a way to use my stitch outs.

How about a small rag quilt? At this site you get step by step instructions, have a look at
http://www.lovetosew.com/raggedy9...

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by babsie 01 Apr 2011

Scroll down and look at the other pgs also, some good tips also. Hope it helps.

by brendaburgess 02 Apr 2011

Thanks, will see if I have enough material.