There’s a lot to love about creative hobbies — they’re fun, productive, and give us a finished product we can be proud of. They’re often a quick favourite of kids, who get excited about learning new skills and bringing their ideas to life. In this post we’ll discuss the benefits of sewing for kids, PLUS share a simple children’s first sewing project to get them started.
When it comes to creative hobbies that are perfect for the whole family, sewing is high on the list; yes, even for boys! Sewing is a practical life skill, and it also has cognitive, emotional, and educational draws that make it a great choice for a rainy day activity or their time spent at the arts and crafts table.
Let’s take a closer look at why sewing is great, and then discover an easy, inexpensive sewing project that’s perfect for beginners!
The Benefits of Sewing for Kids
It encourages the use of critical thinking and math skills
As children first begin to sew, they may just practise their skills on scraps. Once they’ve mastered the basics and are ready to start following patterns, measuring and cutting their fabric comes into play — these are basic math skills, and their use encourages cognitive development! When they’re ready to plan projects of their own, they’ll be using critical thinking, planning, and logic.
It’s a mindful hobby
Hands-on hobbies that demand both physical and visual focus tend to be mindful and meditative. As savvy seamstress and mindful mum Natalie Grant of the Crafty Needle notes, “Sewing provides kids with a way to clear their head if they’re feeling upset, anxious, angry, or sad; even if they’re not actively upset, they may find themselves processing their thoughts and emotions in a clearer, more deliberate way.”
Mindfulness is associated with reductions in stress, anxiety, and depression.
It’s beginner-friendly and good for younger children
A children’s first sewing project that uses basic running stitches is often so easy that younger children can handle them without a problem. By 5 or 6, many children can handle the use of a larger needle like an embroidery needle, especially after they’ve watched you work. Fabric like felt that’s easy for needles to penetrate helps to make beginner projects even easier.
An added bonus of sewing for younger children: it can help to refine small motor skills!
A Children’s First Sewing Project: Felt Purse
You’ll Need:
Felt (two shades)
Embroidery floss
Standard thread
Scissors
Pen
Salad plate
4 straight pins
Embroidery needle
Standard needle
Button
Purchase Your Felt
Craft felt can be found for sale at just about every arts and crafts store, and is sold in squares or per yard. While squares make things easier, they’re often more expensive, especially if multiple children will be doing the project. One 9” x 12” piece is required for each purse.
Plan and Cut
Taking your 9×12 inch felt square, fold the narrower edge up toward the top, leaving an inch of overhang. Secure the fabric with straight pins.
As seen here, place the salad plate over the project, leaving the corners of the overhang exposed. Use scissors or a rotary cutter and mat to trim these rounded corners, creating a decorative flap.
Choosing Your Needle and Thread
It’s important to use both the right needle and thread for the project in order to ensure success. To stitch up the sides of the purse, embroidery thread should be used; a contrasting colour will add a fun pop to the design. Perle cotton thread or standard embroidery floss separated into two or three strands is ideal.
Choose an embroidery needle with a sharp point, rather than a plastic yarn needle or blunt steel needle. Larger tapestry needles also work.
Time To Sew
Thread the needle by passing the thread through its eye, leaving two or three inches of loose hanging thread. Tie a knot at the end of the longer portion of thread in order to create an anchor; a video tutorial is available here.
Start the stitch inside the bottom edge of one side of the bag, pulling the thread through til it’s taut, securing and hiding the knot. Begin a 1/8th inch running stitch up the side of the bag, until the flap is reached.To tie off the thread, slip it under a stitch to create a loop, and slip the needle through the loop to create a knot. Repeat this once more and then trim the thread.
Repeat the process for the other side.
The Button and Buttonhole
Measure the diameter of your button and lightly mark a space for the buttonhole on the flap. Use a small, sharp scissors to make the cut. No stitching is needed.
Fold over the flap and make a tiny dot in the centre of the buttonhole for proper button placement. Place the button and attach via sewing through the centre holes, tying the thread off inside the pouch.
Decorate The Bag
Simple accents like these fun felt flowers can easily be added with regular sewing thread, and braided embroidery floss, yarn, or ribbon can easily be attached for a carrying strap!
Why not share this children’s first sewing project with your child and reap the benefits of sewing for children today!
Author bio
I’m Neve from Wetheparents, a veteran preschool teacher, child development research nerd, and the mother of three wild kiddos. When I’m testing the limits of lack of sleep, I’m turning our kitchen into a craft cave or science lab!
Pattern photo created by master1305 – www.freepik.com
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