Kids Learning To Sew: a Teacher’s Perspective
Teaching kids to sew is a bit different than teaching adults, and even different than teens. Since I teach both, I’ve noticed even the language I use to explain things can be quite different. Part of this has to do with kids haven’t the life experiences and knowledge base we assume adults have. Young children may not have fully grasped what fractions are, so when we say 1/4 inch seam allowance, that means very little. Most of the terms we use in sewing a brand new to kids, and many of the concepts are abstract. Kids also need more practice to get the hang of each technique.
To give you an example: I have student who takes private classes from me. She’s 7. After learning to thread her machine, wind a bobbin, and sew on paper. She practiced on scraps. Then she made a skirt, a simple elastic waist skirt. She made skirts for all her friends, about 3 or 4 in all. Then she made a skirt for her teacher. This was over a few weeks.
For her next project she made a drawstring backpack, using my pattern. Her sister joined this class and made one, too. Her sister is 11 or 12 and had no prior sewing time. Being older, she needed a lot less practice to understand and sew the seam allowance and do the skills required. What a difference a few years makes. Both their bags were great. The bags weren’t perfectly sewn, but they did them all by themselves and now can do it over and over to perfect their skills.
My 7 year old student then worked on pj pants over 3-4 lessons. There was a new skill she was learning–the crotch seam, which is tricky to keep flat and sew that seam allowance accurately. She was also learning to use pattern. She did it all, with me there to guide and explain when needed.
To make her lessons fun, at the end, I would have her make a quick little something. A mini tote bag with a ribbon for the handle and a fabric headband with elastic in the back were two of them. This helped her to be patient while she had her WIP sitting unfinished. They always want to get it finished, but hurrying sometimes means they don’t finish it well. In between lessons, she would make headbands and little bags, because she could. Doing this helps her to practice as well.
It’s important to make sure your students are ready for the next level — before moving them into it. Age does matters and individual skills are the determining factor. How well can they sew along the seam allowance, or do they still get confused over which direction to move the fabric to get back on track?
For these reasons, it’s super important to have kids sew the same thing a bunch of times before moving on to a more challenging level and before adding another element. Doing so will build his or her confidence, and avoid frustration and disappointment. Your job as the teacher is to foster success, guide them to succeed.
I have my students make several projects that utilize the same skills. For example, I have them make a pillowcase, tote bag, and other simple straight line sewing projects. While sewing these, they are learning to control speed, guide their sewing, proper hand position, and pivoting. They also are learning to secure their stitches, press seams, and trim corners. This is a lot to take in. In the beginning, everything’s new, so that’s a lot of new skills to be learning. It’s vital that they learn to do all these things well, before moving to other projects. Practice, practice, practice.
Quite frequently, I have parents and students telling me they want to sew project X, because it’s what they want to sew and not because they’re ready to move into sewing more challenging stuff. So how do you help a student stay interested in the simple projects?
Have a variety of projects:
One key to helping them stay at the level 1 or beginning level projects is to have a lot to choose from that are cool. For my Kid’s Beginning Sewing classes and my Teen Sewing 101 classes, I give the students about 6-7 projects to choose from. Some of the projects I bring and have my students choose from are: cross body bags, pillowcases, drawstring backpacks, elastic waist skirts, infinity scarfs (light weight cotton ones, not knit), headbands, tote bags, pillowcase dress or tunic, and mug-rugs without binding. These projects only require very basic skills.
I also choose patterns and projects that are forgiving when the seam allowances are not followed accurately.
Let them do it:
It’s important to allow the child to sew it all by themselves. Once you’ve given them the tools and explanation, then step back a bit. They need to learn through doing. They need to make their own mistakes. They will learn more when they make an error.
Observe, don’t judge:
When I notice things not going well, I may ask the student to stop. Once she stops sewing, I can talk to her (not sew for her). I will tell her what she is doing correctly or nicely first, such as I really like your hand position, or you are doing really well at controlling your speed, nice work. Then without correcting, I will say what I am noticing or observing, so she can see it without feeling judged. I will say something like, I notice your getting off the seam allowance a bit. You may want to move the fabric a little to get back on track. Or offer a way for her to do this, reminding her of the guides, pointing to the throat plate.
It’s her project:
Since it’s her project, I allow her to make the choices. If things go wrong, I offer her the choice of ripping out wonky stitches or leaving them. I allow her to choose to finish the seams or not. It only matters if she is happy with it. Note: if something is drastically wrong, then I will offer: I’m afraid these stitches should come out, to make sure you can fit the elastic in (or drawstring or some other vital component).
Sew it again:
It’s important to encourage them to sew the same pattern or project more than once. The more they do something, the better they will become. When they learn to ride a two wheeler, they have to do it over and over, before they are able to do it well. Not just once, right? You wouldn’t expect they read a chapter book after reading Dr. Suess once or twice? So have them sew it again. I ask them if they have someone they would like to make it for and give gifts. They love that idea.
I also have several projects that utilize the same skills-this way the project isn’t exactly the same, but it is like sewing the same project twice.
Tell them why!
If the students know the purpose behind something, they are more likely to want to do it.
Make it fun!
Add a patch pocket or trim to make the project different. There are many straight-stitching ways to make the project different and a bit more fun. Make patchwork fabric, then use that to sew up a tote. Advanced beginners can sew a zipper into a bag. This is a great way to learn a new skill. The Runaround Bag pattern is a favorite for my beginning students.
Finish it:
Top stitching and seam finishing are 2 more techniques to learn without moving to a level before they are ready. In the very beginning, control is the main skill they need to learn: control speed, control direction, and learn to stay on a seam allowance line. This indeed takes the student’s sewing to the next level.
Make it work:
If your student has done several beginning projects and wants to sew something out of reach, then find a similar project that is within her reach. Or modify it to be within her skill set or it’s adding just one additional skill. Use your knowledge to help them achieve it– keep the student progressing and interested.
Don’t hold the students back, but don’t push them forward prematurely either. It can backfire and not help to build their confidence.
I am going to start a “Kids Learning to Sew” series for both kids teaching themselves and for teachers teaching kids. If you search any or all of those key words, you’ll be able to check them all out. I hope you found this first post in this series helpful. It’s nice to be with help. I am always looking for ways to learn more about sewing and teaching kids to sew.
Feel free to contact me with questions or for specific help–or post a question in the comments 🙂