I was just wondering how many of you taught your kids or other kids how to quilt.

I just started a couple of months ago, and am totally hooked. I have a 12 1/2 year old granddaughter who has taken sewing in school. She even got an "A". I would like to get her interested in quilting.

How did you start?

I have taught children as young as 5 to use a sewing machine and hand sew. Usually the first project is a tote bag and then a pair of shorts and then a simple quilt. the other projects are 5/8" seams that are easier to guide the fabric and then they can move to "more advanced" sewing 1/4" seams. I hope this helps.

I taught my granddaughters to sew and they made their first quilt together when they were 8 and 10. It was a lot of fun and they love it!

I have 4 girls in the after school program (high school students, had 8 girl scouts working on their sewing badge,and two grandsons - 3 & 6, who love to sew with Mimi!

I taught my granddaughter when she was 6 she loves to sew. I don't see her very often because she lives so far away but recently she made cabbage patch doll dresses. She completed a quilt with charm squares and her daddy helped her tie it.
A couple of my boys would embroider when they were 8 or 9. They also took home ec and sewed in there.

I'm teaching my daughter who is 11 and she is enjoying it!

I used to teach kids how to sew at the quilt shop I worked at. One of their favorite things was for me to be the sewing cop. I would give them tickets for speeding, taking illegals turns, not stopping in time etc. They thought that was hillarious. To teach them to sew a straight line we would take the machine with no thread and an old needle and they would sew down the lines on notebook paper. It was amazing by the end of the sheet how straight they could sew. We never had to repeat that exercise. It is rewarding to teach them, they are so excited to finish a first project. I've had boys and girls and the boys love it just as much and are probably even prouder!

I used to teach quilting in 4-H, but gave it up around the time my youngest turned 3 or 4. Kayla is almost 11 now, and is more comfortable running the longarm than she is piecing. Maybe she'll quilt first, then take up piecing. I don't know why that can't be her path to this obsession!

Well I guess quilting will go on, and on. With all of these children growing up and teaching more people.

I really like the idea of a sewing cop. Before my granddaughter took sewing in school she asked me if she could use my machine to see how it worked. I wouldn't let her speed, made sure all of the threads were cut, etc. After her class was over and she got her report card, she told me the teacher had the same rules.

Now she is wrapped up in the computer. She likes writing stories, which is good also.

She has Friday off, so will be here all day. I have 2 sewing machines sitting side by side. I am going to see if she will sew, but I don't want to force it on her.

My DGD is learning from me. She started on a Janome Sew Mini and has graduated to a regular machine. She will be seven next month. She has been watching me since she was four. When I sew I push my glasses up on the top of my head because I don't need them to sew. The first time she used her machine she got her sunglasses and pushed them up on her head. Just like me. I laughed til I cried.

I have taught quilting in 4-H and the kids really enjoyed it. Had several who had their project in the county fair. Two of my older girls had quilts in our local quilt show and one boy of 10 yrs old had a wall quilt in the show. I was in charge of the quilt show and added two youth categories just so they could enter their projects. That was about 10 yrs ago, and the categories are still listed.

I've taught my gr-grandson to make quilts also. He is only with me for a month each summer. I think he has three quilts in the making. Maybe this summer he will at least one of them finished.

Haven't had the opportunity yet...we have 5 boys between us..not one has produced offspring. We almost fell off our chairs when last night the middle one called by and said he and his lovely girl may think about having a family in the next 5 years. Not one of the boys was interested in anything domestic, aside from cooking, my husband can sew (he does curtains etc. not quilts), so I am hoping, (before I fall off the perch) a small person may eventuate!

my 12 year old is making a quilt

master 17 designed 2 quilts when he was 9 and 12

eldest daughter pieced a dozen quilts when she was 12/13

my 12 year old is making a quilt

master 17 designed 2 quilts when he was 9 and 12

eldest daughter pieced a dozen quilts when she was 12/13

all 3 of my granddaughter's started sewing with me when they were young, the youngest was 4 when her daddy was deployed the first time to the middle east,she came to me with her little box of fabrics and said "i have to make my daddy a quilt from me...i picked her up a little singer machine, a little carebear table just her size and she was off and sewing in no time. when it was time to quilt it we turned a dresser on it's side for her to stand on and she quilted it on the long arm...she is 9 now and i think she has made 5 different quilts. and even before she started she was already a 'fabriholic'...my daughter used to call me complaining that any time they entered any store that sold fabric little miss amanda would insist on a piece (usually a fat quarter) it finally just became normal to always have to buy her 1 piece of fabric every time, so she already had a stash when she was 4, and boy oh boy, did i ever get 'told' one time when i helped myself to a peice of her fabric...(although mine is free game:))
the other 2 girls sew too but more purses, skirts, fun stuff, and the middle one loves embroidery and does a beautiful job (she started at 9 and is 13 now) but that youngest one, she is going to be a quilter extraordinare!

i learned to sew in 4-h when i was 8...
and my son and nephew took it up pretty young too

This is so funny. My Home Ec teacher had us practice on notebook paper too, and was always pointing out that someone was speeding. Your post brought back fond memories
:wink: :wink: :wink:

You should let her post a picture of something she has made. She would probably get a kick out being the "star".

I worked with 3 granddaughters, current ages are 13 ( Alexis), 16 (Taylor) and 17 (Cori), and bought each an inexpensive sewing machine. I paid for them to take beginning quilting classes, as at the time, I was mostly a fashion/home dec sewer. This was more than 6 years ago. Cori is the only one who still likes to sew but does it rarely. Alex is interested if she can sew with Cori (her cousin); however, she is on a travel softball team and has little time. Taylor (Alex's sister) has no interest. I think Cori will return to sewing later in life, as she really does have a talent. We are going to be making a new quilt for her room together so that may help jog her interest again. My only daughter (Cori's Mom) had no interest in learning to sew or cook as a youngster. Still doesn't and her husband is the chef in the family. He's good, too!

I spent time teaching my 2 grandsons who are homeschooled to use the sewing machine last Christmas. They both loved learning how to use the machine. The 1/4 seams were the biggest challenge, the 10 year old did well. The 7 year old (with an autistic spectrum disorder) loved using the machine, but quickly lost interest when it came to careful measurements.

This Christmas we will take up where we left off since it is their special thing to do with Grammy when I visit. It isn't easy when Grammy lives on the other side of the ocean.

Another 4-H er here. Learned in 4-H and from a mom who was the granddaughter of a tailor. Spent many hours with 4-H'ers and have lots of fond memories. Now time to teach the grands. At my DD now; brought my machine and GD and GS had fun last night pushing the pedal to the metal--they are 7 and 5. Also got lessons in safety, etc.

our guild teaches 18 8th graders every year. They are so much fun. they have to do a lottery for the kids to take the class and when they get picked you know they want to be there. We do the rail fence pattern 4 blocks across by 6 down with borders it about 54x68 a good size...

I worked with "homeschoolers" and we made raggedy throws. They were 9-12 yrs. and did a great job.

The last time my grandaughter was here, she was helping me tie a quilt. She doesn't live close, and I wish I could teach her more.

My granddaughter(6 1/2) loves to help me sew. At first she was small enough to sit in my lap, now I have to let her sit down and lean in. I love it.

the boys love the sewing machine LOL we had alot of trouble with speeding also....peddle to the meddle LOL

I just had to reply to this post. Just last month, I started teaching my neighbor's daughter, she's 8, to sew. It was so much fun!! I started her off with 2 Irish chain blocks that I had left over from a previous quilt. She made a tote bag. Here are a couple of pictures, she was so proud of herself

CJC, aren't you sweet for teaching your little neighbor. Her tote bag turned out great. I think you might have a new best friend. You'll have to tell her you posted her picture so all of us could see how well she sews. :-D

I've taught one daughter and two grandaughters. One 9 yr old DGD took the Lewis and Clark BOM class that I taught at Hancock's. She did all the stitching when she came over to my house. I helped her to put it together as a quillow earlier this year. My youngest DD and her friend did the class {4-5 yrs ago} also, but have yet to sew their blocks together. My DD did take some of her stash home with her the last time she came. She always teased me about my stash, but during the time she worked at Hancock's her stash was bigger than mine. She has made purses, diaper bags, and now plans on making sundresses etc for her 20 month old. Both DGD go with me to my Quilt group and work on projects mostly when school is out. They are 14 and 9 now, but started when they were 9 and 4. I'm already working on both youngest DGD that are 20mo and 21mo. I keep the 21mo during the week while Mom and Dad work. She likes to sit on my lap watching all the pictures on the board, and playing in my sewing room. She has her own shelf, although she wants to help me sew.

I took her to my LQS last Saturday..OMG.. It was too cute. She is the oldest of 4 ..the other 2 girls are 6 and 3 and she has a 11 month old baby brother. I take turns taking the 3 girls to do something special. It's so much fun.

We don't have any children of our own, so we are doubly blessed that we have those in our lives.

Years ago we had elderly (HA, they were in their 50's LOL)neighbors. They were both career people, no children. I was 11 at the time and I dearly loved this couple as if they were my grandparents. Anyway, I would go visit them every evening when they got home from work (they assured me I wasn't a pest) to talk with them. They liked having a martini before dinner, so in quick order I learned how to make the perfect martini :!: When they were ready to make dinner I would go home just to come back when it was time to do dishes. I helped them every night, and yet my mother could never get me to help at home. It just seemed like more fun at their house.
Anyway, I guess I was their "adopted daughter".

I think teaching your neighbor how to sew is a much more practical idea :-D :-D :-D

My DGD is only 9 months old so I have to wait a while to teach her. I have taught children to sew. They have to be tall enough for their feet to reach the floor, or rest on a small stool. I think my youngest was 8.

I have taught children in 4H, and girl scouts, and in a homeschool program. It has always been a blast!
The homeschool experience was part of a pioneer unit, and the children had to learn hand sewing, rather than machine. They loved making something they could take home and hang on their walls. Anyway, I lost count of the number of children.
It has included my girls, so maybe someday I will get to teach their children, too. (If the girls don't beat me to it! :lol: )

my oldest dd had no interest in anything to do with sewing in any form, but my youngest dd 16 1/2 has been sewing for a few years with me, and my ddil is quilting with me too...

it really is a good time when we are all in the studio together...

First I taught 3 10yr old grands. Two girls, one boy. Then a 7yr old grandson with a full cast on his right arm. From there to his second grade class to make a Linus Project quilt. Now teaching needle turn applique' to a 25 yr old granddaughter. Started them all with 4 patches. Luv it !

I was able to home school my youngest son, he is now 24 but he tried to start a kids quilt block exchange when he was about 8 but we could not get anyone to really do this. He did make about 12 blocks that he sent to kids that were suppose to sent blocks back to him but they never did so he lost interest.

Good news is, he can sew.

i sure try to teach my boys i have tree i am just learning to so its a fun way to spend time with them in my avatar is my 14yr old he loves to sew makes lots of pillows....but i was told i could not put this pic on facebook so i used it here so he don't see lol

Does my 34 yr.old count since she is my kid? No other kids around here to teach. We are out in the country and the kids are too busy with sports and such anyway.

Janet, Your message really resonates with me too. We were babysitting this young lad who was five years old while his grandmother took some courses. His bus dropped him off at our house that he recognized because we have a full-size teepee in the front. We always told the neighborhood children that we were a "safe house" and that we were the retired old folks living there. One day this young fellow asked me if I would sew his jacket that his mother (who was stationed in Korea) had sent him. He also told me that his grandmother did not sew, and that he always saw me quilting. I checked with his grandmother (I didn't want to step on her toes) who was delighted that I would do this.

He brought over his jacket and I mended it for him after which he asked what was I planning to cook that night. You get so much from these youngsters who are so bright and notice everything. When his grandmother asked him about us, his reply was priceless! He said that we were okay but that we didn't have any games on our computer!

:lol: You can be sure we did not, because that five-year-old knew how to double-click the mouse and get into our business applications.

I am planning on teaching my 9 year old niece. We don't have any children. I think she would enjoy it.

I've taught my DGD to quilt. She has autism and lives with me. Quilting has been a Godsend for her, and so many of her austic traits have been an asset to her learning and actual construction. We began with hand piecing when she was 10. The first time she sat down to the machine to sew two pieces of a quilt, she was hooked!!!!!!!! She is 16 now and "designs" her own blocks. I am anxious for summer so we can work on PP and more complicated designs. The quilting has also helped with her math skills (which are very very difficult for her).