My grand daughter started with a favorite scrap from my bag of scraps with a needle and thread. Later she wanted a cat blanket so I helped her sew it on my machine, set at lowest speed. She kept making little bags with long handles to wear over her shoulder... hand sewn. When she came to visit and we had time she would try a few seams on my machine. She is now using her mom's machine and still sewing bags she can wear over her shoulder. The latest one had a zigzag stitch to hold the fold over on the strap, she is creative and learning on her own. Next year she will be in home ec and they will tell her the proper way to do things, meanwhile we are letting her find her own voice and enjoy herself. I have a cousin who was taught at home ec and hates to sew because they didn't let her do anything her way. It's ok to experiment and enjoy the learning process. It doesn't have to be perfect, it has to be fun so they have a love for sewing. Need for Perfection attacks us all eventually.