If you look up the old "Samplers" from the 1700's on up, you'll find that they were made by children learning to sew and read at the same time. 4 isn't too young to learn to sew - may be very uneven stitches, but go for it. Teach him to embroider. I taught my son when he was about 6 to embroider.

I keep a quilt on a frame most all the time. When my out of town GD and GS come to visit, the first thing they want to do is QUILT! I started by letting them pull the needle through the quilt with several stitches on it. I explained how to keep the needle threaded, and now how to make tiny stitches. They both really enjoy it and of course, the proud Granny just loves it. They are now seven and four, and are quite good. The bonus for me, is that they can both THREAD THE NEEDLE for me.

You might want to check out a machine with a start/stop button on the machine itself - to be used with a finger!

I have a Brother that I love, and it has that feature.

Wow, that is just awesome. I'd love to see that little quilt that Dad still carries with him.

I have taught children to sew. I usually start out with paper that I draw lines on. Take the thread out of machine and help them learn to sew on the lines.

When my Grandson was 8 he would sit on the couch between my legs and sew. I'd put my hands on top of his and 'help' guide the fabric through the needle. I DO NOT let him use the rotary cutter, but he does pin the fabric together. He also went shopping in Grandma's quilt room to find fabrics for his dinosauer quilt. Nothing feels so good as having your Grandchild interact with something you love to do. That's what memories are made of.

I'd get a dark piece of felt, drawing sewing lines on it using a white marker, get a darning needle and yarn and some buttons with big holes and have him sew the buttons on and sew along the lines. He will see progress and maybe you can make something to include his handywork on.

was browsing for my own patterns and found these cards for sale ! sewing cards.

http://patchworksewingbasket.com/index.php?pages_id=7

gave my GD those printed cards with holes punched in them. They use a big plastic needle and yarn. We worked on them over and over and she got the hang of it, along with alot of knots but she felt like she was sewing. Now shes almost 9 and I gave her a small machine last year for her birthday.

I let my grandchildren use the featherweights. They love to quilt with grandma. They have been sitting on our knees when we quilt from the time they were born. 3 already enter their projects into the fall fair. 9 years old and younger. The 17 year old sewed when he was smaller but would sooner be outside now then sewing.

I let my grandchildren use the featherweights. They love to quilt with grandma. They have been sitting on our knees when we quilt from the time they were born. 3 already enter their projects into the fall fair. 9 years old and younger. The 17 year old sewed when he was smaller but would sooner be outside now then sewing.

I started my son out with making small pillows.At first I cut them out and he later began cutting them out in different shapes.I have aften wished I had kept at least one of these.He was about 4 years old.

I have to keep the grandkids out of my sewing room.They say its just the coolest room they have ever seen.

What a sweet story--it brought tears to my eyes. Thanks so much for sharing it. I should have referenced what I was talking about--but it is the little girl who made the quilt for her daddy. Grandma, you had a lot of wisdom and patience on that.

Thanks for all the suggestions. We just spent 45 minutes of him sewing on felt pieces with a fairly dull needlw with a large hole. He was able to thread the needle and also follow along a drawn line with a running stitch. He was so proud of himself. He can't wait to show mommy what he did at grandma's. I have him for the whole day every other thursday. This will stop when he goes to Kindergarden next fall, but he loves going to all his grandmas. He has three.

I taught 3 of my grandchildren to sew on a machine, they were ages 9 and 7. They started out sewing on paper napkins. I made them all learn how to thread the machine correctly because I knew I wouldn't always be there to help them.

At 4, threading the machine might be a challenge, but if the child wants to learn something, he or she CAN master it eventually. :D
ETA: My son and I devised a finger guard so the kids wouldn't sew over their fingers. It was fairly simple, was done with copper wire.

Pins got the name 'Pokies' due to my kids and grandkids working with real pins and needles.

I started one of my kids out at 6 and one at 3 and have also been working with my grandkids beginning at 3 to operate a machine. I have helped them draw a pattern on newsprint for an apron, pin it and cut it out. Then, we work on the machine to sew it. Usually I have them stand in front of me (this way they can reach the pedal and operate the sewing machine) while I help them with my hands also on some part of the fabric as they guide it through. They all have tired somewhat quickly. So, I try not to be in a rush to get our project done. Also, I have used notebook paper to draw lines on and have them follow the lines with the machine without it being threaded. Pivoting with needle down is one of the things I show them and then let them practice on the notebook paper. I love doing this. And they do also!!!!

OK Grandma, he wants to sew, let him but make sure its something he can take pride in showing off - not just a piece of fabric.
Boys like treasures, so lets make him a little drawstring bag that he can put all his tiny treasures in (marbles, hot wheel cars, little army men, superheroes, etc) Measured about 5X7 finished. Boys love that stuff.
A oblong piece of felt is perfect, Let him stitch around three sides and run a shoestring around the top for closing. He can sew by hand or you can guide those tiny fingers on the machine. Over the years I've held 4 granddaughters on my lap while they "sewed on Nana's machine"
Have fun, enjoy the time

My twin grand daughters, 2 years old, like to sit on my lap while I "soap" (sew). They have to take turns, which is also a good lesson, because I can't hold them both at the same time. But they like to put their little fingers on the fabric and "help" me guide it through. When they are a little older I will have them help me pick out fabric and start making their own quilts. This is so much fun for me because their mother hates sewing!

these are some awesome tips! I looked up how to teach your child to sew on a machine one day... the instructions said to use felt or foam, start him/her off on the machine with no needle in, let her get used to raising and lowering the pressure foot, let her run the 'fabric' through without any needle several times, then when you are content with her grasp, put the needle in and thread it, have him/her do it agian, this time with threaded needle. Takes about 30 minutes to teach your child how to sew on a machine, and they can make a neet little purse.. really simple. just mark the sewing lines on the felt or foam (foam might be easier to handle for a 4 yr. old. I wasn't able to do this when my daughter was 4, but she is 6 now so I will have to give it a try. Sounds like a very good plan.

My 5 year old is learning to quilt using a slow speed on the machine.
He loves it. He was helping me when he was 4.
Went to a sewing machine store on day - he told the lady you have to put this lever down to sew. The Pressure foot lever. :thumbup: He looked at all the machines and came and announced the one I should get is the one that makes the ant (Pfaff machine with a 9 3/4 in space) Can't remember the number.

I taught my Pastor's son to hand quilt, he helped me to make some very tiny stitches in the quilt I was working on, did about 10 inches or so all by himself. He did a realy good job. I think he was about 7 or 8 at the time. It is amazing what children can do when you give them a chance.

Three of my DGK started sewing on the machine early. the youngest was 4 and she sat on my lap at my old singer machine. She made her first quilt at 5.
We also have a group here that meets over the summer called a Buddy retreat. You bring kids to lean to quilt.
If you start him now and teach him the safty tips he can quilt with you. My oldest GK is 13 and he will still quilt with me.

A few years ago I helped out with crafts at our local primary school....I did a project with a class of six year olds which was great fun.
I got them all to draw a picture on an rectangular piece of fabric about 12x18 ...then I set it with an iron, put some wadding behaind it and then got them to sew some detail on it using the sewing machine and coloured threads, some added sequins etc....one young boy who really had little concentration did a beautiful happy sun ....so we drew some sunglasses on him and filled them in with squiggly dark stitches....I remember him being so proud.
I then made cheap colourful frames from bright thin cardboard and we hung them all round the classroom....they all looked brilliant.
Most of the children had never seen a sewing machine, let alone usd one, but loved it, changing the thread and pushing the foot pedal and choosing stitches......it is sad to think that health and safety would probably not allow that kind of activity now !

Another thing you can do is give him yarn and plastic canvas. The needles can be the blunt pointed ones.

My daughter is 2 and helps me "sew" she picks up colors and pushes the foot pedal down. She's getting good at the treadle too.

Just last week my 4 yr old DS asked me to teach him how to sew. I had no idea how to get him started. We bought yarn and I tried to get him to weave but he wasn't interested. Now, thanks to all of you, I know where to begin. Off to Joann's.....

I love the button sewing idea. My 4 yo GD loves playing with the blocks of fabric I have in a box. She picks and I or her mom sews. She loves seeing the blocks get bigger the more we add. I'm taking the blocks to the design wall next time she visits. I think she will love sticking them on and making designs.
Good thread!!

Cut out a simple shape out of felt, and teach him to use a running stitch to sew two together....when he's close to being done, stuff with fiberfill and help him finish it. Then he can use permanent markers to decorate it....and have a stuffed animal/car/square/whatever that he made himself.

When my son was 4 he sewed buttons on a tote bag to give to a group home - they were'nt very critical and he loved doing it.

That reminds me, before i could sew on a machine my mom would let me sew two squares together by hand.Then she would fill it with corn/beans and make a beanbag for me to play with

Another simple thing for a child to make is a "sleeping bag"for a small stuffed animal. Just a rectangle sewn on three sides, top left open for the toy to slide inside.

doublepost

I think teaching kids to sew is great I taught all 3 of mine sewing....sewing on buttons,and learning to sew on the macine...I do agree a machine that can be slowed down is great .............my 2 grandaughters sew on my brother and are making doll quilts....and they are not perfect,but after all look who is teaching them............

I am helping some of my GD's to sew. To help keep seams even for now I am using a tape seaming foot so they just need to consecrate on the speed. I can use it for binding. You do not have to have the tape in it.
http://www.thesewbox.com/f/Tape_stit...esser_foot.pdf
http://thesewbox.blogspot.com/2008/0...sser-foot.html

My little DGD (Zippie) wanted to help me sew since she was 2. I put her tall chair next to mine. I taught her how and when to press the start and stop button; reverse and the locking stitch; and the thread cutting button. Many times she'd opt to help me sew rather than play.

Then I hatched the idea of my DGD, my DD and I sewing a quilt together for my dad. So I picked out a very simple pattern and Zippie at 2 1/2 helped me sew the top of the quilt for her great-grampa. I was amazed at her attention span. My DD couldn't help - she broke her elbow in 2 places tripping over the cow (Zippie's riding toy).

I just put the binding on the quilt and need to hand sew it.
My SIL captured photos of Zip and I sewing with DD in the background. We're going to make a label - 3 generations sewing for the fourth - and give it to my dad for Father's Day.

The funniest part is Zippie knows more about sewing than my daughter! It's cute when Zip shows her mom what to do.

I've thought about buying her a little sewing machine for her 3rd birthday (on July 4th) but decided she'd get bored with a little machine - she's too use to my Janome 6600.

If they show interest it's up to us to take them serious and teach them what is appropriate for their dexterity and age level. Each child is different. And all we need is patience. Start slow - let them learn one or two things at a time. And make it fun. It's their first experience sewing and we need to be encouraging.

HAVE FUN!

I have sewn for lots of years and still poke myself.It won't hurt her to prick herself and maybe she will learn to be more careful which I confess I have not learned well. The best person we ever taught was a 4 year old,he was in a group of 4-h'ers and was so good and so careful .Did a good job. older ones sometimes act up some.

Remember those sewing cards that we used to get as kids.
Maybe you could make some up - like using Greeting Cards
on heavy cardboard and punch holes, give a plastic needle
and yard to follow the design. Good Luck...it's making great
memories.

Maybe some sewing cards for starters.

My grandkids have sat on my lap and sewed on the machine with me helping them guide and working the foot pedal. The 5 year old is learning to hand piece and she is doing a fairly good job. About 10 minutes is all the attention span a 4 year old has so go for it.

I set my 2 year old on my lap and let him remove the pins as we sew along. He also chooses fabrics from my stash and plays with them. Sometimes I let him control the foot pedal with his hands. I am teaching a 5 and 6 year old basic stitches by hand and the machine as well as learning the names of stitches and parts. The 6 year old is my daughter and has started on her first quilt--a 9 patch. I've cut the pieces for her and she sews them. If it's too wonky she uses her very own seam ripper. Might as well learn to use that thing young...I sure employ it often enough. She has her own sewing basket with small scissors, thread, pins and magnetic pincushion, measureing tape, etc. I also bought her an old inexpensive singer machine so she can sew along with me. I wish it had speed control on it, but this is what I could get. Good luck, and just do what works for you!