I don't have granddaughters, but if I did I would let her make clothes for her dolls. My daughter loved making her doll clothes.

Years ago, Together my grand daughter and I cut out squares of soft wool (I also rug braid). I gave her a round pointed large needle, and let her stitch them together by matching the cut ends together. (She was a bit over 5 years old) We used left over dmc thread, diffirent quantities of threads, she changed the colors alot. The needle went through the wool easily. She learned to use her finger width as a seam guide.The squares were about 8", some more, some less. The quilt is still being used by her aged cat, that project was over 15 years ago. She didn't get the quilting gene, but she is in college now, junior year, getting ready for vetenarian school.

When I was young, my grandmother let me make my own pillows. She'd give me two pieces of fabric, I'd cut them into the desired shape, hand-sew them "pillow case style," turn them right side out, stuff and close them. They were pretty hideous pillows, but it really taught me the basics of sewing at an early age. I agree with the person above who wrote that a simple needle prick is not so worrisome, as long as the child isn't being reckless.

My first sewing lesson was two months past my third birthday while my mother was in the hospital having my baby brother and my grandmother showed me how to sew to keep me entertained. I remember sitting on the floor at her feet sewing up the sides of a very simple jacket for one of my dolls. It wasn't too much later that I "sewed" by sitting on her lap at the treadle machine while she helped me guide the fabric. She did do the fabric cutting for a short time but I was making simple doll clothes completely by myself by the time I started school.

I don't remember ever poking myself badly with the needle or pins, but as others mentioned, you could start with mesh and yarn with a blunt needle until she gets the hang of it.

boy, i'd teach him to hand sew first. sewing squares together for you to finish on the machine. no way i'd let him near the machine though.

I learned at 4 yrs old, now 68 and have many machines including embroidery. Just learned to quilt a few years ago (couldn't for the life of me figure out why anyone would cut up a perfectly good piece of fabric just to sew it back together again!) hehe but life is a learning process. I still have the Singer featherweight I learned on. Mom would take out the thread and make me follow the lines on the old writing paper with wider spacing. Then I drew stars and circles (sort of) and followed those lines. When I got good enough that she felt I could graduate to follow lines and seam allowances she let me thread the machine! I remember she wouldn't do it for me...and it took some doing but I learned. Eventually I was making my own clothes in Jr. Hi, by High school I made prom dresses. Now I sew for others. I have made drapes for a theater, leather chaps for 4H group and 75 square dance dresses all custom fitted! Every time I sit down I thank my Mom, long since gone. My daughter has her bigger Singer, and sews some, but granddaughters are intriqued and watch when they visit. Maybe they will catch this bug, I am so very glad I did. Sewing has kept me sane, made me some money and given much pleasure to my friends and family with the products I send. Please please please, everyone mentor a blossoming sewer! Linda

My DGD wants to sew also. I bought a "Girls Only" Pink and Purple sewing Machine that is battery powered with a foot control and has a needle guard to protect her fingers. She has her charms that she picked from my stash, and we are slowly sewing them together to make a doll quilt. She runs the foot pedal, and help guide the fabric. Her little machine has good feed dogs that sew rather straight. She is 3 1/2 y/o. Not every visit do we sew, so this doll quilt may take awhile. The Pink and Purple machine was her idea and her favorite colors.

I sewed with my grandmother at that age. I made doll clothes and clothes for my poor cat. I had a pillowcase full of scraps to work with and I just love remembering. My 6 yr old GD and 8 yr old GS just finished their first project. His was a pillow with a star on it and hers was a pillow with a heart on it..started them on applique and they loved it. They sewed it to their clothes a couple of times and the stitches are really funny but it was so much fun. They are ready to do another for Christmas presents for their parents. Guess you can tell I LOVE BEING A GM!!!

I know I have read that very young girls started off hemming hankerchiefs etc way back when. I was about 5 or so when my mother started teaching me to embroider. I am sure I poked myself a few times, I still do, but I survived. There was no childrens yarn boards etc that I remember . But the time I was 7 or 8 I could do all the basic stitches of embroidery. My son sat on my lap at age 4 and I showed him how to put the fabric through . I had a Viking that I could slow down the speed on and I used the controller. He was thrilled to have helped make his clothes and such. :-)

When my twins were 4 and they showed interest in my sewing, I helped them make place mats. I took a place mat size piece of fabric and put basting spray on it. Then I laid a piece of batting on top of it. I then put basting spray on the batting, making it slightly sticky. I then dumped my scrap bin on the floor and gave them each a pair of kids scissors. They went through the fabric and cut up pieces of the fabrics they liked. They laid those pieces on top of the sticky batting until it was completely covered. I then took it to my machine and FMQ'd the placemat. There were raw edges everywhere, so I did a lot of FMQ. I then put a binding on it and they use it as their placemat!

Wow, your mom was both smart and thorough. Those are good ideas for beginners.

I start kids of any age with a 4 patch. I do the cutting, and they do just about everything else. The most important thing that is taught is RESPECT for the needle that goes up and down and doesn't really care if your finger is in the way! \

A good first project is a small 4 patch quilt. It's simple and quick and provides an early success. If you're worried about him pricking his fingers on a pin and getting discouraged, use elmers washable school glue sticks instead of pins.

I don't hand sew at all, so the kids learn machine sewing and machine sewing etiquette. The most important etiquette is to respect the needle as it goes up and down. We use the glue method to line up edges, and that seems very natural to them. So far, they've done a pretty nice job of sewing, and seem to enjoy.

The youngest I've started teaching a child is 6 and his first project was a 4 patch 'butt warmer' for his bird. He wanted to know if I cared that he gave it to his bird...I laughed and told him, no, it was his quilt and he could do what he wanted with it. I don't think the bird has ever seen the 'butt warmer', though.

For you, the most important thing is to be patient and alert. My Mom, bless her soul, used the 'here, let me do that method' to teach me sewing and that made me dislike sewing for a very long time. In her defense, she had 7 kids vying for her attention, so her need to get done quickly was somewhat urgent. We were no angels so there was always a crisis to resolve, if you know what I mean.

These are all great ideas.

My seven year old grandson was facinated with my sewing machine so I cut strips of black fabric and let him experiment with the decorative stitches in bright colored threads.

I taught 3 of my grandchildren to sew last year, on a regular sewing machine. My son and I devised a finger guard using a piece of wire that attached alongside the presser foot and covered the front and side of the needle. It allowed excellent visibility while protecting their fingers. None of them managed to sew through a finger. I made them all memorize how to thread the machine and bobbin. They had a lot of fun sewing on paper napkins while they were learning the basics.

I have been sitting with my kids since they have been about 3 years of age, sewing with them. My youngest is 4 right now and he likes to sew straight lines on fabric.

I started my 4 year old granddaughter sewing with 2 pieces of fabric and showed her how to use the sewing machine. Just let her stitch straight or use the fancy stitches. Whatever keeps their interest and increases their desire to continue.

I remember beginning my kids on the sewing cards that had a yarn shoelace to follow the holes with. Then they progressed to using material and thread.

I just spent 2 weeks with two GD's, in Colorado Springs, that were born in Germany. (Their Dad is in the Air Force) They just came back to the States. Anyway, they are 8 & 10 & I got to teach them & my step daughter to sew while I was with them. They were so proud of the pot holders & microwave bowls they made with G-Ma. The 8 year old keeps saying "I got to sew with G-Ma" over & over. They are now making potholders & Microwave bowls for their teachers for Christmas. I also taught a GS to sew when he was 7 (now 22). It is so fun to see the pride in their little faces when they complete a project. A fast & easy project would be a small throw pillow. Just 4 seams to sew & then stuff.

When my youngest son was 5 (now 29) he wanted to sew. I knew he wouldn't stay with it very long so I put in a used needle and gave him a peice of paper with lines. Told him if he could sew on the lines and still wanted to sew we would start a project. I sat with him and he did ok on staying on the lines but after he sew a few minutes he was off to something else. We did get to a few projects but his favorite thing was to sew on paper. He got real good at it. lol His favorite thing to do was cooking and he is a very good cook today.

When my oldest son was about 8 he wanted to sew, so I purchased a kit with large yarns that said Dont bug me, it had a large red lady bug on it, and the background fabric was a woven that looked like coarse linen, we had a good time learning the few stitches that the kit required. That was 42 years ago, and 2 years ago I came across it in the attic and remembered how many years it hung on his bedroom wall. I decided to take it to him last time we visited as I kid him now and tell him this was when he developed his sewing skills. Today he is a neurosurgeon. There are kits and then some of the books specifically geared to teaching young children to sew with projects galore. Try looking at See and Sew, or Of course you can sew. You could also cut out and use an iron on interfacing on some simple shapes like star or fish etc and show him how to blanket stich the appliques on something he can keep and display proudly.:)

I've sewn with both my godchildren, ages 4 and 6, and my nieces , age 3 and 5, sitting on my lap. They put their hands on top of mine so it feels like they are doing the sewing. I let them operate the presser foot, take out pins as we sew along, cut threads, and if they are lucky step on the foot peddle to wind the bobbin. I always give them a safety talk first and give frequent reminders as we go along. I've not had a bit of trouble with any of them. We've done some simple, quick projects together and they have really gotten a kick out of it. They are so proud of what "they" made :) My god-daughter likes it so much she can't wait for me to get the hand crank machine I bought for her to sew on cleaned up. I guess I know what to get her for Christmas this year!

One summer my niece and nephew were staying with me. It was too cold to go to the beach so we started sewing. I made both of them a sewing box then we looked at quilt books to find what they wanted to make. With some help we got them so the pieces were big and they went thru my stash and found what they wanted. We would do a little each day. My nephew and niece were 11 and 4 and they stuck with it.

at 3=4 my grand kids were pushing scraps through the machine. It had a speed control. I showed them the needle and explained that the needle only goes up and down here, so your hands are always away.

they came up with their own projects. like a little bag.

later about 6 was the first quilt. large 6.5" squares that I cut.

I bought a child's Singer sewing machine that has a plastic tube covering the needle so the little one cannot get the fingers under it. Found it at Goodwill for 3 or 4 $$$.

Can't wait for 18 mo old GGDaughter Charley to get bigger!
delma

I do not remember when I could not sew, long before I started kindergarted. First it was doll clothes by hand then SC brought me a little red metal machine with a hand crank which I still have but I did not like it. I wanted to use the one my mom had and I did. My dad was one who thought if you were going to teach a kid anything then he/she needed the proper tools to work with. He was a master craftsman and I had 3 brothers so they learned from him. As for myself Iloved doing what my mother did, and must say she was a saint for letting me use her machine as every time I did then she would have to adjust or do what ever needed to get it to sew for her. Like all kids I loved to turn all knobs. My
2 1/2 GGS is fascinated with my sewing. I intend to do as you suggest, large needle, knitting thread and a punchcard. They have to start somewhere.

I found a little plastic toy sewing machine for my 4 yo dgd. It had a broken needle in it so I took it out. The batteries were replaced and it sounded like a noisy sewing machine. I sat it on the dining room table and waited for her to visit. Here is how it played out:
She said Oh, gramma it is just awesome. Where did you get it?
I said I went shopping to goodwill and found it. It's for you!
She said Oh I love it! ....But gramma it doesn't have a needle.
I said I was worried...I think a needle is a little dangerous for a 4 year old, so I think when you are five I'll put the needle back in, but for now we can pretend there is a needle.
She said I think that is a good idea, because needles poke. So when I'm five I can have a needle right??

I laughed and laughed! She is so precious to me. I bought a "New" Featherweight. The little plastic one and that will be her machine. When she is 5. LOL! But for now she is content to push little squares of material through that little machine that makes enough noise to drive me crazy!! Every once and again she will say...when I'm five I get a needle, right, gramma?? LOL!!

I begged for a year before I got to start sewing classes at 8. Even then I was "too young" but the lady who was teaching the class made an agreement with me. If I promised to pay attention and do every task and assignment, she would allow me to participate. My first project was a sleeveless dress, with a set in zipper. I learned how to place the pattern on the grain (and WHY!) why you follow directions, and I learned just how much fun a seam ripper is when you don't!

My Grandmother (who raised my sister and I) just could never get over the whole "fear factor" so she was never able to work with me and the sewing machine. That didn't stop me, I loved sewing and all hand crafts! I learned to crochet with thread at 7. My Great GrandMother was a firm believer in Doing is Learning. She gave me hook, thread and a sample bit of lace to "read". I made enough lace to put on a pillowcase (remember THOSE days?). GGM had an OLD Singer, will all the fun feet that were ever made for it. It was a special day in my world when I was allowed to use her machine to finish a project!

I would suggest that you assess the interest level of the child, start with big dull needles, burlap or plastic canvas is good and if the interest stays, nothing wrong with learning the rules and best practices around the machinery! Good luck and have fun. Making lasting memories is the best part.

Teach him safety first. Children are a lot smarter than you think they are. Start slow and then you will know how to progress. Make it fun, but not too challenging or easy. They like to see result like the rest of us. Have fun

When my granddaughter was 4, I let her sit on my lap and pull the pins out as I sewed. I don't always use pins, but I used them so she could have something to do. She loved watching the machine work and pulling the pins. It isn't sewing, but it was to her. Her attention span was short, and afterwards she loved playing with my magnetic pin holder and pins. I also let her help pick out fabric.

For anyone who wants to start their little ones off VERY young, when they show an interest, there is always plastic canvas and in the yard section you can find large plastic, non-pointy needles that are used to sew granny squares together. Give them some yard and a piece of plastic canvas or even the stuff you can make rugs out of, sorry, I don't know the name of that. They can practice, practice, practice....