Easy Sewing Ideas
 

My almost 10-year-old DGD would like to get sewing supplies for Christmas. What I'm looking for is ideas for very easy projects to get patterns and supplies for her. I was thinking about a pattern and fabric for an American Girl doll, but wonder if this would be too difficult. She has made pajama pants, with lots of help from her mom and myself. Was also thinking of easy placemats or small quilts. Any ideas? Anyone?

My granddaughter picked out her own fabrics from my stash and I cut them into big squares for her and she sewed them together into her own "pattern" and I sandwiched it for her. I think the doll clothes may be too much because they are so small. I want her to stay excited about the sewing so I don't specifically "teach" her about the machine but build in little lessons. Have fun with her!!

A pillowcase for her bed pillow. A decorative pillow for her bed would also be easy.

My 8 year old niece comes over about 2x a week. She practices on scraps while I supervise. Today I went to a local sewing center. While there the clerk showed me a Little Kitty sewing kit. The scissors are just the right size for her and it also comes with a measuring tape. I thought what the heck and went ahead and got it. I ended up getting nothing for myself. I send scraps home with her and she practices on those. She just cuts the scraps into different shapes and has make a cute little scrap quilt for a doll. 18"x18" All the scraps were girly colors. A lot of pink and some purple. I should have taken a photo. She was interested in how the machine operated from the beginning.

a package or two of charm squares would be good for her to practice arranging the colors, etc. and sewing them into a small quilt will give her practice in sewing, pinning, and matching seams. have fun

I'd stay away from the doll clothes -- too many tight curves and small seams.

Here are some thoughts:
-- aprons
-- doll quilts
-- pillow cases

I think the doll clothes are too difficult but she could make a simple quilt out of squares or strips for her doll. You want projects that go quickly and easily. JoAnn's will sell fabric by the inch and I think Walmart will, too, ifnyou have one nearby that sells fabric. You could pick up (or let her pick out) a few fabrics for a quilt. Even 6 inches of 3 or 4 fabrics, along with some from your stash would be enough. I only suggest the new prints to getnsomething she is especially happy with. Have fun!

I have been sewing since I was 4yrs old, and I started on my Mom's Featherweight that I now own. I just stitched on the lines of school paper to start, then drew shapes and followed the lines. I was making doll clothes (nothing with an actual pattern) pretty soon after that. I gathered lengths of fabric for skirts, tied knots in squares for "tops" for my doll, etc. My mom gave me all her scraps and elastic and cord, I was VERY creative! I was making my own clothes in jr. high. I am now 70 yrs old, teaching my 9 and 7yr oldDGDs to sew and sent them home with a machine last visit. They are pretty smart little cookies, figured out the buttons and knobs and were making pillow cases on the second day. We made a bolster pillow together, I embroidered and they stitched pillow cases for friends' b-day gifts. We had a blast. Don't discount 10yr old's ability to sew!

I agree.........might add a 10 minute table runner in there she could make for her mom.

there are a couple of good books on the market designed for teaching kids to sew. It teaches them about the machine while they work on a simple project. don't have the names handy right now, but take a look at Joann's book section, etc. these books will tell you want the projects are and you can make up the "Kits" for them if you want separate packages for her to open.

What about a basic tote bag and use webbing for handles or the square baskets mentioned elsewhere on the board, or some little felt owls or hearts for hanging on a chrustmas tree.

My nephews designed their own quilts on paper. The youngest about 5 at time watched older brother draw a layout etc of what he wanted. After along time of silence when I was wondering what he was up to. He produced a piece of paper with 5 year old squares and inside he had tried to draw dinosaurs. Brother was very much colours in a specific order , little one wasn't bothered about colours just dinosaurs in squares.
I did most of the sewing at home but they both helped to sandwich and did do some quilting. 2 boys one machine and only a few hours did mean sharing. Ask the children to design their own .if they are at school they will know what to do.

how about mug rug , coffee cup cozy, tote to hold marker and paper, poler fls. hats, scarfs, blankets.

My grands make pillowcases when they are 7 - when they are 9 I pay for them to attend a sewing camp. This year my 11 year old granddaughter made pajama pants, an apron, and a Professional Tote, and a Classmate Bag. Let your grandchild's ability dictate what she makes. Let her make pillowcases and aprons as Christmas gifts.

You might also think about a simple skirt pattern for her. Not too difficult to master and she might like the fact that she made her own clothes! I agree the doll clothes might be a bit challenging for her at the moment. Pillow cases, more jammies, that kind of thing. See if she wants to do the clothing thing; home dec; or quilting (or all of it) before investing in lots of things for 1 specific type of sewing.

Try a jelly roll quilt! It will give her great practice stitching straight lines!

My 11 (then) year old grandson and his 9 year old sister had a great time making pillowslips for their beds. I think she enjoyed the process, but he just liked the foot pedal on the sewing machine!

Superior threads is starting a monthly lesson with supplies for young people to learn to sew. Check out their website.

Great - thanks for the tip! I will check them out.

I was going to vote for pillowcases, but that's been suggested a few times. LOL. The idea about a simple tote bag is a great idea IMO.

I would look to the personality of the person. By the time I was 12, I was making most of my own clothes - home dec never would have entered my mind. Back in the olden days, we did not wear shorts and pants to school, so I liked to make skirts.

My granddaughter is 12 and started sewing with me when she was 10. For her first project, I took her to the fabric store and we picked out fabric and a pattern for a tote bag. Since then she has gone through my fabric stash several times and made small quilts of her own design. The first was just large squares. For the latest project, she put appliques on each block, using the fancy stitches (as she calls them) on my Janome Horizon 7700. Needless to say, she doesn't like to use my old machine now. Her imagination and creativity astound me -- quite different from mine. She uses colors and combinations that I would never use, but when her projects are finished, they are quite colorful and unique. Treasure the time you two spend together sewing. It's awesome.

Janet

How about this tutorial on QB for Super super easy tissue holder ? She could make these for her friends.

Trying to make doll clothes might be difficult with no sewing experience. But I agree with making a pillowcase. Let her choose the fabrics. She can keep it on her bed and will be very proud of making it. Just have FUN!! My grandmother taught me so many things I love such as sewing and playing solitaire.

If she'd like to make something for her doll, how about a skirt with an elastic waist? All she'd need is a rectangle of fabric for however full she wants the skirt, learn to make a hem and a casing and she's accomplished something for her doll.

Kids need easy projects that can be finished quickly. They lose interest if it goes on too long. Pillowcases, doll quilts, hot pads, mug rugs, placemats, simple bags, etc. work well.

I would think doll clothes would be too hard for a starter to do. You mentioned place mats and small quilts. How about a table runner to go with the mats? How about potholders? Good luck.

I am one that thinks if the child is interested in sewing doll clothes, go for it, will they be perfect and do they need to be for a beginning sewer, NO. Keep the quilt police away and let them have fun learning to sew and you will have a lifetime quilting buddy! There are some cute American Girl Apron patterns out there, she could make one for her doll and one for herself.

I was thinking about the fabric boxes shown on here. They are easy and she could make one to hold her quilting supplies.

I taught a class at church this last year for 9-14 year olds...we even had a couple younger. We made a big hobo bag...they did it all just fine...except it required fleece stuffed handles...that were a big a struggle to do...but other than that they did it.

I saw on Nancy's Notions website 18" doll clothes that are preprinted on fabric that only have a few straight seems to sew...I think this would be good for a beginner.

Doll clothes are too hard to make because they are so small. I would cut some 5 or 6 inch quares and let her sew them together for a doll quilt. My younger great granddaughter can't wait until she can use the sewing machine to piece a strip quilt, but she is too short at 7 to reach the foot control on the machine.

And you might want to see if she would like to learn embroidery. I started embroidering at about 10 and loved it. Whatever you do, I know she will love it. froggyintexas

You get her a super easy AG doll clothes patterns (pillowcase dress) I think it is a simplicity pattern on sale at Joann's often for $1.00. She can make the same style over and over just change fabrics and trims, etc. Sling back pack, fabric drawstring bags, pillows, pincushion, rag quilt, doll quilts ... have fun with her!

I am now 70 yrs old, teaching my 9 and 7yr oldDGDs to sew and sent them home with a machine last visit. They are pretty smart little cookies, figured out the buttons and knobs and were making pillow cases on the second day. We made a bolster pillow together, I embroidered and they stitched pillow cases for friends' b-day gifts. We had a blast. Don't discount 10yr old's ability to sew![/QUOTE]

agree whole-heartedly. let her create before giving patterns that lock in. too much structure will constrict. i learned on my own at 11. just sat down with machine and fabric. give her the tools and let her go. pillow cases and decorative pillows are good starters.

yea for her and have fun.

I think she will be more enthusiastic to sew if she chooses her own fabric.

I agree with this-my 9 yr old granddaughter made a bunch using this same pattern, plus I made 90 for an animal shelter (dog & cat prints) to use for fund raising, they are fast, super cute, instant gradification in sewing.

My 9 year old GD started out with a pillowcase, then a pair of shorts with an elastic waist and after that, a pair of pajama bottoms. Then she started making little quilts for her sister's doll bed and a fabric Christmas book for her.

So many good ideas here for making great memories! I'd start with the FART (Fabric Acquisition Road Trip) for whatever project and lunch, or shop the stash. I've been doing a lot of pillowcase parties- another one for ConKerr Saturday. Kids really seem to enjoy making pillowcases. I recommend pre-washing the fabrics so the pillowcases look better even right out of the dryer. Just simple straight lines. Ditto for mug rugs- pick a special cup and coordinate the fabrics, then make hot cocoa and cookies to test it out? Doll quilts are simple. Basic American Girl patterns can be made as 3rd or 4th projects depending on the learning curve. I made Barbie clothes for my sister's doll as my first machine sewing project at about age 8- not especially fun.