For first time sewers - pajama bottoms or elastic waist shorts are another good project.

Or pillow cases.

I have trouble making decent potholders - so i don't recommend them for a first project.

In 1948, I learned to sew a straight line in Home Ec class on a piece of paper with lines on it to follow. We had to sew down one side stop at the corner, turn and sew to the next corner, etc. I had been sewing for years before that, but that was how the teachers taught the girls (only girls) to sew a straight line.

And by the way - boys do want to sew. You just have to give them a chance to see if they take to it or not.

Ideas on teaching a child to sew...
 

Our 10 yr. old, when she was 8, wanted to make a block on the featherweight when they were here one time. I had some big Plaids which made it very easy for her to learn to sew a straight seam. She didn't get the blocks made, but had fun learning to follow the lines on the gingham!
Mariah

I agree with Happyquiltmom - but I would go one step further. When letting them sew on paper, draw lines for them to follow, that will help their hand/eye coordination and how to position the needle. I helped a Girl Scout camp with sewing and saw that they needed a tutorial - most of them never used a machine before. I told the leader to have them learn the parts of the machine first and practice on paper - to me it is a safety issue. We had 5 machines and 12 girls, so we were stretched thin in helping those who never sewed before. Hopefully, the GS will listen to my idea and give the girls some instruction before they sew at the next camp. Maybe I should be there..........

Back in the 90's we lived in northern Illinois, and my husband and I both taught a group of homeschoolers from our church one day a week. He taught the boys aviation, cartooning, then anything they wanted to learn. I taught the girls and their mothers and grandmothers quilting. All by hand. I did not teach any of them machine work. My youngest wanted to quilt when she was a little past 4, and had a small quilt finished when she was 4-1/2. Her next oldest sister asked to start quilting for her 6th birthday. Incidentally, the 4 year old is graduating from college in May. Just to say young children can learn to quilt - one year they did piecing, the next year, applique, and then we reversed it each year.

I taught my grand kids to sew by giving them a piece of paper picking out a piece of fabric their choice sewing it down adding another piece seaming it to the first one continuing on until the paper was full.It was all choice. then we made it into a pillow .Only one of them continued to quilt but many had their pillows for years.

I worked with my 7 year old granddaughter. She did great, but lost interest. I let her stop and in about an hour we did some more sewing. I think we stopped and started at least six or seven times but she did get her little top done and was really pleased. We picked some squares that were already cut from my scrapes and we made her dollie a really nice little quilt.

I wish I had more time with my grands too, 8 to 12 yrs of age is the best time for them to learn. Once they get into teens, things change for them. I guess that's just life!

My only granddaughter has no interest in sewing but great niece (9 yrs) wanted to learn to quilt so - she comes to my sewing room and we "quilt". She is left handed and I am not so that was a challenge - she has her own scissors so that helped and I reversed the ironing board set-up. She has a lead foot and her machine has no speed adjustment but nshe is getting better with controlling the speed. She has picked her fabrics from my stash, cut out her own squares and sewn them first in rows and then the rows into a top for an American Girl doll quilt. Borders have to be added and she has chosen to tie it off but I hope she will be able to complete by end of year. It has been so much fun to spend time with her, see thing thru her eyes and bond together. She says Great Aunt Judy is cool and fun so I guess my teaching has been successful and hopefully she will continue her "quilting" long after I'm gone.:thumbup:

That was how I learned to do straight seams and control the speed in school. Mom worked and until I reached that age we didn't work together on stuff. I did more hand embroidery-learned on the stamped hot pads from the dime store.