I worked for one of the Washington State University Cooperative Extension offices before my retirement, and our volunteers had great success teaching young girls and boys how to make a pillow case. They loved the bright color combinations used for the border and trim that were found in the donated fabric stashes. They were also taught how to make simple shorts with elastic waistband and a simple vest.

This has been a successful outreach in the community for over ten years. Good luck and bless you for promoting sewing in the youth of America!

As a extension educator, and an auntie to homeschoolers....check out what the 4-h program has for beginner sewing and foods and nutrition and etc....about every topic you can think of. Check with your local extension agent/educator. You don't have to be in 4-H to pickup the books and their cheap. PM me if you are interested.

Also....Alex Anderson has an excellent book about Quilting with kids. Really great to use and get some basics after they learn about the machine and safety issues.

I so agree with this, I still have never done a zipper, and there are so many pretty skirt patterns, but I am terafied of the zipper. and of reading a pattern, I did not learn these things. God bless.

I also agree anything that has a zipper I stay miles away.

Give me a zipper over a buttonhole any day! My sewing machine even has a buttonhole setting, but they still make me crazy. I have done lots of zippers, and the only one that gave me any trouble was putting in a fly front on a pair of men's wool pants.

I learned to make a shirt and a dress when I was at school some 40+ years ago.

It's funny that this question came up now. My daughter just turned 33 and she wants me to teach her to sew. I went to Joanne's and bought a bunch of stuff to help teach her what I learned in school. Most things are second nature to me now so this thread has been a good way to jog my memory about what to teach a beginner. I started out by learning to make an apron and then moved on to 'A' line skirts, shirts and dresses. With each item you would learn a basic skill to build on.

I took Home Ec from the mid 60's to '71 so everything I have learned I owe to my Home Ec teacher (:-D thank you Mrs. Beatrice Wood :-D )!!!! I wish that they still taught Home Ec in school now-a-days.

After all the above suggestions about sewing basics, I think a neat project, after the apron, would be a simple purse with a strap and perhaps an outside pocket. Not sure how old your niece is, but girls like accessories.!

The apron project is the most basic one. From this she can learn about pattern selection, fabric selection,laying out the pattern, pinning, cutting, pressing, straight and accurate stitching. (5/8 seam allowance on an apron) She may prepare and then handstitch the hem for a lesson that will last, and come in handy, for a lifetime. She can then add embellishment if she chooses. (i.e. a monogrammed pocket)
I don't know which one of you will have the most fun, but I'm betting on YOU!