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I was sewing about that age. I had a little old hand crank Singer child's machine that had belonged to my father's bachelor uncle. He used to mend his clothes on it. I made blankets and saddles for my plastic horses. :)
I doing hand embroider about 10 and using the machine soon after. I can't really remember, but I know I had already made a couple garments when I took sewing in 8th grade home ec. |
I started my young friend when she was 6. We did string blocks all summer, once a week with swimming after. We had a BLAST. She still comes over in the summer. She will be 13 this month and I am gifting her a quilt. Last summer she made a back pack and the summer before shorts.
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I taught my boys how to use my machine when they were really young- younger than 5 or maybe around 5. They were fascinated by it. It brings back cute memories thinking about those little ones.
The girls in these photos are adorable! |
I learned to sew at about 8 by making doll clothes. I sewed through my finger more than once. I never told anyone, as then they might not let me sew.
bkay |
My baby started younger. It's actually pretty easy to teach them how to control speed with the pedal. Just get a finger guard and sit with her
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I relate this question to cooking. Dangerous stuff, but taught with the respect for safety and what the machines/stove, oven, etc do, it's all a matter of when the child is ready. Child #3 for me was "sewing" fabric on my Viking at the age of 4. She also loved poking in and out of a design she made herself on muslin in a hoop in her first versions of embroidery.
My eldest is 27 and I'm pretty sure I'd have to be much more careful with her ;) |
If there is an interest, and ability to sit still and be safe, I say go for it. Someone suggested I could start to teach my niece (she is five), but she is too "twirly". I have known other five-year-olds I know could handle it, but she could not; she doesn't listen well enough.
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Originally Posted by ckcowl
(Post 7975739)
My granddaughters started sewing at 4. I purchased an inexpensive Brother machine at Walmart ($89) the reason for that machine was because it had speed control ( important feature for kids) I set the machine up on their little round care bear table- table & chairs just their size.
I didn’t stress over seam width, or anything like that. They could cut fabric with scissors. I ironed for them. My youngest granddaughter wanted to make a quilt for her daddy when he was being deployed, didn’t want him to forget her ( she had just turned 4) I printed 2 pictures onto fabric for her, him holding her, her arms wrapped around his neck- big smiles. I let her rummage through fabrics on the shelves, she picked out what she wanted, laid everything out on the floor, sewed it all together with the picture block in the middle. Some seams were 1” wide, some were wavy, but she got it all together the way she wanted it. ( the second picture I used to make her a hot pack pillow, so she could warm it up & take it to bed with her— warm hugs from daddy) after she finished her quilt top we turned a tall dresser on its side in front of the longarm & she quilted the quilt herself- walking back & forth on that dresser. Then she folded backing to front & stitched her ( binding) she really wanted it to be just from her. 13 years later it is still his favorite quilt- it has traveled around the world and she still has her pillow on her bed. All 3 granddaughters loved to sew and were adventurous, I just let them. Only rules, can’t just cut up Fabric and not use it and no ironing Or rotary cutter until they were much older (16-18) they have become quite good seamstresses, they make purses, clothes, toys....only a quilt for special gifts they like making other stuff. |
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My 2 year old grandson showed an interest and started by sitting on my lap. When I saw the interest continue, I got a real machine for him and removed the needle so he now just feeds material through to get the hang of doing it straight and using the foot control. This stage without the needle was also making sure he kept his fingers where they should be and not in the needle area. He’s gotten quite good at all that so we’ll soon be putting the needle back in and let him start actually sewing. I am always right there with him when he is at the machine. He told me he wants to make a quilt for his baby cousin.
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Thats the trick....a child who is interested and has patients and stamina to practice on cutie pie scraps......a machine that gears down to very slow speed. And an adult who can sit next to the child without taking over, or raising her voice.
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