She wants to learn to sew.....
 

and I told her I would show her how. My sweet little neighbor girl/lady. She said she doesn't even know how to sew on a button. OMG, where do I begin? Open for and needing suggestions as to how to begin this. She's very excited and anxious to learn.

I am helping two new quilters........Start with the basics, don't assume they know anything.

Is she wanting to quilt or just learn to sew, or repair items, or replace buttons. Make her define her needs, then you will have a place to start: learning how to thread a needle, sew on buttons, or cut out fabric for a placemat, etc.

My two ladies had 'help' from others and never covered the basics! [how to use a rotary cutter, thread their machine, etc.]
Good for you for being a mentor!!!!!:thumbup:

She said she doesn't know how to sew on a button, so I guess that would be a jumping off point. The basics. Said she took Home Ec in school (she's in her 20's) but the teacher didn't know how to sew so that was never taught in the class. Her mother never sewed either.

She is in the same age range as my daughter and home ec was not "our" home ec. It was only a semester or maybe half a semester and it was a joke. I think they baked a cake, sewed a stocking (as in one seam, little felt thing) and that is about all I remember her doing. My daughter knew more than the teacher. I agree with Tiggersmom, start with basics. I found a website sewingsupport.com by just searching "learn to sew". There were several other sites, you might be able to get some ideas there.

First introduce her to a sewing machine, how it works and what to do with it. Sewing straight seams, sewing even seam allowances [whether straight or curved.] Learn how to pace the machine to her inner pace.

Then help her choose a projcet she wants to do. If she really wants to do it she'll finish it with pride.

You may want to even go online and search for some youtubes on intro to sewing/quilting or books on the subject.

I was a home ec teacher from the "old school." Since that time, the program has changed considerably. I think it's now called Human Resources. SEwing and food preparation is not the focus anymore. There is more of a focus on consumer education, family relationships, etc.

In a beginning sewing class, the first thing I did was find out if they knew the machine. They learned to thread the machine and basic dos and don't in operating it. Then they practiced on fabric swatches making seams (5/8", 1/2" and 1/4 "). It was a garment construction class so they learned to read and use a pattern. Then cut out the pattern pieces needed for their garment. We made very simple pajamas. If it were a quilting lesson, I assume you would use basic quilting language and then after she has learned to use her machine, and [practiced sewing 1/4" seams, then teach her to cut a simple pattern. Stitching would be next. Giving her a good basic foundation will allow her to have more success when she actually makes her first quilt.

I found that after that preliminary class of learning the basics, the students were all fired up to get started on a project.

I am helping an extremely enthusiastic beginner at quilting. Although she has sewn before it was clothes etc. looking at my nephews they very quickly learnt to thread and use a machine after watching a demo. A slow sewing speed and straight lines easy.

My home ec teacher was the best! Mrs.Mueller and she taught cooking, baking, sewing, cleaning, etc. Loved that teacher and the class. I learned alot from her. I guess I will go with the basics first as that's what she said she wanted to know. She has also mentioned crochet (I don't do) and knitting. Sounds like she is a reservoir waiting to be filled....and I'm excited to be a part of her learning process. I appreciate all the info you have supplied. Again, you guys are the best.
Guess I'll start with threading needle, sewing buttons, threading machine and seam allowance practice after that. Then maybe I'll look for an easy apron pattern or something similar. Was considering pj pants but with the elastic-would that be too much?

My mom taught me to sew by sewing on scrap, learning to control the machine, sew a straight stitch, back up etc. and then we made pillowcases. Mug rugs are easy and fun too. Lucky you, it will be so much fun.

In the summer I teach at a week long beginning sew camp (ages 8-12). We begin as GailG outlined for the first hour and then start the projects to build their confidence and skills. They all make a 9 patch pillow, placemat, drawstring tote bag. The older kids do pj pants and after a demo, the elastic is not a problem. Be sure to have her read the pattern instructions and then you can do a demo if the instructions don't make sense.

First, she must learn to sew on a button!! My DIL can't even do that and doesn't want to learn. Good luck. Slow and easy is my suggestion.

Once the basics are covered find out what direction she wants to go. Let her pick the project, with your guidance regarding level of difficulty.

How awesome for you to mentor this young woman! I know there are books available for beginning sewing...I also know that JoAnn Fabrics offer sewing classes...they may even have books that would be helpful to you. I was fortunate to have a mom who sewed (and SHE was self-taught!), so I learned my love of sewing from her, but moved away from home before she could teach me...I took a beginner's sewing class at the Singer sewing machine store in the city I worked in at the time...Well worth the money!

it's so good you're teaching her. she might be a natural

I would love to be in your shoes -- mentoring is such fun! You have the opportunity to give an individual the skills for a lifetime!

I am teaching my DGD to sew. We started with some thing very simple...a can coozie. She is 14 and was so pround when her dad (my DS) uses it. We are going to make pajama pants on Saturday and she is looking forward to it. We learned the basics first...how to thread the machine, how to change the needle etc. I drew some lines on paper and she stitched that first. Some lines were wavy and some had corners so she learned to put the needle down and raqise the presser foot and turn. You have to start with small things first and work up to a quilt. My DGD is in 4-H so we may make a quilt this summer.

When my grandniece wanted to learn to sew she and mom's fiance would just sew pieces of scraps together. He would thread the needle for her. Then she insisted on threading. She's pretty good at that. I gave her some scrap material that had a pattern on it. Some of the patterns were plaids, stripes and couple paisleys. The solid scraps I put a line to be sewn on to square up the scrap and she was to do a 1/4", 1/2" and 5/8" seams. Hadn't seen her for about a month then I stopped over at their house and they including mom's fiance showed their progress. It was really good what they did with the samples. They ended up sewing all the pieces together. Had to laugh and then realized it looked like the beginnings of a crazy quilt. They decided they would make a pillow out of it and give it to my sister for Christmas. Showed them how to sew a button on and they are just all over the place with a needle and thread.