You can really tell about motor skills when teaching a young child how to sew. If motor skills are not developed early the kids have a hard time with dexterity later on. In the past very young girls learned to knit, boys sharpened knives and wove nets developing skills early. My generation it seemed every girl played Jacks and cut paper doll clothes very carefully. Boys played marbles and used sling shots. I was surprised that my DGD was the only girl in her 3rd grade class that knew how to play Jacks and could play through the rounds with out missing. Her teacher played with her at recess and all the girls gathered around to learn. Very few could could bounce the ball and pick up a jack. Many got mad they couldn't do it so the teacher had to stop playing with the kids that could. No child could is allowed to have low self esteem feelings these days.

I remember the first sewing project I made was an apron. It was in my Brownie class (1 st. grade ? ) and it was hand sewn. Don't know what ever happened to it. I do still have 4 cobbler type aprons my Mom made for me when I was a little girl. I also learned to sew on a treadle machine...wish I still had it. I want to teach my grandson (5 1/2 yrs) how to sew on my FW, but I don't know if he can sit still that long. LOL

I have been teaching my 11 year old GD to sew. She started with paper and following the lines and dot to dots from color books. However, I felt that made her watch the "needle" rather than where the pressure foot is. So, once she started sewing on fabric and needed to make accurate seams I taped painters tape to the machine bed and had her use that for a guide. First she made a pillow case, then a blanket just putting two rights sides together and sewing around, turning it and then top stitch around. Next she made a bag.

Her all time FAVORITE is making STUFFED ANIMALS. She uses coloring book pictures for patterns. Puts the pattern on the fabric and cuts them out and sews them. I am amazed at how accurate her seams are and her corner turning is great. Doing these stuffed animals has taught her soooo much about details. Once she has sewn them and stuffed them she uses permanent marker to make their faces and sews buttons on by hand for eyes. She has made dozens of these and gives them to friends. She is so proud of stuffed animals and never seems to tire of making them!

Isn't that akin to saying a child, who doesn't walk early, will never win a marathon?

I just bought my granddaughter the new Elna Lotus. She's turning 7 in about a week - this was an early BD gift so she could start working on stuff to enter in the county fair in August.

Her first project that fed her ego in a BIG way was a simple sundress. I'm talking SIMPLE! Walmart sells that puckered sundress fabric that also already has a ruffled hem done. So we're talkin' one side seam and a set of turned shoulder straps. :). She pinned on a fabric flower ($2 at Walmart) ... And she was soooooo proud of what she made!

Our most difficult issue was finding REAL scissors that she could work with her little hands. After really crappy experiences with Fiskars & a few other brands ( all chewed fabric instead of cutting) , I finally found that Gingher sells a 4" pair of rounded tip scissors - so they look like typical school scissors, but are heavy and have that glorious "dressmaker shears" feel of true Ginghers.

PS... I get to "borrow" that Lotus for toting to classes, etc. :thumbup:

As you should be. Pass along a big WTG! to both of them.

I admire any child willing to learn a new "home" project. I have my grand children on the machine now and again and they love it. There is so much undesirable things to find to do on the streets these days. Keep the youth home teaching them a family trade and you'll always know where they are.

I am currently working with my 7 year old granddaughter. She sewed 5 inch sq together for a quilt. She lives in Texas and next visit she will put the back on her quilt. She was so excited. Just remember their attention span is very short. We took several breaks. I have taught several others to sew and it is so rewarding. I have signed up to teach beginning sewing at 4H here. Sharing helps pass our craft on.