My two boys (ages 4 and 5) are very interested in my quilting projects. While going through my scraps box the other day, my oldest asked if he can make a quilt for his teddy bear, and of course his brother chimed in that he'd like to do one too. I'm looking forward to sitting down one-on-one with each of them next weekend to get them started.

Safety first of course, so they won't be using the rotary cutter. And I know I can put a rolled up sock under the foot pedal to limit their speed, but how do they reach the foot pedal to begin with? I know lots of you have sewn with children and I appreciate whatever advice you can offer.

a footstool maybe? depends on how far of a reach and if hes comfy in the chair with feet on stool while sewing... if its not high enough, put a phone book on top of it maybe lol
my 5 yr old isnt asking to actually sew yet.. thank goodness.. shes content with handing me strips for her quilt for now :D

Move the sewing machine to a child-sized table. If you don't have one, maybe a low shelf or coffee table. Then they can sit and reach everything with the pedal right on the floor!

Careful with that iron, too.

Have fun!

At that age, I ran the pedal and they sat on my lap and sewed.

Great idea Amma. Never thought of sewing withthem on my lap.

Sheila

what a great idea.

I did the same thing with my son. He wanted a blankie for his Build-A-Bear to go ni-nite. We tied the blanket. Made me very nervous, those tiny little fingers with a needle going up and down!! 17yrs old and put blankie with teddie in attic!!

a child sized table!!!
my 4 year old granddaughter made her first quilt for her daddy sitting at her little carebear craft table and a brother machine with speed control. I did cutting and ironing, she did the rest...some of her seams were 1" wide but it was all good, the quilt came together great, then we tipped a dresser on it's side for her to stand on and she quilted it on the 'big-machine'
her daddy (in the military) has carried that quilt all over the world for 5 years now!

When DGD first started sewing she had a step stool I put her sewing machine foot on. Soon after it got her a kids table to use. Just the right height. She keeps her sewing machine and fabric on the table and has a sewing area just like grandmas. :-D

That is wonderful!