Learning to sew at a young age gives children a fun, creative, and useful talent that gives life-long pleasure - whether it is hand sewing or using a sewing machine.
Knowing how to sew is a useful skill that also creates opportunities for creative expression. Past generations have passed sewing skills from generation to generation. Sadly, many traditions that in the past surrounded sewing's heritage has been bypassed with the introduction of inexpensive imported textile products.
Buying fabric and sewing notions can get expensive and sewing tends to be a time-consuming process. It can be hard to justify making an item that can be purchased for a lower price at the local department store. There are, however, valid reasons to sew and to teach children to sew.
Why Teach Children to Sew
When someone makes an item themselves they know for certain their item is one of a kind. It is nice to have something no one else can get. Children tend to be proud of having things that are special, unique, and things they have created by themselves.
Things do not always last as long as they should. A lot of times a small problem - like a loose button - arises that can be easily repaired. Sometimes a small, inexpensive sewing task can save a piece of clothing or other textile article. If a button falls off or a seam tears loose knowing how to repair the damage saves the cost of replacing the whole thing.
Advantages of Teaching and Learning How to Sew
Another great reason to teach children to sew is that it is satisfying for both the child and the teacher. A relaxed attitude - by both the adult and the child – makes learning to sew especially enjoyable. Sewing instruction can be a wonderful bonding experience for both parties.
The teacher gets the satisfaction of knowing they have shared a useful skill while the child will have a fond memory of the time to always remember. Every time the child sews will be an opportunity to fondly remember the day they learned a particular stitch or how to fit a pattern.
Hand sewing is the best way to begin teaching boys and girls how to sew. Small children do best if they start with a large plastic sewing needle, yarn, and loose-weave fabric. The plastic needle lets them get used to get a feeling for hand sewing without the risk of getting poked.
Switching to metal needles, regular sewing thread, and sewing notions - like buttons - is the next step. Being able to fix a small rip or to sew a button on so it will stay put is something everyone should know. Anyone who wears clothes should really know how to securely put a button back if it falls off.
Good Beginner Sewing Projects
Beginner level sewing projects are the next part of the progression of teaching a child to sew after basic hand sewing repair has been taught. The easiest way to approach this stage is to buy a sewing pattern. Sewing patterns are available for all sewing skill levels. A good beginner pattern should be marked as easy, sew easy, or beginner.
Ideas and patterns for sewing crafts are easy to find at a beginner level. Some easy beginner sewing projects are elastic waist shorts; pull over shirts, hat sewing, and sewing eco-friendly tote bags. Useful sewing projects like clothing that can be worn to school or the park and cute sewn crafts will be the most likely to delight children.
Copyright Laure Justice. Contact the author to obtain permission for republication. Originally published on Suite101.com.
Image of woman teaching child to sew courtesy Wikimedia Commons.
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