Quick Sewing Projects for Kids Learning to Sew

Instructions for Several Easy Sewing Crafts

If your daughter is learning to sew she probably is anxious to make something all on her own. If she knows basic stitching there are a few projects she can do immediately with little assistance. One is a throw. Many people use throws in cool weather to cover up with while relaxing in their favorite chair. The throws are very easy to make and don't take too long to do so.

A 60"x80" throw is a comfortable size for a grownup but the throw can be made much smaller, if need be, for a child. Cut the fabric to about 62"x82". This will allow enough room for the child to stitch around the edges and still keep the general size of the throw.

Start by having the child zig-zag with a wide stitch. The stitches can be fairly close together but not too close. Having the stitches too close together uses lots and lots of thread and doesn't really add anything to the throw. Have the child guide the throw by aligning the edge of the throw against one of the feed plate markings, making sure to leave an inch or so for trimming. After the child has sewn around the perimeter of the throw, have her trim the edges about an eighth-inch away from the stitches, all the way around. The throw is now finished.

Your child can easily make a purse from a place mat, too. Fold the cloth place mat in half, width-wise, inside-out. Have the child sew the two side seams, making sure to backstitch when she gets to the ends. She can now sew velcro pieces across the inside top edges, on both sides, to hold the purse shut. Or, she can just put a single large snap or button in the inside center.

A different way to make the purse is to fold the place mat about 2/3's of the way up, inside-out. After stitching, turn the purse right-side-out. This will leave enough fabric to make a flap that folds over the top of the purse and snaps shut on one side.