Want to sew with your kids? Fantastic idea! Sewing is not only creative—it’s a confidence-building skill kids will carry with them for life. But here’s the real secret: choosing the right first project makes all the difference.
Over the years I’ve taught hundreds of children to sew. Most begin around ages 5–6, but sometimes I’ve had eager little ones as young as 3 join in—usually because they don’t want to be left out when an older sibling is sewing! With the right project and close supervision, even very young children can enjoy being part of the experience.
Pick a project that’s too fiddly or complicated, and both you and your child may end up frustrated. But when you choose a project that’s simple, quick, and designed for success, something magical happens: your child feels proud, you feel relaxed, and sewing becomes a joyful experience you’ll both want to repeat.
As a sewing teacher and softie designer, I’ve spent decades exploring what makes a project truly kid-friendly. In this guide, I’ll show you exactly how to choose the best sewing projects for kids—so you can start with success and build a love of sewing that lasts.
What Makes a Good Sewing Project for Kids?.
1. Keep it simple
Choose a project with just a few pieces to cut and sew. The fewer the steps, the less overwhelming it feels. Too many parts can turn a first sewing experience into a stressful one.
2. Choose quick-to-sew projects
A first project should be finished in one sitting. Kids can sometimes sew for hours when they’re absorbed, but long projects risk draining their enthusiasm.
Quick finishes, on the other hand, are magical. Kids see how capable they are, their confidence sparks, and they can’t wait to sew again
3. Start with a running stitch
I like starting kids off with a running stitch. It’s easy to learn, rhythmic, and helps kids finish quickly.
Teach them the dip-and-pull motion without pulling the thread all the way through the back. That’s the most common beginner mistake, and avoiding it makes sewing so much smoother and quicker.
4. Straight lines work best
If your kids are sewing for the first time it’s helpful to draw a sewing line for them to sew on about 1/4″ in from the edge of the fabric. And it’s going to be easier for them to keep their stitches, which are probably fairly big and uncontrolled (at least at first) on a straight sewing line than it is to stitch along one that curves back and forth and is always charging off in new directions. A gently curving line is just as good as a straight one but try to avoid projects with too many ins and outs.
5. Choose a fabric that’s soft to sew
Felt is my favourite fabric for beginners. It doesn’t fray, is soft to handle, and cuts into clean shapes. Cotton works too, but felt is forgiving and perfect for little hands.
6. Follow your child’s intuition
Having said the above, my sixth and last point is: go with your child’s intuition. If they have their heart set on a particular project, even if you think it’s too difficult, it’s probably best to throw away all the preceding advice and just try it. Explain to your child that it might be a bit tricky to sew, but see how they go. When kids really want to do something, they almost always surprise us with just how much they can achieve.
And if it is too difficult for them to sew, you can still do the project together or put it aside for a later time and look for something more suitable.
My favourite first sewing project: zenki softies!
At the beginning of this piece I mentioned that I’ve spent many hours thinking about what makes a sewing project good for kids to begin with. Well, I also decided to design a softie project that would tick all the right boxes. I called these zenkis. So if you ask me, what’s my my favourite project to introduce kids to sewing it has to be one of my zenkis.
They can be made from only two pieces of felt and a running stitch. They don’t require you to insert and pin bits into place, they take very little time for a young first-time sewer to complete…and just as important for kids, their creative possibilities are endless. No two zenkis ever end up looking exactly the same. Yep, zenkis are my go-to choice for an introductory sewing project. I think they’re the friendliest simplest softies in the universe (even though I have to admit that I’m prejudiced…and they’d be very upset with me if I said anything else).
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right first sewing project makes sewing enjoyable for both your child and you. The right project sparks confidence, joy, and creativity while keeping the experience stress-free. I hope these tips help you pick projects that turn your child’s first stitches into the beginning of a long, fun-filled sewing adventure.
If you’d like to take the next step, join me in my Everything You Need to Know to Teach Your Kids to Sew Workshop. In this 50-minute pre-recorded video, I’ll walk you through all the supplies you’ll need, demonstrate techniques for tricky things like helping kids tie a knot and thread a needle, and show you a variety of simple creative stitches your students are going to love. It’s the perfect way to build your confidence and make sewing with kids easy and fun.
Happy sewing,
Trixi ✂️🧵
👩🏫 About the Author
Trixi Symonds is the founder of Sew a Softie, an international initiative that helps parents and educators teach kids to sew. She’s the author of several books including The Zenki Way and creates fun, beginner-friendly sewing projects that make stitching with kids fun and stress-free. Join thousands of others in the Global Kids Sewing Party!
I took notes on one of your videos sometime past that you have tips for working with cotton that is floppy. Could I please get that video and tips? Thank you!