Can You Sew With Young Kids?

Do you want to teach your young kids to sew but stop yourself and think, “They’re probably still too young to use a needle and thread.” Or perhaps you think, “Well, I can’t sew! I can’t teach my kids if I’m not an expert sewist myself!”

Well, it’s time to think again!

The answer to, “Can I sew with young kids?” is short and simple: “Yes, you can!”

This years Sew a Softie in July participants are here to show you that kids as young as three and four years old can safely and happily sew with real needles and when they do, they fall in love with sewing. If you’ve ever watched a young child trying to push and pull a large blunt plastic needle through fabric you’ll know why their sewing experience thrives when they use a real needle which is perfectly-sized for their little hands and passes effortlessly through the fabric.

I know that putting anything with a sharp little point into a child’s hands runs counter to our protective maternal instincts but if you give your child a chance to be grown-up and responsible, he or she will grow before your eyes. Try it! Thirty years of sewing with kids tells me that you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

And if you think you can’t sew with your kids because you yourself can’t sew or can’t sew well, then this year’s Sew a Softie participants are here to show you that none of that matters. If you stop believing that your sewing has to live up to someone else’s ideal of perfect stitches, then you’ll discover that sewing can be a creative, fun, and calming activity for you and your kids.

Testimonials

If you’re still not convinced, read these comments by people from around the world who took the plunge and sewed, often for the very first time, with their young kids this July:

“I was a little hesitant as I am not good at sewing and was not sure if my four year old is too young to do it. But we decided to take part [in Sew a Softie in July] and my boy, my 4 year old, did it so amazingly”

Madhura, USA

“Although I don’t know how to sew the least, I thank Trixi because her invitation led me to do something new and fun with my children”

Marilena, Italy

“I must confess I was worried about teaching my daughter how to sew, you know, needles and sharp scissors, but reading your articles made me feel more confident and more at ease: and it’s paid off, she’s just thrilled!”

Daniele, Brazil

I hope I’ve interested you in taking the plunge and starting to sew with your kids.

Easy sewing projects for kids

Here are some of more than 60 online softies and softie tutorials posted by Sew a Softie in July participants this year to inspire you and help you on your sewing way. You can also check out last years Sew a Softie tutorials.

Some links take you to tutorials and some links take you to a softie without a tutorial but posted for inspiration.