The 10 Best Sewing Projects for Kids

These easy sewing projects for kids teach the skills that they will need when they tackle more complicated projects later. I recommend teaching the basics of hand sewing and how to sew with a sewing machine, and then letting your little guy or gal lead the way – you’ll be surprised how much they love using your scraps!

I learned to sew when I was seven. My mom taught me the basics of sewing by hand, and then gave me permission to raid the ‘goodwill’ bag of discarded clothing for materials. Having 8 younger siblings, those clothes probably came from Goodwill in the first place and had nowhere left to go after we wore them out!

I especially loved making DIY teddy bears  – which always turned out quite franken-bear looking, because I was making up the pattern as I went along and stuffing them with more cut up clothing from the same goodwill bag. But my mom always responded so enthusiastically to my creations – and giving those misshapen franken bears to my siblings made me so happy – I never stopped sewing. I still love sewing gifts for the people I love.

Now that I’m the mom (and someone who earns her living sewing and teaching others how to sew), I’m figuring out that teaching kids to sew requires patience, love, and enthusiasm for franken-bears (or whatever your kid wants to make). You’ll also need a list of easy projects to get started with. That’s where I come in!

If you have the patience, love, and enthusiasm to teach kids to sew, too, here are 10 simple sewing projects to get you (and them) started on a lifetime sewing adventure.

1. Buttons on socks.

For a kid that’s just starting out, sewing buttons on an old sock is a great way to learn a skill that they’ll have to use later on. Plus every school has funny sock day, don’t they? They’ll be ready!

2. Boo-boo bags

When we were kids, our moms made bean bags. The classic bean bag is still in style – it’s just called by other names now. Fill it with rice, keep it in the freezer, and it’s a boo-boo bag. You can even sprinkle lavender oil on the rice for a special touch. This is a great way to teach kids how to sew right sides together, leave an opening, and turn the project right side out.

You can teach your kid from a cute easy pattern like this one or simply let them trace their own teddy bear or other stuffed toy (like I did years ago).

Recently I shared a tutorial for sewing plush cat dolls using fabric panels. You can use these instructions for any doll panel or cotton fabric with animal designs. Softies like these make great Christmas gifts for kids to give siblings and classmates.

4. A Doll Skirt

With just a little bit of fabric and elastic, your kid can sew a doll skirt – then she can make a skirt for herself using the same technique!

5. Un-Paper Towels

Another sewing project that I used to teach my kids to sew is un-paper towels. You are supposed to add snaps to roll them all together – but we ended up using them like washcloths. However you sew them, you’ll have something useful at the end.

6. Easy Pillows

I know, I’m going heavy on the useful items. Maybe I’m breaking child labor laws making my kids sew all these things for me, lol! Feel free to start simple and make them work up to the photo fabric and pom pom pillows.

7. Drawstring Backpack

Won’t your girl be proud when she can sew a drawstring backpack and wear it to a friends house? This is a great sewing project for boys too.

8. Pillowcase

Another useful item that is so easy. Teach kids to sew a pillowcase with just one yard of fabric using this easy pillowcase pattern. This is a great project to teach sewing a straight line!

9. Simple Messenger Bag

Tote bags are a super project for teaching someone to sew, plus it gives them a way to store and organize other crafting items. This super simple messenger bag pattern takes less than a yard of fabric and is really just a bag with a strap – but it’s so cute!

10. Pajama pants

Who doesn’t love homemade pajama pants! Here’s my free Pajama Pants Pattern in kids sizes 12mo-10. I used this pattern to make my kids’ Christmas PJ pants for years.

I hope you’ve enjoyed my list of the best sewing projects for kids. If you want more ideas for beginner sewing projects, here are other free patterns you might try:

• Sew some scrunchies – they are in style again! This project uses just a bit of fabric and elastic.
• Here are 50 Sewing Ideas for Fabric Scraps.  There’s no better thing to use when building sewing skills than scraps! 
• If your student likes the drawstring bag pattern above, move on to these 15 Free Sewing Patterns With Drawstrings.
• Aprons are a great way to teach someone to use a sewing machine too. Try this awesome 1 Yard Magic Apron Pattern.

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xoxo,