mommabear62

My precious 8 year old granddaughter has expressed a great desire to learn to sew!!! I have purchased her the little green Janome Hello Kitty sewing machine for Christmas. Hope this was the correct one. They had two other Hello Kitty models but I decided on the green one. Anyway, I was wondering what you all would suggest as simple first projects for her to try!! All suggestions greatly appreciated.

sewmary

Pillowcase

katier825

Doll quilt, simple tote bag, pillows.

jeank

I started my grand children with pillow case. A quick project that they can use immediately.

Then we did pj's. Simple pull on pants and over the head top. Or just the pants teamed up with a matching color T-shirt.
They are proud to wear them and it doesnt matter how straight seams are.

For quilting, the first project was simple squares 6 1/2" sewed together (I did the cutting). Chose 2 or 3 colors, one a novelity print that they pick out. They made a lap quilt to use while watching TV. Tie the quilt. It is much more forgiving for uneven seams, and use a puffy batting rather than a flat one like warm and natural. Hides the fact that the squares may not be flat.

Jingle

You are a wonderful Gramma, she will love it. I would start with something simple like a pillowcase or a pillow. You are so lucky, I have two Granddaughters, 19 and 25 and neither one has any interest in learning to sew.

HillCountryGal

Yes.. pillowcase; doll blanket; pillow... not knowing your grandaughter... it's possible she could create something requiring a bit more understanding. When my daughter age 7/8 wanted to learn to sew, I let her pick a pattern and we went from there. She enjoyed the process... going to the store, picking the pattern and fabric. Ended up making a wrap-around skirt (does this date us?). Before that, I had let her use the scissors and sit to my sewing machine doing straight stitching.

When my grandaughter expressed an interest in sewing, she wanted to make pj's. We used t-shirt fabric as it's more forgiving for easing sleeves in, etc.

Whatever y'all end up making, make it fun.

DebraK

If she is also showing interest in the kitchen as well, an apron would be easy and fun.

QuiltyReese

My 8 year old just learned to quilt. She sewed together large 9 inch squares into a patchwork lap quilt. It really got her used to the quarter inch seam and lining seams up together. And at the end she was super happy to have a project she could cuddle up with. I am going to take her top and add borders to square it off and quilt it for her as it didn't come out super straight.

Dolphyngyrl

I agree pillow case, small doll quilt with charm pack, simple small tote bag. You might want to check out clotilde
I am going to get this for my daughter so she can use it when she gets older, don't know how good it is but it says there are 8 simple projects in it. That is clotildes new site since taken over.
http://www.anniescatalog.com/detail.html?prod_id=96488
http://www.anniescatalog.com/detail.html?prod_id=96491

sap

before she makes a pillow case give her piece of note book paper with lines on it and have her practice following the lines to get use to controling what ever she will be working on.

my grandmother started me that way, it really helped. she had a treadle machine and I had to set on her lap because I was't tall enough to reach the treadle and see what I was doing too.