teaching dd to sew

**hmcart** · 12-31-2011, 09:03 PM

Hi all. My dd is 12 and got her first sewing machine for Christmas. I need to teach her but honestly I am not great myself. Anyone have any sites that might help her for basics?

**Spirit Deer** · 12-31-2011, 09:49 PM

I'm only guessing, but I would do a search on YouTube. I know there are a ton of great videos for knitting and other crafts, so I bet there's a lot for sewing, too.

Start her off with simple things. Pajamas are a good starter project because. since she won't wear them in public, mistakes aren't as problematic. Shorts with an elastic waist would be a good first project, too. Choose a very simple pattern and have her take her time. Wash the fabric before cutting out the pattern so it shrinks. Otherwise, if it shrinks after sewing then it may not fit anymore.

That's great your daughter wants to learn to sew. It's a skill worth learning, IMO.

**imagine** · 12-31-2011, 09:53 PM

Originally Posted by hmcart

Hi all. My dd is 12 and got her first sewing machine for Christmas. I need to teach her but honestly I am not great myself. Anyone have any sites that might help her for basics?

So much fun!

Pillows are normaly a first project. You learn to straight stich but have a end product.

**frugalwarrior2** · 12-31-2011, 10:22 PM

Aprons,pillows,dish towels for proficiency.
Joanne fabrics teaches kids classes in sewing.

**Spirit Deer** · 01-01-2012, 12:13 AM

Pillowcases would be very simple, too.

**nuisance26** · 01-01-2012, 07:54 AM

~Threadbanger does some awesome tutorials but sometimes the language they use is a wee harsh but not terribly offensive or anything. Just a warning.

Their audience is teens and college aged folks who don't have tons of money to spend on materials. So they refashion stuff from clothes, sheets, blankets, etc. and show you exactly how to do it without buying patterns or making things complicated. And you don't have to worry about ruining expensive materials as you're learning because they were cast-offs anyway. If the project fails, you can cast it off and use more free materials to try again.

~

**Ceashels** · 01-01-2012, 08:58 AM

Check out your local or school library (the school librarian would know and be able to search for age/skill appropriate books).

Also, Simplicity has an "It's so Easy" line of patterns for clothing as well. The cuts are very basic and things are explained well for beginners.

What a great gift to receive.

**wjcalderon** · 01-01-2012, 10:28 AM

Originally Posted by Ceashels

Also, Simplicity has an "It's so Easy" line of patterns for clothing as well. The cuts are very basic and things are explained well for beginners.

Simplicity also now has a line of "Learn to Sew" patterns - I've been sewing for over 40 years, but I used one of these patterns to make skirts for my granddaughters - 2 rectangles sewed together, hemmed at the bottom and turned over at the top for elastic.
VERY easy and they really turned out cute!