Recently, Alicia, who is a member of the Sew a Softie facebook group<\/a> asked me about teaching kids to hand sew and what supplies you might need to get started.<\/p>\n I’ve been teaching kids to hand sew for almost 30 years and I love that hand sewing requires only a minimal amount of supplies and that the supplies needed are actually not that expensive. Hand sewing is portable, you can take it wherever you go and even young children can learn to hand sew. Once parents realise that little kids can use sharp needles quite responsibly and accept that kids stitches don’t have to be perfect or even, the fun in learning to sew can begin.<\/p>\n So you might be wondering…\u00a0What is a good age to teach child to sew?\u00a0<\/a>or Why is hand sewing so great for kids?<\/a>\u00a0 As you can see I’ve answered both questions.<\/p>\n The following is a list of the sewing supplies I use in my workshops. These are my personal sewing supply preferences and are based on my own experiences spread over more than 25 years of teaching kids to sew but they are still just personal preferences. Other sewing teachers may have different supply lists that will work for you just as well.<\/p>\n Once you have your supplies you might want to look over my Guide to Teaching Kids: Essential Stitches List<\/a><\/p>\n An important thing to remember when buying your sewing supplies is to buy good quality materials. Cheap materials tend to break easily and oftentimes are difficult to work with. Those threads and needles you buy at bargain basement stores are often bargain basement quality too. ALWAYS check the quality of your materials by giving them a test run. If it’s difficult for you to pull the needle through the fabric it’s going to be even more difficult for a child.<\/p>\n Some links below are affiliate links which means I might earn a commission, at no extra cost to you if you click through and make a purchase.<\/em><\/p>\n needle<\/a><\/p>\n needle threader<\/a> (optional)<\/p>\n pins<\/a> or clips<\/a><\/p>\n thread<\/p>\n felt<\/a><\/p>\n stuffing<\/a><\/p>\n scissors<\/a><\/p>\n glue <\/a><\/p>\n 2B pencil or wax pencil<\/a><\/p>\n decorations<\/p>\n Sewing box<\/a> for your supplies: This isn’t essential but having your own sewing box when you’re learning to sew does making sewing just a little more special. And this easy to sew needle book<\/a>\u00a0tutorial is a good addition to your sewing kit.<\/p>\n First up, I want to debunk the myth that kids need big blunt needles to sew with. Big blunt needles can be great for projects like this one at Childhood101<\/a> but in general, if you want to make sewing enjoyable and easy and doable for kids they need small sharp needles.<\/p>\n I like using Chenille 24 needles<\/a> which work well when I’m using ordinary sewing thread. If I’m using a thicker thread like a perle cotton or embroidery floss I’ll use a size 20 or 22 chenille needle<\/a>. Experiment and see what works best for you and your kids.<\/p>\n Chenille needles are small and sharp but also have a very large eye which makes it easier for kids to thread. Having said that, basically any sewing needle will really do but the smaller the eye the harder it will be for kids, and for you, to thread. Remember with needles the higher the number the smaller the needle.<\/p>\n Remember the size of your needle will depend on the thread you’re using. A thicker thread will need a needle with a larger eye.<\/p>\n I don’t actually use needle threaders in my workshops. Instead I prefer to get the kids to try and thread their own needles or I help them with the threading. However, I don’t think that there’s any reason to avoid using a needle threader and some teachers find them very<\/em> useful aids…especially if you’re teaching a large group of kids! I know Amie Plumley at Sewing School<\/a> uses the LoRan<\/a> threaders in her workshops. Just make sure the hook on the threader you choose can easily go through the eye of the needle you’re using.<\/p>\n You might like this video on easy ways to thread a needle with kids<\/p>\n![\"Teaching](\"https:\/\/sewasoftie.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/boys-sewing-reduced.png\" "\\"Teaching")
<\/a><\/p>\nThe essential supply\u00a0list when teaching kids to hand sew:<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"Penguin](\"https:\/\/sewasoftie.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/pengi-teaching-kids-to-sew.png\" "\\"Penni")
<\/a><\/p>\nNeedles<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Needle threader<\/strong><\/h3>\n