How to Sew Pumpkins the easy way a children handicraftactivity

Charlotte Mason’s teaching methodologies resonate with me in more ways than I can count. One of those ways is her idea of teaching children a handicraft from a young age. It enriches them and opens the door for them to become more creative, skilled, and confident.

*** Some points to acknowledge about handicrafts per Charlotte Mason:

They should make something that will be useful
Be challenging and work through it – perseverance

There are many handicrafts a child can learn, sewing is just one of them. Start them out with learning how to sew on a button or how to thread a needle are basic life skills that will be used at one point or another.

Some of my favorite products for teaching and practicing sewing (while making a useful product) are Alex’s Sewing Toys. Also this book is fantastic!!! it has 21 projects that children will enjoy making.

Sewing for kids can be the gateway to let them discover a new skill. My kids enjoy hand sewing and have benefitted greatly from learning to sew. There are so many fun things to sew and make for the home or for their rooms. They take such delight in being able to hold something they made with their own hands.

Sewing School: 21 Sewing Projects Kids Will Love to Make Sewing School 2: Lessons in Machine Sewing; 20 Projects Kids Will Love to Make

We keep a basket of sewing supplies easily accessible so that it creates an invitation to create and to sew. It has encouraged us to put together a sewing kit to have available at home. I will post more details on that soon, but for now, feel free to look at this kit readily available.

Easy Hand Sewing Project – Perfect for Beginners and Young Children

My kids ages 7, 5, and 4 completed the project below.

The other day, we made fabric pumpkins to go with our Fall Décor. Before we made them, I made an invitation to sew by setting out fabric circles, needles, and thread. When they saw the needles and thread their eyes widened and thy were just full of enthusiasm to learn something new as well as a real opportunity to use a needle.

Hand Sewing Safety Guidelines

First things first. Talk about SAFETY WITH NEEDLES.

Let them know there is a sharp point. Talk about what would happen if you touch that?
Keep needles away from the eyes.
Use the needle for sewing away from you, not towards you.

Hand them the needle and see how they hold it. It is very possible that their small hands will adjust almost intuitively to hold the needle properly. If so, BINGO!

Hand sewing has many benefits like:

coordination
develop fine motor skills
space awareness

How to teach children to sew:

Pick a small project – Small children attention span is fairly short. Use their enthusiasm to the max by offering a project they can complete in a fairly short amount of time.
Review steps in a 1-2-3 format

Hand Sewing Goals for today’s project:

Sew around the circle
Stuff the circle
Sew it shut
Optional: Glue a button to decorate the top.

3. Make it with a purpose – Children are naturally curious and they want to know the purpose of their project, especially when they know they are going to invest time in making it. They want to see the value of what they do. The peoject should answer to the questions: “What is this for?” What are we going to do with it?”
Sewing can be lots of fun and allows for some quick crafting time. Everyone can enjoy sitting at the table to complete a quick new peoject for their home.