Anyone who has children will know how testing rainy weekends can be! The videos have all been watched, the board games done with, and don’t even mention baking a cake!

For a change of pace, why not try sewing fun stuff that together, will help educate your kids to learn something new, as well as giving them something that they can be proud enough of to take to show and tell at school the following week. There are a number of easy – but fun – projects that anyone of any age can learn – and who knows, Mom or Dad may have a great time too!

Teaching The Basics

Before you get into sewing the fun stuff, make sure you teach each child the importance of safety using the pins and needles, and how to do a basic stitch, practicing on a piece of material.

If you can afford to, give each child their own little sewing kit, as this may give them a sense of importance and an encouragement to sew more often. However between projects, it may pay to store these kits in a safe place out of reach – random pins and needles on the floor aren’t a lot of fun for anyone!

Pin Cushions – Great Place To Start

Pin cushions can be a great starter project as these are simple, quick and easy to make. As well as this, when the project is finished, it can be added to the child’s sewing kit for future use.

All that this project requires is a scrap of fabric, some stuffing, and a needle and thread. Sew a shape of the material together like a pillow (a square is easiest however you can also sew a circle, triangle or otherwise), leaving a small section open for the filling. Stuff the shape, sew up the hole, and you’re done.

Decorate Shirts And Bags

Decorating shirts and bags is another was of making sewing stuff fun, as it can get your children’s creative juices flowing and creates an end result that they can wear. Rather than sew the whole shirt or bag, buy a plain t-shirt or bag from a second hand store or department store, and decorate with fun sewing stuff like patches, buttons, felt or fabric paint.

Fabric paint is an excellent option for younger children, as there is no sewing required whatsoever – which means no pins, needles, or chance of needless accidents.

Quilts – Easier Than You Think

If your kids find sewing stuff fun, and they get the basic stitches down pat, an easy project to take on is the humble patch work quilt. All you need is an old quilt or blanket, needle and thread, and a bag of rags. Sift through the rag bag, sorting out the patches and materials that you like, then starting from one corner of the blanket, stitch the patches on, over-lapping each one as you go. These long-term projects will not only keen them occupied, but it will help teach your kids commitment, and give them a sense of satisfaction when they finish.