Any Ideas to teach children sewing

I have a 4 yr old, 5 yr old, 6 yr old, 9 yr old, and 14 yr old that want me to teach them to sew. They want to use the sewing machine. All are boys except for the 6yr old. She has a child's sewing machine and we have made quite a few things using it. The 4yr old is going to have to do hand sewing and I think the 5 yr old will have to hand sew as well they are just not ready for a machine. So I told the kids I would do a sewing camp for them this summer any ideas of projects that would be good. The sewing machine projects need to be easy but geared to boys and girl. The hand sewing for the younger two would be for boys. The older two will be using regular machines and the 6 yr old will use the child machine. I would appreciate any ideas or links on projects you would suggest for them.

Pillowcases are great first projects for kids learning to machine sew. Depending on how that goes you could try a tote or beach bag and a drawstring bag next. After that I would try a pair of elastic waisted shorts and then pj pants.
Since the younger ones will be handsewing, you could have them make a bean bag. It's a small enough project to keep them interested and they end up with a small toy. Also you could try a softie - maybe the one posted here http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/?p=712 or maybe one of the ones here http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/?p=228. Another idea is to make felt Christmas ornaments - snowmen or gingerbread would probably be best as you would want to keep the shapes simple.

That's great that the want to learn to sew. I think I would start with something super easy so they can have a quick success under their belt. Maybe using felt?

I know I saw a tutorial for felt crowns recently, maybe you could adapt it to hand sewing. http://juicy-bits.typepad.com/juicy_bits/2008/09/32-felt-birthday-crown-tutorial.html
 
The 14yo might enjoy making something like a drawstring backpack in a "cool" fabric. Here's a tute I found: http://jessbcuz.wordpress.com/2008/07/14/drawstring-backpack-instructions/

My kids are 3 and 6 and they have enjoyed the cardboard lacing shapes. That might be a good first step to handsewing.

Funny--I was just thinking about how my Grandma taught me to hand sew when I was little.  She took a few paper plates and drew some shapes like stars and hearts with dots evenly spaced along the lines of the shapes (does that make sense?).  She showed me how to thread a needle and knot the end and then I put the needle through the plate at the dots and sewed along.  I LOVED this.  I sewed buttons on the plates too.

As for projects, some little softies might be nice and easy--Lord knows I've occupied myself hand sewing many on long car trips.  Here are some good books:
http://www.amazon.com/Aranzi-Aronzo-Dolls-Lets-Stuff/dp/1932234799/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1244492475&sr=8-5

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_b_0_10?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=sock+and+glove&sprefix=sock+and+g

http://www.amazon.com/Softies-Simple-Instructions-Plush-Pals/dp/0811856526/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1244492539&sr=1-1

To save time/frustration with patterns, you could cut out all the needed pieces.

I remember back in my home ec classes in 6th grade, we made large (10 x10?) square, stuffed pillows with animal faces hand sewn onto the front.
We also made wind socks.  Does anyone remember those?  I swear I still have mine somewhere. Basically it's strips of fabric sewn together to form a rectangle then you sew it into a tube.  Add some long trailing strips and some string at the top and viola- wind sock.  Loved that project.

Such great ideas. I have a 7 yr old girl who will watch me & keep asking when can I learn to sew Please mommy?
I thought I would start her with a pillow. I remember in home ec class at school making elastic waist shorts.
i think I will cut it all out for her at first.

I don't particularly remember my mom giving me lessons or projects. What I remember is that she would make me a skirt and then give it to me to hem by hand. Or she'd be making pants and let me sew the straight parts or thread the elastic, etc. Or a vest that had topstitching, she would give it to me to do the topstitching. (Later I found out she hated topstitching, lol.)

When I went to college she gave me one of her machines to take with her. It wasn't until then that I realized I'd never made a complete garment on my own! But I'd done most of the steps at one time or another so it was just a matter of putting all those skills together.

i have found many ideas on the web, first you have to start with how to sew a straight stitch. some pillowcases in cool fabrics will be a good keepsake project for this lesson.
a few links:
http://www.craftandfabriclinks.com/pillowcases/cases.html/
http://kirstencan.typepad.com/kirstencan/pillowcase_tutorial/
 http://www.vanillajoy.com/pillowcase-tutorial.html/
http://www.craftandfabriclinks.com/pillowcases/cases.html

then with straight stitch, you can make flags, banners, curtains, drawstring bags, gift bags, totebags, placemats, lunch sacks,simple quilts,  wrist bands,etc..

another interesting beginner project is making applique patches on old clothing with contrasting fabic.

then progress onto curved stitches, edge finishing velcro, elastic, maybe bermuda shorts or pajama pants,something they can wear.

some wonderful ideas here:http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/sewing/msg1121005928052.html
something simple here: http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/2490/Sewing-Class-for-boys/

hope this helps
jaya

If you can't find a qualified instructor (try www.kidscansew.com and http://www.palmerpletsch.com/teacherlist-CSI.htm ) start them sewing on paper - draw some straight lines and have them line up the edge of the presser foot with the lines and sew (no thread, of course!). As an instructor (www.sewyoucan.com), I've found that kids look at the needle and go way too fast...and create a huge mess. And keep the projects simple - their attention span is very short and sewing involves a lot of pointy, potentially dangerous objects. We typically start with lunchbox napkins, pillow cases, and tote bags.

But I would really recommend finding someone who is a professional. Knowing how to sew and teaching sewing are two different skill sets.
Good luck!!

The Palmer/Pletsch people also make a DVD on teaching children to sew.  The info is here:
http://www.palmerpletsch.com/dvd-videos.htm

There are super easy projects that woulg give them a great sense of accomplishment - pillowcases, basic drawstring bags, and if you can help pajama pants are great for older kids.

I just finished a week of a sewing camp with four kids. This is my second time to run the camp and here is what I learned:

1. Have them draw something with straight lines on a piece of felt or thick plain fabric. Practice slowly sewing, lifting the foot, pivoting, lowering the foot and sewing. Draw more lines. Sew some more. The ladies at my fabric store tape a block under the foot pedal (my kids call it the gas pedal) to slow them down.

2. Make a little pouch with a casing. Learn how to thread ribbon through the casing.

3. Make another one.

4. Make a pair of sleep shorts. Create a pattern with the front and back in one piece...that makes fewer seams. Make a hem and casing. This time thread an elastic through it.

5. Sew a shopping tote with French seams. (more straight seams)

6. We also made an a-line skirt--with a zipper. They were remarkably not intimidated. We trimmed the hem with contrasting fabric and added a waistband.

I let them make projects over and over if they wished.

Good luck!!

Thanks for all the great ideas. We have made one project so far. I taught the 6yr, 9yr, and 14 yr old to sew a felt crayon roll. They did exceptionally well. I was so surprised. I first had them practice sewing straight lines on a piece of felt using the sewing machine guide. Then I drew straight lines with chalk for them to sew on to see if they could do it since they would be sewing on chalk lines for there roll. The 6yr old used her childrens sewing machine and sewed a perfect straight line, I couldn't believe how well she did but she and I have been making projects with that machine for several months. The older two did really well, I let them use my older machine. I was surprised how well they all caught on and how much they were able to do on their own. Now the 9 yr old says he wants to learn to hand sew so I am going to figure out a project for him. I am also going to get them all another project together for the machine. I am thinking a pillow case next or a pillow. I had the younger two a lacing project to do but they decided to just play with toys instead which was fine with me seeing how hectic it is teaching three to sew at the same time while tending to a baby as well.  

For the younger ones - if they decide they want to sew - you can just pick-up some plastic canvas shapes, yarn, and child-friendly plastic needles. They can sew however they like.  My daughter added beads with letters to spell a friends name on one of hers.  Or use burlap.  My daughters used burlap first and both loved it.

You can see my oldest'a first burlap sewing here: http://life-is-a-musical.blogspot.com/2008/06/rapunzel.html