Some Handwork ~ Teaching Children to Sew

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I feel the need to confess that when it comes to children's typical 'craft' activities I am lack lustre. I just can't seem to find enthusiasm when it comes to coloured paper, glue sticks and pipe cleaners. My husband thinks this is a little humbug of me (and he might be right!) but I would much rather do real crafts with the children, crafts that teach them real skills and create things that are really beautiful.

My son is going on six and my daughter is four so I first thought they might be a bit young for sewing but I decided to try it with them and I am glad I did. They have taken it to it wonderfully. Children are always so much more capable then they are given credit for ~ when given opportunities to be so.

I started our little sewing lessons with an embroidery hoop sewing buttons. 

When their buttons were tidy they graduated to sewing around simple outlines.

Now they are sewing felt shapes onto fabric to create pictures.

We do sewing every day as a part of our 'doing school' and now,with the simple sewing skills they have acquired I think they can confidently try their hands at things like appliquéd pillows, pot-holders, and herbal sachets etc. 

For me..... this is much more fun than gluing and cutting. They really love doing it as well. I think that is very likely that this project will grow into Christmas presents of some sort (if you are family reading this blog shhhh, don't tell yourself!). 

What kind of handwork do you do with your children?