What your child will learn in a basic sewing class
Sewing is a great skill to learn, and it will come in handy for years to come. Once you’ve mastered the basics, you can create your own clothes, alter or mend garments, or make home decor items. Learning to sew can open up a whole new world of style, and with some practice, it can become a fun hobby.
If you’re thinking about signing your child up for a sewing class, you might wonder what they’ll get out of it. Sewing classes are great for kids because they’ll spend time learning useful skills while also getting the chance to use their creativity. Here are just a few things your child will learn in basic sewing class:
How to use a sewing machine
A big part of any beginning sewing class will be learning how to use the machine. In most classes, students will begin by practicing scrap material before moving on to projects. They’ll learn how to select thread colors and how to properly wind the bobbin so that they’reready to sew when they sit down at their machine. Your child’s instructor will be there every step of the way to answer questions and help them learn everything from threading the needle to buttonholes and more!
Pattern reading
In addition to learning how to thread the needle and operate the machine, children will also need to learn how pattern reading works in order for them to make their own stuffed animalsor other crafts. They’ll learn about seam allowance (the extra space between two pieces of fabric) as well as grainlines (which direction is considered “up”).
Hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills
One essential skill that most children learn in sewing classes is hand-eye coordination. This is something they’ll use every day in life and can help them with other activities like sports and playing an instrument. Sewing also helps develop fine motor skills; if you’ve evertried to thread a needle, you know it requires concentration!
In short, there is a wide array of skills that can be learned by taking a basic sewing class. Skills like giving precise measurements, measuring and cutting materials, learning design elements like symmetry, and coming up with an original pattern. Children will learn how to handle machine needles and irons, they will practice their math skills by adding on or takingoff material from patterns, and they will build muscle control by properly using the sewing machine’s foot pedal. No child is too young to learn sewing skills (or at least start laying the foundation for them); many schools have classes for younger children to get the ball rolling early. And with a little help from you, your child will definitely want to learn.
