As a rule, most kids love arts and crafts, especially those that encourage maximum creativity! Simple projects that require kids to slow down and focus have multiple benefits – including decision-making, confidence-building and math development, to name a few. If you learned to sew as a child, you probably still know enough to sew on a button or repair a small hole, or at least we hope you do!
Here are a couple of easy sewing activities to share with your kids.
Project 1:
Felt Animal Plushies
Ages 5-12
Supplies:
- Paper
- Marker
- Felt (2 pieces per plushie)
- Embroidery floss or thick thread
- Stuffing (cotton balls or pillow filling)
- Scissors
- Fabric glue
- Googly eyes and other decorations of your choice
Instructions:
- Draw a simple animal shape- such as a fish or a bunny – on the piece of paper.
- Cut out the design.
- Stack the two pieces of felt on top of one another and then trace around the paper design, transferring the animal shape onto the felt.
- Cut out the animal shape from both pieces of felt.
- Using a whip stitch or running stitch, sew around the shape, leaving a one-inch portion at the bottom open for stuffing Tip: Use large, even stitches. It doesn’t have to be perfect!
- Stuff the plushie by gently pushing in the stuffing to make the form soft and puffy.
- Once stuffed, finish the plushie by sewing along the open area – completely closing it.
- Decorate! Add noses, eyes or any accessories with fabric glue or sewing.
Tips by Age: Pre-cut the felt shapes for younger children. For older children, let them design and draw their own vision for the plushie.
They may enjoy making a full-sized plushie, too!
Project 2:
Simple Drawstring Bag
Ages 7-13
Supplies:
- Cotton fabric (about 10″ x 14″)
- Ribbon, yarn, or cord (18–24″)
- Sewing machine or needle and thread
- Safety pin
- Scissors
- Ruler or tape measure
Instructions:
- Fold the cotton fabric in half to make a 10” x 7” rectangle.
- Sew the two sides—leaving the top open.
- Make a casing by folding the top edge down twice (about ½” each time).
- Sew around the fold to make a space for the drawstring. Leave a 1-inch gap.
- Attach the safety pin to one end of your ribbon or cord.
- Use the pin to guide the string through the casing.
- Pull both ends and tie them together.
- Flip the bag inside out—and it’s done!
Tips by Age: For ages 7–9, pre-measure and help with machine sewing, for ages 10–13, encourage decorating with stamps, fabric markers or iron-on patches.
This article appears in Bend Nest Summer 2025.
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