Sewing with Kids: Materials and Tools

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Thinking of sewing with your kid or already doing so and looking for some advice? In this post, you'll learn all about materials and tools that you should use when sewing with kids. First, get basic materials like fabric, thread, needles, and scissors. Then, learn about other materials and tools you might want to have based on the sewing project you make with your kid. At last, I share some tools I use when preparing and during the hand sewing with felt class. This post is part of the sewing with kids series that I share to support parents and teachers who want to sew with kids and look for help and encouragement.

Enjoyable hand sewing with kids!

If you look for some tips on how to teach kids hand sew, visit the first post from the sewing with kids series. You'll find the hand sewing class plan I used during my hand sewing with felt classes in the future article.

1. Basic Materials and Tools for Sewing with Kids

If you want to sew any project with your kid, you'll need the following: 

Fabric

Choose a fabric that is easy to sew for the kids. I'm a fan of felt for its color range and easiness of sewing. The fact that felt doesn't fray and is thicker makes it perfect for many kids' sewing projects (find free patterns for felt crafts for kids here). You can also find countless free patterns for felt crafts on the Internet (great source at Sew a Softie).

If you want to buy felt, find great felt at Benzie Design or find more buying options in the Types of Felt section of the How to Sew Felt blog post. Wool blend felt is the easiest to work with, but most craft felt should also work.

Thread or Embroidery floss

I prefer to use embroidery floss in my sewing projects with kids. I split two or three strands. An excellent alternative to embroidery floss is Perle cotton size 8. Another option is to hand sew with standard thread. For this thread, you can consider using it double. This means making a nod at both ends of the thread together.

Needles

Embroidery floss will need a needle with a larger eye, while standard thread needs a smaller eye needle. The larger eye needle might be easier to thread for a beginner sewer. For embroidery floss, I use an embroidery needle no. 3-6 (also called embroidery crewel). You can also consider chenille needle no. 24. When sewing with kids aged six and up, I recommend using sharp needles. Note that if the needle eye is too large, it may leave holes in the felt project, and you might need to make a giant nod so that the thread doesn't come through the fabric.

Fabric Scissors

Felt requires good scissors to cut the felt shapes. I let kids use my favorite KAI embroidery scissors. From age six and up, they shouldn't have a problem handling sharp scissors. The scissors should be smaller compared to standard fabric scissors as kids will find them easier to use. For younger kids, it might be better to have all the felt shapes for their sewing project cut. If you need help with cutting felt, you can learn more in 6 ways on how to cut felt shapes.

Sewing with Kids - Scissors, Needles, Magnetic Pin Cushion

2. Materials and Tools for Sewing with Kids Depending on the Sewing Project

Sewing softies with your kids, you'll also need these tools:

Pins or Clips

You can use pins or clips when you need to hold two or more fabric pieces in place before sewing them. I prefer using pins in my hand sewing classes. Kids also use pins when they want to applique a felt shape to the fabric. Clips have the advantage of not being sharp and easy to find if one falls on the floor.

Pencil and highlighter pencil

For tracing on fabric, you'll need a tool that marks fabric. For darker fabrics, a highlighter pencil (permanent glasochrom) works wonders. I tried it in my sewing with kids workshop while drawing a shape on black felt to make pumpkin softies. Kids didn't have any issue using it and seeing the line. A pencil or fabric marker are good options for lighter color felt.

Stuffing

Fiberfill made of 100 % polyester fiber is my go-to for stuffing. It's light, smooth, and washable. Another option is to use felt or cotton scraps. While this won’t be ideal for all projects, stuffed toys could be filled with scrap materials to make good use of your leftovers. Remember that using scraps won’t give such a smooth texture as fiberfill, but it’s an eco-friendly alternative.

Glue

Not all glue works well on felt, as felt is fuzzy and porous. How the glue will behave also depends on the type of felt you use (read more about different types of glue for felt in best glue for felt). The best glue for kids to use on felt is tacky glue.

Fuzzy the Mouse Softie - Filled with Stuffing

3. Optional Materials and Tools for Sewing with Kids

Needle Book

Kids did their needle books in the first sewing class (I used the free needle book pattern from Sew a Softie). I love using it in my sewing classes. For every class, I prepare them with a threaded needle and pins. Every now and then, I keep reminding the kids that pins and needles should be in the needle book if not used. It's my biggest worry that once we will search for a needle on the floor.

Sewing Box

Kids can use a sewing box to store all their supplies for sewing projects. It might be a nice present for a little sewing enthusiast.

Needle Threader

Needle threader might ease the job of threading. I don't use them much. I always have luck bending them or somehow making them not work. Therefore, i cannot give a recommendation. Said that for some, it might be a useful tool to have.

Magnetic Pins Holder

I love my magnetic pins holder. It helps organize all kinds of pins and needles. And if one pin dropped accidentally to the floor, the magnetic pincushion snaps them instantly.

Sewing with Kids - Finger puppet dragon made by 8 years old

Felt Craft Patterns for Kids to Sew

Sewing with Kids, Materials Conclusions

You learned what tools and materials to use in this second part of the Sewing with Kids series. I also shared some tips about these sewing materials and tools. All to make sewing with kids easier. If you missed the first part of the Sewing with kids series, visit the tips on how to teach kids hand sew. In the next section, you can read about my sewing with the kids’ lesson plan.

Enjoy the crafting time with your kids :)

Be sure to visit more on this website for free embroidery and sewing tips & tricks to help you out as you stitch my patterns. For free felt patterns, visit my Freebies page.

Let’s hand sew together!

XO, Anna

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