How old to introduce sewing, knitting, etc...

brandall

How old do you think a child should be to start crafting? DD, who is 5, wants the hello kitty sewing machine she saw at Joann's for Christmas. The machine says 6+ on it. She also asked me to teach her how to knit, but I am afraid if I introduce these things too early that she might get frustrated. What about a knitting Nancy? Or some type of cross stitch? I want to give her some type of crafty something for Christmas, but I'm afraid of introducing things to early. But I also don't want to be like my mom, who is an excellent sewer, but never taught me how to do it and now I'm fumbling my way through learning in my 30's. How old were some of you when you started crafting? Sorry for the formatting, I'm on my iPad.

maryandkirk0909

How mature is she for 5? Sewing requires a lot of patience and following directions for that age group, and because needles are involved, I'd worry that the hand/ eye coordination development wasn't quite where it needed to be to sew...  I'd be a little but worried about that for your average 5 year old.

However, at 5 I think she can definitely do a Knitting Nancy, and also probably bead work with larger holed beads, the lanyard style and embroidery floss knotting crafts, and maybe even some fabric projects that only require cutting and stitch witchery (that you'd then help her iron on).  

CAM718

I got my first sewing machine for christmas when I was six. It was a small toy one probably a lot like the hello kitty one and I loved it! My mom also gave me some charm packs and I sewed the squares together to make blankets for my dolls. I Really liked crossstitching when I was little to but I think that I was more like 10 or 11 when I had the patience for that.

Mrs Acorn Blue

When I was 5-6, I made button art...big needle, scraps of fabric and thread and buttons.  Kept me busy for HOURS while my mom sewed.  I don't think I used the machine until I was older...maybe 8 or 9.  I agree with PP about needlecraft kits or something with glue or handsewing big stitches.

hunniapple

What about gimp? I remember using that as one of my first craft projects.  I also did those latch rug kits and I had these plastic stamped canvases with really large holes and plastic needles and you "cross-stitched" with yarn (it was more just a diagonal stitch).  I tried looking for this online but could not find it.  I think maybe the stamped cross stitch on fabric might be too much for a five year old, but I used to LOVE those plastic canvas ones.  Also, my nana used to make these (hideous and totally 1980's) tissue box covers out of the plastic canvas and yarn to sell at the church bazzaar and I loved those things! Ah...memory lane!

SpartanGirl

Have you seen the toddler sewing basket on childhood101?  I was thinking of making something similar for my oldest DD (I like her updated version).  Here are the links:

http://childhood101.com/2010/09/our-toddler-friendly-sewing-basket/

http://childhood101.com/2011/01/the-further-adventures-of-our-toddler-sewing-basket/

I also remember enjoying the plastic canvas and the little loom (for making potholders) when I was very young.  I don't think I used the sewing machine until I was a bit older - maybe 8 or 9?  My niece however got a toy sewing machine when she was 5 or 6 and did great with it.

adhdfashion

I would teach her to hand sew first and grab her some knitting looms. I come from a family of seamstresses and I think its never to early to learn to sew. But as far as the machine goes...You know your kid and what she is capable of handling. Better than us lowly interweb folk! Trust your gut Momma. 

Johlise

What about Spool Knitting, super fun and easy for kids to learn how to do. I started doing this when I was about 5 and loved it..

http://www.amazon.com/Alex-Toys-ALX1114-Spool-Knitting/dp/B000G2FOCG

http://www.amazon.com/Clover-3101-Wonder-Knitter/dp/B000WUY7YI/ref=pd_sim_t2

Dr.Loretta

I'd see if anyone has sewing classes for kids near you.

As for knitting, I hear they teach it in Montessori, and there are little knitters all over the world under age 5, so I think her age is about right to learn. Again, you may want to see if there's a kids class somewhere so she's with her peers and can learn in that sort of setting.

GL! So jealous she's going to get the experience this young.

nursecramer

My mom taught me how to crochet a chain and HDC at 4. I didn't do much with it except make very lopsided blankets for my dolls until much much later, but it was a great start.

I think I got my first sewing box for my 7th birthday, but had already been sewing pillows (by hand) for dolls at that point. If it was my DD, I would wait on a machine, even a kid type. Get her started sewing by hand and then she has something to work towards? My mom would let us sew using her machine, supervising at an age-appropriate level.

Blue & White

I was cross stitching pretty regularly by 10, but I think I learned earlier (like 7-8).  I am still working at developing my sewing skills at 26, but my mom wasn't a pro sewing machine person.  I also knew how to knit and latch hook by 10, so I imagine I had to learn those sometime too.

I remember doing the little loop weaving and sand art, etc. as a littler kid.  And I always wanted a pottery wheel

 As for the Hello Kitty sewing machine - just make sure it's a pretty decent machine before you get it (after all, she'll be 6 soon!) - I wouldn't be as eager to learn if my machine didn't work well.  

 You know your daughter best though, so I say go for it!

SpookieCat

My grandma taught me to crochet at age 4 and I also did spool knitting around that age. 

 

I don't think there is such a thing as too early to learn and as long as you are still sewing I'm sure that she'll progress to more advanced projects.  

philologist

I picked up a used kid machine for my daughter and we started at four and a half. Kid machines have a guard so their fingers can't get pinched but the stitches aren't the strongest so the things they make don't last too long.

I would recommend introducing hand sewing before the machine. Once my daughter got her hands on the machine it was a struggle to get her to stitch by hand and develop the patience it takes to create a real project. We started by stretching polka dot fabric over an embroidery hoop and she would use a tapestry needle and floss to connect the dots. Next we went with with the book Sewing School and I have been happy with it. It teaches the basic hand stitches and there are projects for hand stitching and machine stitching as well as patterns. 

We started knitting at five and it has gone much more slowly. I think the key is to get them involved in the process by picking out the supplies, i.e. yarn, fabric etc, but explain why some things like needle size are not negotiable. I also had a very hands off approach to the knitting. I sat her and worked on my own stuff and if she wanted to knit for five minutes that was fine, if she wanted to she could stay for a half hour. We started with the "Off Jumps Jack" poem.

brandall

Thank you so much for all of the ideas.  I think we are going to start with hand sewing like some of you suggested.  I LOVE the polka dot fabric idea - very clever!