Teach kids how to sew running stitch by hand using burlap and yarn with this easy beginning sewing lesson for children.
Learning how to sew a basic running stitch by hand is a fun beginning sewing lesson for kids and a great way to strengthen the fine motor muscles of the hand to prepare for writing and more detailed handwork projects.
How To Sew a Line Using a Basic Running Stitch
Follow the simple step-by-step instructions below to teach your children how to sew running stitch by hand. If your child has never tried sewing before, you might want to start with this burlap and yarn beginning lesson in sewing for young children.
Another easy beginning sewing project idea for kids is to make homemade lacing cards with sturdy fall leaves. Click on the blue hyperlinked text to see the instructions for this simple sewing activity.
Teach Kids How to Sew Running Stitch in a line by Hand
Learning to sew a line with a basic running stitch is a great way to exercise, strengthen, and develop young fingers, hands, and minds. As the saying goes:
“Nimble fingers make nimble minds.”
Friends of Waldorf
The first time my daughter tried sewing running stitch, I was shocked at how well she did and how much she liked hand sewing. Starting her homeschool sewing lessons with this burlap and yarn project seems to have worked pretty well so far. Once your children have learned how to sew a running stitch, invite them to sew their pocket pet mouse.
Hand-Sewing Materials Needed for this Project
- Burlap
- Embroidery hoop (Look in second-hand stores and grandmas sewing closet.)
- Disappearing ink pen
- Yarn or embroidery thread (floss)
- Scissors
- Big eye blunt darning needle or a plastic sewing needle for kids
- Yarn needle threader (optional)
Beginning Running Stitch Sewing Lesson for Kids
Children are imitative creatures. This developmental trait means that young children–toddlers, preschoolers, kindergarteners, and lower grades–learn best by watching and modeling the actions of others, and sewing by hand is no exception.
Related Post: How to Sew a Button Apple Tree
How to Teach Kids to Sew Running Stitch by Hand
Before showing and teaching children how to sew by hand, gather the sewing supplies, you want to use from the suggestions in the hand-sewing materials section above. Follow the step-by-step instructions and photo tutorial below. Please encourage children to watch you thread the needle and sew a line first, then invite them to give it a try.
Step 1 – Prepare Hand-Sewing Lesson for Children
- Cut a square of burlap large enough to fit into an embroidery hoop.
- Use a disappearing ink pen to draw a line straight across the diameter of the burlap circle inside of the embroidery hoop. (After sewing a line, feel free to get creative with simple designs and doodles that your children can use as guidelines to practice hand-sew running stitch. But don’t leave them sitting for long or the dissapearing ink will do just that!)
- Cut a section of yarn or thread that is approximately as long as the child’s arm.
- Demonstrate how to thread the large eye of a sewing needle with yarn or embroidery thread. Use a yarn needle threader, use a bit of beeswax, or moisten the yarn before attempting to thread it through the big eye of the blunt yarn needle. Then encourage children to give it a try on their own. (Threading a needle is a great way to develop hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills!)
- Tie a large knot that CAN NOT be pulled through the burlap at one end of the yarn or thread. Alternatively, you can tie the yarn or embroidery thread to a small button.
- Leave the other end of yarn dangling, or tie it to the needle with a small knot that CAN pull through the burlap. (It can be frustrating for young children learning to sew when the thread pulls off the needle–tie it to the needle if you think it would be easier for your toddler, preschooler, or kindergartener to learn to sew a running stitch.)
Related Post: How to Sew a Pocket Pet Mouse
Step 2 – Invite Children to Hand Sew a Running Stitch
Once you and your child have prepared the embroidery hoop and sewing needle with the directions above, it’s time to learn how to sew a basic running stitch. Please demonstrate how to sew a running stitch before asking children to try this beginning sewing lesson.
- Insert the needle into the burlap on one side of the marked line, or guideline, made in step 1 above.
- Pull the needle and thread all the way through until it catches. Remind children not to pull so hard that the yarn or thread slips out of the eye of the needle–unless you tied a small knot to prevent this in step 1.
- Sew along the line with a simple up and down dolphining motion of the needle and yarn through the burlap–and pull the thread through every few stitches.
- Invite children to try sewing on the opposite side to practice sewing a running stitch in a straight line without a marked guideline to follow.
- Continue to sew along the line using an up and down dolphining motion of the needle and thread through the burlap until the running stitch crosses the circle of burlap.
- Poke the needle through to the back to finish–and tie the yarn or thread in a knot to hold it in place.
Related Post: All Season Hand and Fingerprint Tree
Extending This Beginning Sewing Lesson for Children
Once finished, draw another line if your child would like to continue this sewing lesson for children, or encourage them to try sewing a running stitch without a marked line to use as a guideline once they understand the basic concept.
Or, feel free to experiment with drawing easy designs and simple running stitch embroidery patterns consisting of a series of lines and doodles that your children can easily follow.
Related: Art and Craft Ideas for Kids
Embroidery for Kids: Teaching Children How to Sew Running Stitch by Hand
Learning to sew is a vital home life skill. Teach kids to sew a line by hand for a simple beginning lesson in embroidery.
Learning the running stitch is an easy homeschool learning project for developing the fine motor muscles in children’s hands. Don’t forget to pop over to look at some of our other begging sewing projects for kids listed below.
Learn more about Rhythms of Play HERE!
Begging Sewing Projects for Kids
We have a few more fun and easy sewing projects for kids (and their caregivers) below!
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