Teach kids to sew using burlap and yarn for an easy beginning sewing lesson. Learning to sew is a fun way for children to develop the fine motor muscles in the hand necessary for writing and more detailed hand work.
You may also like the next lesson Teach Kids to Sew a Line by Hand, where kids can begin to practice sewing a basic running stitch.
How to Teach Kids to Sew Using Burlap and Yarn
Learning how to sew on burlap is a great sewing lesson for beginners. One of my favorite activities as a child was sewing burlap with yarn. I loved practicing embroidery stitches and making elaborate pictures that I cherished for years.
Recently my 3-year-old daughter demonstrated that she could string beads directly onto monofilament line. I knew she had developed the fine motor muscles in her hands enough to try this beginning sewing activity.
Another good indicator of sewing readiness is if your child has been using lacing cards for a while, or is beginning to learn to how to write.
To keep things simple, I decided to start with the action of placing the needle back into the same side of the fabric that it came out of. I wanted to give her something easy for her first attempt at sewing so she wouldn’t get discouraged.
You can also try leaf lacing, another easy beginning sewing project for kids. Using sturdy leaves to practice sewing instead of lacing cards makes this homeschool activity idea both economical and eco-friendly.
Related: How to Sew a Button Apple Tree
Teaching Kids to Sew with Burlap and Yarn: Materials
- Burlap
- Cotton Yarn or Embroidery Thread
- Darning needle or plastic needle
- Embroidery Hoop (You might be able to find these second-hand. We inherited ours from grandma.)
- Embroidery Scissors
- Needle Threader (optional)
Related: How to Sew a Pocket Pet Mouse
How to Teach Kids to Sew with Burlap and Yarn
1. Cut out a square of burlap slightly larger than the embroidery hoop. Make sure you leave about 2 inches on all sides.
2. Place the burlap square into the embroidery hoop.
3. Cut a section of yarn or embroidery thread about twice as long as your child’s arm. Too long will be difficult for them to pull through. Too short will not be enough to sew more than a stitch or two.
4. Show your child how to thread the needle by placing the yarn through the big eye. It helps to moisten the yarn first. You can show them how to use a needle threader if you prefer.
5. Tie a double or triple square knot at the end of the length of yarn to make sure it doesn’t pull through the burlap. Normally the end closest to the eye of the needle is pulled through and left loose. You can tie a small knot that will easily pull through the burlap if you think it will make it easier for your child(ren). You can cut it off the needle when finished.
Related: Tons of Fun Arts & Crafts for Kids
Show Children How to Sew
Before you hand the needle and thread over to your kids it is best if you show them how to sew. Young children learn best by imitating others.
Show them both how to set up the activity and how to sew a few stitches before inviting them to give it a try. Use slow deliberate movements with minimal verbal instructions. (See below)
Related: Easy Heart Sewing Projects for Beginners
Invite Kids to Sew with Yarn and Burlap
1. Insert the needle through the back of burlap in the embroidery hoop.
2. Pull through until the knot catches.
3. Insert the needle through the same side that the yarn or thread is coming out of.
4. Turn over the embroidery hoop and once again pull the yarn all the way through until it catches. Don’t pull too hard or the yarn will slip out of the needle. (Unless you have tied a small knot to prevent this.)
5. Insert the needle into the back of the burlap and pull it through to the front. Don’t worry about having them place the needle close to where it came out of or teaching stitches yet. Just allow them to practice the calming action of sewing in their own way. They will begin to learn what works best through practice.
6. Repeat until you run out of yarn length. Tie it off in the back or tie it to another section of yarn and continue to sew.
Related: DIY Projects for Do It Yourself Families
Teach kids to sew using burlap and yarn for an easy first lesson in the mechanics of sewing. Allow your child to practice sewing on burlap using this technique a few times before trying to complete more advanced hand sewing projects such as learning how to sew a basic running stitch, or sewing hearts, or even a pocket pet mouse!
Oh my 5 year old son was just asking to learn to sew today. We don’t have burlap around here but I’m sure I could find something similar to improvise! Thanks for the tips. 🙂
You’re welcome! I’ve seen people also use shelf liners and placemats that have holes in them. Give one of those a try if you can’t find any burlap. 🙂
This burlap sewing idea will work well in exposing my 4.5 yr old grand-daughter to sewing. It’s free-form and free of adult rules. Let them create and have fun! thank you
You’re very welcome, Amy! Yes… Let them create and have fun! I hope that your granddaughter enjoyed this beginning sewing project for kids.
Love this! Thanks for the reminder of how simple hand work is easy and satisfying for young children!
Thanks, Julia, I’m so glad that you found this article useful. Handwork is becoming a lost art, so I like to provide easy options for parents and teachers.
Another name for burlap is Hessian. So when asking for it in shops you might have more success in some places using that alternative name. We use “Hessian” in New Zealand and Australia. Hessian is used for fadges when making bales of wool. So another source of hessian could be a yarn factory where they spin wool.
Thank you, Kasia for the very useful information! Knowing that burlap is called Hessian will make it much easier to find. I love using it to help children learn how to sew.