Introducing Hand Embroidery to Children

Hi, my fellow embroidery lovers!

This month, I started online hand embroidery classes for young learners, and I am loving it! It is amazing to see the kids stitch and how they break some hard-held notions that the needle is dangerous in the hands of a child. Well, not if they are taught that needle is used to create and mend, and not to hurt!

I had never thought online classes for kids can be this enjoyable! It took some really enthusiastic kids to push me into agreeing to take these classes for them! My youngest learner is 8 years old.

If you are a parent or are involved with teaching and training children in any way, I encourage you to help them try out hand embroidery. It is common to have questions before introducing hand embroidery to a child. So, I am taking this space to answer a few of them.

Introducing hand embroidery to a child

1. Is my kid ready for hand embroidery?
It depends on how good the child is at handling the tool and how much patience he/she would have. Generally, a child of 6 years should be able to handle a needle safely. Adult supervision and help are suggested to kids below 10 years of age. If you are still not sure, give him/her a needle and fabric and try a stitch or two. If you are still not sure, start with Cross Stitching projects using a blunt needle.

2. What kind of patterns or projects are ideal?
Remember that kids have a short span of attention and are usually low on patience. What you aim is at developing patience through hand embroidery and not frustrate them. So, always begin with a small pattern. Something that fits in a 6-inch hoop is more than enough. Do not add too many details to the design. One big subject, like their favorite animal or a flower, should be fine. It is perfectly okay to ask them to draw it themselves using a pencil or a water-soluble pen. Begin with simple outlines first. Once the child sees his/her work completed, appreciate him/her. It will encourage him/her for more hand embroidery projects.

Fun with crayons and stitching—the first-time attempt by a 6-year-old learner.

3. How much time should they spend stitching?
This will depend on the child. I usually ask the kids to take a break every 30 minutes of continuous stitching. If they are enjoying the process, it is okay for them to spend up to 1.5 hour a day with breaks every half an hour. The more important thing is to make sure they are comfortably seated with good support for their back and neck. Also, ensure there is ample light when they stitch.

4. Are there special Embroidery tools for the kids?
Kids do not need special tools to start embroidering. You just need to pay attention to the fact that they probably need different sizes of embroidery tools.

• Hoops — Embroidery hoops of 6″ are ideal for the kids to hold and stitch a small pattern.
• Needles — Needles of size 5 are good to go. But wait, the needle size can vary based on the brand. So, what do you do? Use an embroidery needle that has an eye big enough to pass 6 strands of thread through it. Such a needle is generally big enough for a kid to handle safely. Small needles can stress out their fingers.
• Fabric — Simple and plain cotton fabric is right. If you have a cotton tea towel or table napkin, it will be great to start with. Do not go with fancy stuff like sheer, satin, silk, stretchable, or t-shirt fabric.
• Threads — Regular embroidery floss is just fine. The kids pick up how to separate them in no time! A 6-year-old might require some help now and then.

String Art Embroidery—one of the many made by shelter kids aged 7-11, boys and girls.

5. What kind of stitches should they start with?
The Straight Stitch and the Running Stitch, definitely! These two stitches and the Running Stitch’s simple variations will help them get used to their tools and get a grip over moving the needle up and down the fabric smoothly. Introduce other kinds of stitches, like the simple looped stitches, when you feel they are comfortable with the ones they have learned.

6. How to retain their interest?
Start with a small project. Ask them to draw their pattern with minimal details. Use basic and simple stitches. Ask them to choose the colors they love. At the end of the day, if your kid managed to draw a bird that looked like a rat and outlined it in a simple stitch with a red color, it is perfectly okay! Hand embroidery is to be enjoyed, and if that made him/her happy, nothing like it!

Attempt at hand embroidery by Ira, a 6-year-old.

After my experience in embroidery workshops with children, I have designed a great way to get a kid start off with embroidery—mixed media. I have given this lesson on my website too. The idea is to start with something they are familiar with and move into stitching. So, we begin with a drawing and coloring and then include stitching. This way, they do not feel overwhelmed with new tools and an entirely new art form. For them, it will look like they are trying to embellish their drawings! Check Fun with Crayons and Stitching for the complete step-by-step lesson. The post also features some of the works made by kids in the comment sections. Another fun stitching is String Art Embroidery over paper or fabric. Check it out for ideas.

The benefits of hand embroidery for people of different ages are proven. It is a great way to practice mindfulness and an awesome creative outlet too. In children, it develops hand-eye coordination and helps in fostering patience and maintain composure. I hope you will be inspired to introduce hand embroidery to your children. If you do, please share what you have practiced with them on our website—it will be lovely to see them!

If you have any other questions, please use the comments box below to ask. If you are a person with any experience in teaching or introducing hand embroidery to a young learner, please share it here. It will be great to learn your story.

Warm Regards,

Sarah

New eBook – We had come out with a new book last month, Hand Embroidery for Beginners. This eBook is a great choice for kids who would love to try out hand embroidery. With 12 Basic Stitches and 10 fun embroidery patterns, this eBook can lay the foundation for a beautiful hobby for any young learner.

Online Hand Embroidery Course for Kids – We have started a live Online Hand Embroidery Course for kids (ages 8-16), and registration is open! Each batch will have 5 students to pay attention to each student and their work. The curriculum is prepared carefully, drawing from the years of experience of teaching children hand embroidery. Each module is done through a fun project, and the kids learn at least two new things in every class they will attend.

Fees: $20 / £15 per class
Time: 1 hour every week (either Saturday or Sunday).

The timing of the batches will be decided based on the convenience of the student and the availability of spots.

Check the Curriculum for an idea of the structure. This is an ongoing class and modules are being added. Modules are holistically designed based on the requirement of the particular batch.

Write to me at the email mentioned in the poster or post your inquiry as a comment if interested, and I will get back to you!