Dress Up Your Socks

• Tweens are learning to express themselves through fashion. A fun and effective way to help them do that, and learn some sewing skills in the process, is to dress up an old pair of socks. Tweens can use a slipstitch to mend and repair holes, running stitches to apply lace and learn to fasten buttons. All of which will be useful for years to come.
  
  

Pillow Covers

• A fun project your pre-teen will enjoy is dressing an old pillow cover or creating a new one. You can use patches, appliques, buttons and trims to give an old pillow case a new look utilizing a number of basic hand stitches. Making a new, decorative case will require a little more skill and will also be a good project to become familiar with the sewing machine.
  
  

Fabric Purse

• Every child has an outgrown a pair of jeans, skirt and shorts; making a jean or fabric purse is a great way to recycle clothing. Before you get rid of the clothes, consider turning them into a purse or gym bag. This project will require the use of a sewing machine to create strong, secure stitches as well as some decorative ones if your machine has that capability. Keep the project simple by using a snap or button closure. Purchase beaded fringe, cord, sequins, lace and embroidered trims to give this project some added bling.
  
  

Quilting

• Quilting is an excellent way to teach sewing and make use of those scraps of material you've been saving. You don't have to have a lot scrap material handy. You can use clothing that has been stained or outgrown. Help your child to be creative by cutting the materials into different sizes and shapes to make patterns and edging. Start with a small quilting project that's suitable to cover a favorite stuffed animal or doll and increase the size for the next project.