Crafting with Children

The school holidays come around with alarming regularity so if you’re needing ideas to keep the kids amused, we are here to help! We take a look at a selection of crafting kits you can buy, projects to make and course providers who can teach children in your area.

Younger Children

The Early Learning Centre still have an online presence despite their shops closing some years back and have some crafts and kits for younger kids.We like this Sew your own Teddy kit aimed at 3-6 year olds with pre-punched felt for easy stitching. Take a look at the other craft kits and supplies available too.

Baker Ross also have a number of sewing kits that could be achieved by a 5 year old with some help – take a look at their range here.

Buttonbag First Sewing Kits are ideal for little fingers. With no cutting and big, pre-cut holes, these kits are designed to teach children, aged about 4 years and up, the basic principles of sewing.

A few other places you can get kids craft supplies and kits at a good price are Hobbycraft, The Works, Home Bargains and your local pound shop/discount store.

Teach little ones how to cross stitch with these super cute, easy to use animal embroidery boards from Conscious Crafts. Perfect crafting activity for parties, playdates and creative days at home.

Kits for Older Kids

There are some great sewing craft kits on the market (aimed at older children – normally 8 plus).

Craft Yourself Silly have some great options for kids.

Buttoonies are a great craft for kids to do as there are no needles, glue or scissors required. Simply thread and tie the buttons together with the pre-cut foam pieces to create your Buttoonie. Take a look at the brilliant animals you can create here!

Proggy kits from Craft Yourself Silly use techniques similar to rag-rugging but using hessian and fleece to create colourful animals and birds that are achievable by older kids. Take a look at the range here.

Felt Folk have some nice kits that an older child could sew.

Clothkits have a nice selection of stuffed toys and bags that children can sew – there are a variety of kits to suit different age groups.

Free Sewing/Craft Projects for Kids

We have a good selection of projects on our site that kids can have a go at:

Sid the Snake Glove Puppet

Useful blogs

Of course many of us like to use the supplies we already have to hand, toilet rolls, scrap paper, plastic pots etc and there are a multitude of free tutorials on the internet, Here are a few useful links:

http://www.redtedart.com/kids-crafts/

http://childhood101.com/playopedia/

http://www.makeandtakes.com/kids-crafts

http://totallytutorials.blogspot.com/search/label/children (some of the projects are to make with kids, others to make for kids)

http://www.dltk-kids.com/

Classes for Kids

Many sewing teachers run classes for children over the summer, and some during term time too. Some of them offer crafting parties too. Most require the children to be at least 7-8 years old. Links to a selection of course providers below. Many of them offer online classes too.

East Anglia

Sew Much To Do

East Midlands

Leicestershire Craft Centre

Zukie Style

South East & London