Sewing is a fun and fantastic craft that you can teach to your children while they are young. With creativity, sewing can be easily turned into an enjoyable experience for the whole family. Safety precautions must be addressed before starting any sewing project. In today’s guide, we will cover safety precautions for sewing with kids.
15 SAFETY TIPS FOR SEWING WITH KIDS
1. Keep work area clean:
Ensure they are in a safe place to work, such as on the floor or at a table. Clean their work area before starting any project. Remove all the clutter and unnecessary item that can cause a distraction or tripping hazard. It is easy to get distracted, so if you don’t have time to clean up, do it as soon as you are finished.
2. Keep your needle safe:
Safety precautions should be taken to keep everyone safe when you are around the machine. If it is a small child, make sure their arms are not long enough to reach the feet of the sewing machine and accidentally get tangled up in a moving part of the machine or stuck by the needle.
3. Use Safety glasses:
Ensure they use safety goggles while working on their projects and follow the step closer to avoid injuries. Safety goggles should always be worn at all times when a child is working around the sewing machines or over a hot iron/stove always.
4. Use the right needle:
Using size 8 or 9-millimeter needles is perfect for sewing kids projects because they are sharp, strong, and sturdy, keeping them from breaking while piercing through thick materials like denim or multiple layers of fabric in bulk. Always check the needle before starting any project.
Read more: How to change a sewing machine needle.
5. Unplug immediately:
After you are done with your sewing, always remember to unplug the machine or power source; sometimes, kids might get distracted by forgetting and playing around the machine.
6. Use correct foot:
Most sewing machines come with a variety of feet. Safety has to be the top priority for kids when they sew. Make sure you use a foot that doesn’t allow them to touch the needle or any dangerous object and ensure your kids are always supervised if they’re sewing large projects or doing anything with multiple layers.
Read more: Best Sewing Machine with Foot Pedals
7. Use Safety Pins:
Never use straight pins in sewing. Safety Pins should always be the alternative to straight pins because they are safer and can easily be released.
8. Take it slow:
Take your time and do not rush through anything to achieve perfection or better product. Safety precautions should come first before any sewing project to avoid serious injuries; rushing through the process can lead kids to frustration and accident-prone.
9. Check Your Fabric:
Always check your fabric for tears or defects just in case you are working with a weak/damaged fabric that can get tear easily or cause serious injuries to them when they are sewing on it.
10. Safety scissors:
Keep an eye on your child’s hands while working with sharp objects like scissors. Scissors must be the primary tool for kids to cut threads or fabric rather than using their hands. When you are giving scissors to your child, make sure that the blades are short enough for them not to reach machine foot, or if they accidentally take it somewhere else, it won’t cause serious injuries to them. Keep scissors in a container with handles facing up so they don’t poke anyone.
11. Proper light and airflow:
Always give your kid a good lighting and airflow while they are working on their project. It will help them to concentrate better on what they are doing.
12. Place a sewing safety book on the table:
Place a Safety book on the table and encourage them to read while they’re working, it will keep their mind focused, and if you are not around, it will help them calm down.
13. Use Kid friendly Sewing Machine:
You might get a little confused in the market about what to choose for your kid’s machine. First, you have to think about why they would want their own sewing machine? Is it just for fun, or is there something special that they really want to sew? The best choice for kids is a kid-friendly sewing machine, suitable for beginners and helps kids learn basic sewing.
14. Don’t give them a complex sewing project:
It’s better to start with a simple sewing project for kids. They should be familiar with the machine and how it works before giving them a complex sewing project. Safety has always been the top priority when your child is working, so make sure they know exactly what they are doing.
15. Keep all the supplies within reach:
If your kid is using a sewing machine for the first time, it’s better to keep all the supplies within reach of them to use their hands-free while working.
In conclusion…
Safety is the number one priority when your kid is working on a sewing project, so make sure they take all the precautions mentioned above.
Do share this article on your social networks and help other mothers keep their kids safe while learning how to sew and create something extraordinary.
