Montessori Sewing Activities for Preschool

From fine motor development to problem-solving skills, sewing activities offer many valuable learning experiences for preschoolers. In this post, we will give an overview of sewing’s benefits for young children and share ideas for setting up a sewing curriculum. We’ll also share a list of Montessori sewing activities you can incorporate into your classroom. Finally, we’ll provide resources for learning more about teaching young children to sew. Keep reading to learn more about sewing activities for preschool!

By the way, whether you are experienced with sewing or new to this skill, you’re sure to get some valuable insight about how to set up (or update) your sewing sequence with Aimee Fagan’s online short course, Sewing in the Classroom.

Many of the photos in this post were shared by members of the Trillium Community Facebook group. If you are looking for sewing inspiration, be sure to check out the projects and ideas highlighted in these photos! With deepest appreciation to the contributors:

• Afsheen Agha
• Beth Bitts
• Cathie Perolman
• Joelle Moropito Huot
• Kristin Anderson
• Marla Beggs Nargundkar

Table of Contents

• Benefits of Sewing Activities for Preschool
  • Fine Motor Development
  • Problem-Solving and Critical Thinking Skills
  • Learning a Practical Life Skill
• Setting Up the Sewing Environment
  • Safety Measures
  • Integration with Montessori Principles
  • Establishing Routines and Procedures
  • Adapting for Different Skill Levels
• Where to Find Sewing Materials and Supplies
  • Needles, Thread, and Fabric
  • Other Useful Tools
• Preliminary Activities: Preparing for Sewing
  • Bead Stringing
  • Cutting
  • Pin Punching
  • Tracing with Stencils/Metal Insets
  • Ribbon Weaving
  • Lacing Cards
• Basic Montessori Sewing Activities for Preschool
  • Threading a Needle
  • Necklace or Bracelet Sewing
  • Card Sewing
  • Sewing on Cloth
  • Sewing a Button
• Special Projects: More Sewing Activities for Preschool
  • Stitching on a Round Plastic Canvas
  • Cross Stitching
  • Making a Paper Pouch
  • Making a Fabric Pouch
  • Sewing With Beads on Paper
  • Making a Wall Hanging
  • Sewing a Pillow
  • Mending Torn Cloth
• Montessori Sewing Resources
  • Course: Sewing in the Classroom
  • Book: Sewing in the Montessori Classroom
• Sequence of Sewing Activities for Preschool
• Conclusion

Fine Motor Development

Sewing activities for preschool allow young children to refine their fine motor skills in a fun and engaging way. As they thread needles, manipulate fabric, and create stitches, children strengthen their hand-eye coordination and dexterity. These precise movements help them develop the small muscle control needed for tasks like writing and drawing. This small muscle control is also very useful for self-care activities like eating, preparing food, brushing teeth, and getting dressed.

Problem-Solving and Critical Thinking Skills

Engaging in sewing projects encourages preschoolers to think critically and problem-solve. As they encounter sewing challenges, children must experiment, strategize, and find solutions. In this way, sewing empowers children to tackle future obstacles with creativity and perseverance.

Learning a Practical Life Skill

Sewing is a valuable Practical Life skill that children can carry with them throughout their lives. Sewing skills allow children to complete useful tasks like mending clothing or toys. Basic sewing techniques instill a sense of independence and self-sufficiency.

Safety Measures

Safety is paramount when introducing sewing activities to preschoolers. Children need clear, age-appropriate demonstrations and instructions on safe handling of sewing equipment. When children attempt complex sewing projects without knowledge of how to safely use the associated tools, they risk injury to themselves or others.

Be prepared to set boundaries if materials are being misused. If needed, re-introduce sewing activities gradually with a renewed emphasis on safety.

Integration with Montessori Principles

Montessori sewing activities for preschool should be designed to foster independence and concentration. Supplies should be prepared in advance and organized for easy availability.

Arrange sewing activities in a clear progression/sequence so children know what to expect. Moving through a sequence of sewing lessons allows the child to focus on one skill at a time. This way, children can gradually add component skills to their repertoire and avoid frustration.

Establishing Routines and Procedures

Clear routines and procedures are essential when planning sewing activities for preschool. Don’t assume that children know how to properly handle sewing materials like needles or hoops. Remember to explain clearly the expected use and handling of each item. Introduce each sewing procedure step-by-step, allowing children to grasp concepts at their own pace.

Decide ahead of time where sewing activities will take place. Clearly repeat this expectation to the children as part of each lesson. For example, sewing may be done at a table, on a rug, in a certain area of the classroom, anywhere as long as the child is seated, etc.

Adapting for Different Skill Levels

As with other Montessori curriculum areas, sewing works best when lessons are designed to suit the needs of the children in the group.

A range of project types is ideal. Basic, introductory projects allow beginners to build confidence and feel successful. As children progress through the curriculum, they can work on increasingly complex projects.

Remember that age is not a direct predictor of sewing skill. Avoid pressuring older children to rush toward completing more advanced projects. Some children may spend considerable time practicing and refining basic sewing skills and some children may advance quickly through the curriculum. 

Preliminary “sewing” activities for preschool – like cutting and pin punching – use materials already found in most Montessori classrooms. To support a sewing curriculum beyond the preliminary/preparatory activities, here are some ideas for supplies. 

By the way – if you don’t have the time or inclination to put together a sewing sequence yourself, Montessori Services has some ready-to-use sets that are very handy!

Needles, Thread, and Fabric

Needles – look for thick needles with large eyes. “Tapestry needles” are a great, versatile choice. 

Thread – “embroidery floss” is relatively thick and easy for beginners to handle. It’s also easy to find, and widely available in a wide range of colors. 

Thread Organizer – keeping pre-cut lengths embroidery floss organized on small “bobbins” helps streamline your restocking process during the work cycle. (Loading the bobbins with specified lengths of floss is a great task for a parent volunteer!)

Burlap – if you are unfamiliar with this material, give it a try! It makes a fantastic material for early sewing lessons. Burlap rolls make storage easy – simply cut a few squares at a time and leave the rest on the roll. (Make sure your roll is wide enough to fit in your sewing hoops.)

Fabric – “quilting squares” can save a lot of prep time. These are pre-cut squares of cotton cloth, ideal for using with hoops. You can also try asking your community for donations of extra fabric. People who sew tend to accumulate excess leftover supplies and may be happy to clear out some of their stash. 

Other Useful Tools

Needle Threader – many variations of this item exist. The version we’ve linked here is sturdy and easy to handle. If you’ve never used a needle threader, this little tool can be a total game-changer. Needle threaders boost children’s confidence and independence with sewing, while also making sewing more accessible to a wider range of people. 

Sewing Hoops – these help to stabilize fabric, making it easier to add embroidery and other details. If your desired design doesn’t fit inside the hoop, simply reposition the hoop as needed. Smaller hoops are easier for small hands to hold. 

Needle Box – a place to store your needles. Using a tiny needle box for each sewing activity (in place of, or alongside, a pin cushion) adds a layer of safety to your sewing environment. Using a needle box also allows a needle threader to be stored with each needle. 

Plastic Mesh – can be purchased in pre-cut shapes or in large sheets that you can cut yourself.

Buttons – for preliminary lessons, look for buttons with larger holes. Remember to test your materials before making them available to your students. It can be so frustrating and discouraging for a child to discover that their needle and thread are too large to pass through the holes of their button!

As children advance in the curriculum, try offering smaller buttons along with smaller needles and finer thread. 

No need to create separate lessons for these preliminary activities – they are built into the existing Montessori curriculum.

Bead Stringing

Bead stringing allows the child to practice handling string or thread. This skill is great to isolate prior to using a sharp needle. Familiarity with string helps the child remain calm and patient when dealing with the tangles so common in early sewing projects. 

You can also work with pre-tipped yarn and make necklaces with beads and pasta (or paper straws if you prefer not to use food items).

Cutting

When sewing, children will likely need to use scissors to cut thread or fabric. To support independence in this area, prior to their first sewing lessons, the child should have had practice with scissors.

Cutting strips are a great way to introduce children to the use of scissors. Some classrooms also offer a “string cutting” activity which provides an additional bridge to sewing. 

Pin Punching

A sewing needle is a sharp object and must be handled with care. Pin punching allows the child to practice manipulating a sharp object while keeping themselves and others safe. Sewing also involves poking the needle through cloth, and pin punching is a great way to prepare and strengthen the hands for this action. 

Tracing with Stencils/Metal Insets

Tracing with stencils or Metal Insets helps the child coordinate and refine the movements in their hands. These shapes can also be traced onto burlap or cloth and used as patterns for embroidery. 

Ribbon Weaving

This simple introductory weaving work is a favorite all year long. It’s easy to switch out the ribbons with the seasons and children of all ages enjoy creating patterns with it. There is no product at the end of this activity. It is simply for practicing the up and down motion required for weaving. Once you’re done, you take out the ribbons and put them back in the little basket for the next person. You can find these little wire shelves in the kitchen organization section of most department stores.

Lacing Cards

We made simple lacing cards by punching holes in a paper plates that the children could decorate.

Lacing cards can also be purchased. Pre-made lacing cards are usually designed to be durable and used over and over. When preparing this activity, look for string or thread with one end already reinforced, like a shoelace.

The activities below are listed from more preliminary to more complex. 

Threading a Needle

Children can certainly work on sewing projects using pre-threaded needles (here is a great example of such a project).

Still, if time and fine motor skills allow, it’s highly recommended to teach children to thread needles on their own. We found it helpful to practice threading with a large-eyed needle and some thin ribbon.

It’s empowering when children can thread their own needles without waiting on an adult to do it for them. Plus, threading needles can be time consuming and takes the adult’s attention temporarily away from the rest of the group.

This Trillium post has a great tutorial for teaching children to thread needles using a needle threader. (Scroll down past the projects to find the tutorial.)

Necklace or Bracelet Sewing

As this activity includes a needle, it’s slightly more complicated than simple necklace or bracelet making.

If children haven’t yet mastered threading a needle, lengths of string can be pre-threaded onto needles with a bead tied to the end of the string. Wrap these prepared strings around popsicle sticks (or similar) for tangle-free storage.

Offer a selection of beads (or other items like cut pieces of drinking straws) for children to thread onto the string. Make sure in advance that your beads will fit over your needle and string!

Card Sewing

Card sewing is a great bridge from lacing cards to sewing on cloth. While lacing cards are designed to be used over and over again, sewing cards tend to be single-use, with the child’s work considered a finished project. Sewing cards are easy to make using index cards, card stock, watercolor paper, or thin cardboard. Use pin-punching tools (whatever you use in your classroom) to prepare holes in advance. Or, prepare a separate activity so that children can punch their own holes before stitching.

Sewing on Cloth

Burlap makes an ideal first cloth for sewing. Its loose weave makes inserting a needle very easy. Cut extra burlap squares in advance so you have easy replenishment on hand during work time. 

After burlap, cotton is a good next step for sewing practice. Children can practice stitching along a design drawn by the teacher, or a design they draw on their own. Children can also trace Metal Inset shapes onto their cloth and use these shapes as sewing patterns. 

Sewing a Button

Sewing a button is a useful Practical Life skill, though at first this lesson is typically presented in a “decorative” context.

The child can sew a button or two onto cloth and decorate around the button with additional stitches. For example, one button can be the center of a flower or the eye of an animal drawn onto the fabric, or two buttons can be part of a smiling embroidered face.

Some children really enjoy this activity and will repeat it many times, filling their fabric with buttons. This is great fine motor practice!

As with sewing a necklace or bracelet, make sure your buttons have holes large enough to accommodate the needles and thread being used. 

Special Projects: More Sewing Activities for Preschool

While the list above is a well-rounded group of sewing lessons, it’s certainly not the full list of possible activities! Your sewing curriculum will depend on available materials, children’s interests, and your own comfort level. The list below contains common extensions of basic Montessori sewing curriculum for preschoolers.

Looking for even more sewing activities for preschool? Check out this Trillium post for some fantastic ideas that work for holiday gifts – or any time of year!

Stitching on a Round Plastic Canvas

Find this material online and at most craft stores (and most “big-box” stores, in the craft section). A circular plastic canvas encourages the child to sew in one long continuous line until the canvas is filled with stitches. Can’t find circular canvas? Children can also practice stitching on square or rectangular pieces of canvas. (Long thin rectangles filled with stitches make nice keepsake bookmarks!)

Cross Stitching

If your students love sewing and want a new challenge, try cross stitching. The child makes a single stitch and then adds a second stitch on top of it to form an “X.” The child can fill a specially prepared lacing card with cross stitches. They can also practice cross stitching on burlap or cloth using an embroidery hoop. Wooden cards with pre-drilled holes are also available. These are easy to handle and make attractive keepsake gifts.

Making a Paper Pouch

This project uses a rectangular piece of heavy paper or thin cardboard, folded in half. Punch holes along the two short sides of the folded paper, ensuring that the holes go through both layers of paper. With yarn, “blanket stitch” (sometimes called “whipstitch”) through the punched holes to connect the sides of the pouch. If desired, add a longer piece of yarn to serve as the shoulder strap. 

Making a Fabric Pouch

Similar to making a paper pouch, but with cloth. Fold a piece of cloth in half. Then, using needle and thread, stitch each side of the pouch closed, leaving one side open. If desired, add a strap by sewing a long, thin strip of fabric to the corners of the pouch. 

Sewing With Beads on Paper

This activity combines pin poking with sewing cards. The child uses a poking tool to add holes to a small card. The child then sews in and out of the holes, adding a small bead to the thread at each stitch.

Making a Wall Hanging

A collection of embroidered squares makes a nice wall hanging. The squares might contain a collection of unrelated images, or they may be part of a theme. Ideas for wall hanging themes:

• an embroidered outline of each continent on the Hemisphere Map
• a collection of Metal Inset shapes
• a collection of animals
• images from a captivating topic (see the “long long ago” wall hanging, pictured above)

Stitch the squares together, or attach them to a larger piece of burlap or cloth as a background. 

Sewing a Pillow

For a child-size pillow, prepare two identically-sized pieces of fabric. The child sews the pieces together on three sides, adds stuffing, and then closes the remaining side. Typical dimensions for a rectangular pillow are 11”x7” (for a “mini” pillow”) or 12”x16” (for a “travel size” pillow). To decorate the pillow, embroider the fabric using a hoop before assembly.

Mending Torn Cloth

This is a practical application of sewing skills. Multi-step activities like these are great Practical Life lessons for older primary students. Mending sometimes includes applying a patch and sometimes adding stitches directly to the tear. The exact procedure will depend on the fabric and the tear. 

Course: Sewing in the Classroom

Looking for guidance about how to set up your sewing sequence? Try Aimee Fagan’s online short course, Sewing in the Classroom. This 60-minute course explores the concept of Practical Life as meaningful work, with a focus on preparing the environment and creating a culture of sewing in the classroom. The course offers a range of preliminary activities and foundational sewing skills. The course also offers multiple examples of sequential sewing activities from beginner to advanced. Sewing in the Classroom is ideal for early childhood students (or even for elementary).

Book: Sewing in the Montessori Classroom

Be sure to check out Aimee Fagan’s book “Sewing in the Montessori Classroom: A Practical Life Curriculum,” available on Amazon (where the Kindle unlimited edition is free). This book provides a comprehensive sewing curriculum for the 3-6 classroom.

Cathie Perolman keeps her sewing materials at the bottom of one of her practical life shelves. Here are some ideas Cathie shared for organizing materials plus a few more detailed ideas for specific sewing activities.

A closer look at the bottom corner of this shelf

Top:

1. Tray for lacing cards
2. Supplies: yarns with “fake” knots (3/4″ straws and “fake” needles (masking tape wound around the tip of the yarn.)
3. Supplies: construction paper cards

Bottom: 

1. Necklace sewing: yarn, needle threader, needle, 1″ squares of construction paper (great way to use up scraps), straw pieces, little pillow to poke needle through construction paper.
2. Yarn

Card Sewing 1

• Recycled styrofoam cards (4″ by 2 1/2″ with 8 holes punched),
• Yarn rolled on a tongue depressor
• Needle threader, needle and scissors

Card Sewing 2 (Two Color Sewing)

• Cards with shapes traced and hash marked to show where to poke for the holes
• Yarn on tongue depressors
• Needle threader, needle, scissors,
• Push pin 
• pad, push pin.
• Child push pins at the intersections and sews a running stitch. Then child sews with another color to make an alternating color pattern!

Burlap Sewing

• 8″ square of burlap.
• 6″ embroidery hoop,
• Scissors, yarn on a tongue depressor, needle threader, needle
• Thin black marker

The child traces a figure like a continent puzzle piece, a metal inset shape, or a shape from the geometric cabinet (or the teacher draws a simple outline of something else the child chooses). The child then stitches around it.

Children often make multiple squares and they can be turned into a quilt or display. (See “making a wall hanging” section above.)

Conclusion

Sewing is a wonderful fine motor activity to do with preschoolers, especially in a Montessori setting. Montessori sewing activities for preschoolers allow children to engage in problem solving and critical thinking while learning a skill with both practical and creative applications. Materials for sewing lessons are readily available and sewing activities are easy to adapt based on the supplies on hand. Adults who are not familiar with sewing can find many helpful resources to support their own development in this area! By preparing a sequence of sewing lessons and taking time to thoughtfully present these lessons to their students, adults in Montessori environments support children’s independence and confidence.