Teaching Boys to Sew

Balancing it All cracked me up. My kids (both of them, one boy/one girl) recently went thru a sock monster phase. My daughter went to a birthday party that the mom had made "favors" out of colorful knee high socks. She cut the socks from the opening up to the heel in strips (for a total of 8) and stuffed the toe with stuffing, sewing it shut. The glued eyes on them. Instant octopuses or monsters.
My daughter loved it and the mom sent an extra home with her for her to give her older brother (he was invited to the party, but had a cast on his arm and it was a pool party so decided to stay home).
They immediately went to the "used sock" bag (I keep a grocery bag of worn out socks to use for dusting/cleaning) and stuffed and starting sewing arms, legs on them. Stitching "x"s for eyes, etc.
They are pretty creepy looking and they absolutely LOVED it. Asked me to take them to JoAnn's to pick up some fabric squares and buttons and zippers and stuff to make more (and clothes for them). LOL

My son is 14!
Just make it fun!

Super hero cape. He can make up his own super hero that way.

A friend of mine is trying to teach himself to sew. He needs to recover the seats on his boat and doesn't want to pay someone for the work. He would have loved to have your lessons.

My son and I made a library book bag out of a an old dog food bag. It wasn't a paper bag and for whatever reason, he liked the dog on it and wanted to save it, so we made it into a bag. He helped me pin it, but I did the sewing.

If he is into playing with swords or guns, make a sheath or holster.

Sew a wallet

He could make a bean bag chair.

A pillow (find fabric with something his is into - angry birds, camo, mario, etc.)

A fishing or hunting vest.

He could even make his own lunch bag for the upcoming school year.

Maybe he'd like it if he was making a novel gift for someone else...like sewing together capri sun juice containers and making a bag for someone.

What about a car mat? Sewing the streets on, should be all straight stitches. He could design it and sew it. Then use it for cars.

We have a silly little "easy" monster pattern that we use all the time. It is just a jelly bean shaped pattern that we cut out 2 times and sew together and stuff. About 6 inches high. Both my kids (boy/girl) love making them for their friends/cousins. They can be very Boy friendly. I don't know what your son is into, or if he is too old for monsters...but its a thought.

My grandfather was a tailor.
Sewing split seams, buttons, making basic repairs is a great skill for everyone to have.
There are some cute stuffed animal projects.

http://www.kids-sewing-projects.com/how-to-sew-stuffed-an...

My mom just taught my 8 year old nephew to sew. She went straight to the machine with him (boys being so mechanical and all). He picked out some fabric of his favorite sports team and made a pillow. He is ALL boy but was quite proud of his pillow and being able to work the machine. He plans to make Christmas presents for others too (looks like we're ALL getting pillows in 2012!)

Patching his jeans, pants, socks, whatever he's worn a hole in! That's really what he needs the skill for at any rate. MENDING! :)

When I learned to sew...we made our own stuffed animals...they have the "kits" that you can buy. Super fun and different levels of difficulty.

AMEN tell him my husband can sew!!! There's nothing wrong w knowing how to do it or when you might need it!!!!

I was Cub Scout leader. We (my co leader and I) taught the boys how to sew their own badges/patches on to their shirts/vests.
Good for you! I really believe boys should be just as independent as girls. My son knows how to sew a basic stitch, and he knows how to do laundry and cook as well. No need for him to "settle" into a relationship, he will have the honor and power of choosing a mate that he actually wants to be with, yay!!!

Some basic hand sewing like buttons and hems are great.

If you have a seing machine let him try using that. He can learn to press the peddle and gain control of the speed and move and turn the fabric around. Sports team pillows are great and even a pillow case will work. Make sure the colors are boy shades.

Who knows you might have the next fashion designer on your hands.

By the way, how old is he?

The other S.

My boys learned hand stitching at school in middle school and they had a variety of projects to choose from. They used felt. My older son chose to make a stuffed hockey puck and my younger son made a stuffed pig. A small square or rectangular pillow with a patterned fabric the boys select would be nice. Something in the shape of a baseball, football or basketball?

sports pillow, maybe just a nice shirt?

How old is your son?

A costume of some sort? My friend's son is learning to sew his own scouting and awanas badges to those uniforms. She started making him some fun shorts, herself some dresses, and he thought it was cool and is now working with her on his own pjs with material he picked out (some skull stuff). I have a sleeping bag where the seam is split a little (tiny fingers pulling strings, darn it) and a couple shirts that need buttons replaced.....those kinds of things are good for boys AND girls to know. My husband couldn't believe I didn't know how to sew when we were first married, and he repairs all of his own clothes because his mother taught him how as a kid. It's a good skill.