Sewing Projects for Teen Girls

Teach girls to sew new decor for their bedroom.

To freshen your teenage girl's bedroom, you can combine simple sewing projects with a makeover. Involve your teen girl from the start in selecting beautiful fabrics, tassels and silk ribbons for sewing a new duvet cover, decorative pillow covers and window treatments. After the bedroom is finished, add a matching rug to complete the makeover.

Sew a Duvet Cover

With your teen, create a new duvet cover. Measure the width and length of your duvet. Go shopping with your teenager, and have her choose the fabrics for her makeover. Buy enough fabric to go around the duvet four times. Add charm by selecting two fabrics: patterned and solid. Cut two pieces of fabric to match the length of your duvet. Sew them together with the right-sides together, with the seam on the back-side of the fabric. Repeat this step for the other two pieces of fabric. Spread one piece of fabric with the seam face-down. Spread the second piece of fabric over it, seam face-up. Sew the pieces together on two sides and on the bottom by hand-stitching or on a sewing machine. Cut a 1-inch silk ribbon into 8-inch lengths. Sew a pair of ribbon strips at one end of the open fourth side on the right and left; then add more pairs at 2-inch intervals all down the opening. Show your teenager how to turn over the duvet cover, slip the duvet inside and tie the ribbons.

Sew Decorative Pillows

Measure the width and length of your teenager's old pillows and buy enough fabric to coat them. Add pizazz to this teen sewing project by having her choose a range of analogous (same-hued) colors. Lay the fabric face-up and place the pillow over it. Cut the fabric, leaving a 10-inch margin all around the pillow. Cut a second piece of fabric the same size and lay it over the first, face-down; hem three sides together by hand or with a sewing machine. Cut a 1-inch silk ribbon into 4-inch lengths. Sew a pair of ribbon strips at one end of the open fourth side on the right and left; then add more pairs at 1-inch intervals all down the opening. Complete the sewing project by turning the case over and slipping the pillow inside. Your teenager can tie the ribbons in butterfly knots.

Sew Window Curtains

To add to the overall makeover, make new curtains for your teenage girl's bedroom. Measure the length of her bedroom wall 10 inches above the window and down to the floor. Buy twice as much fabric. Cut the fabric in half and spread the first half face-down on a work table. Sew a 1-inch hem all around, then repeat for the second strip of fabric. Cut 2-inch wide silk ribbon into 10-inch lengths. Sew pairs of ribbon strips at 2-inch intervals along the top of the curtain, then tie the ribbons around a curtain poll. Add whimsy to your teenager's sewing project by tying the curtain loosely back with a floral fringe or a long strip of 2-inch ribbon.

Sew an Ornamental Window Shawl

Complete your teenager's makeover by decorating the center of her window. Measure the length of the window and buy enough sheer fabric to cover half of it. Additionally, have your teen choose a tassel fringe to go all around the fabric. Spread the fabric face-up on a work table and use sewing pins to attach the fringe all around. Sew by hand. Hang her window shawl from the valance atop the blinds or use swag hooks above the window.

References

• Inventive Home Improvement: "Bedroom Decorating Ideas for Girls Who Like to Sew"
• Bella Online: Sewing Room Furniture Ideas
• Kids Decorating Ideas
• Cottage Magpie: "How to Sew a Throw Pillow in 10 Easy Steps"