Reddit mentions of Sewing School ®: 21 Sewing Projects Kids Will Love to Make

I think you are expecting too much from one book. The Sewing School books are highly rated. Your niece should start out with simple projects and have adult supervision.

https://www.amazon.com/Sewing-School-Projects-Kids-Will/dp/1603425780

https://www.amazon.com/Sewing-School-Projects-Kids-Will/dp/1603425780

thank you much. this is super helpful.
I bought this book which I am going to start using for projects http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1603425780/

the book you recommend looks great too.

Will you recommend buying a sewing machine right away or practicing hand stitching first before upgrading to a machine?

I love this book. I saw it in a bookstore and turned every page. It's probably too complex for right now, but it could serve as an inspiration or provide projects you could work on with him.

http://www.amazon.com/Oliver-Little-Things-Sew-Accessories/dp/1584799102/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1426869583&sr=1-1&keywords=little+things+to+sew


These books look interesting.

http://www.amazon.com/Sewing-School-Projects-Kids-Will/dp/1603425780/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1426869393&sr=8-2&keywords=sewing+books+for+children

http://www.amazon.com/Kids-Guide-Sewing-Friends-Projects/dp/1607057514/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1426869393&sr=8-5&keywords=sewing+books+for+children

If he ever wants to do clothes, look at the Oliver + S site.

I'm glad it's helpful. Here's another way to access the Hapgood book:

https://web.archive.org/web/20070102010111/http://www.vintagesewing.info/19th/1892-sn/sn-toc-long.html

Here's the lesson on how to sew on a button. But any good sewing reference should have similar information:

https://web.archive.org/web/20070102112741/http://www.vintagesewing.info/19th/1892-sn/sn-02.html#buttons

There's a more sophisticated book on hand sewing for tailors. It's good, but it's basically a pamphlet, and as such, is rather expensive. You may be able to borrow it from a library.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0991402715?m=A1GEAVJFUOE45S&ref_=v_sp_widget_detail_page

I looked on Amazon and here are some books that emphasize hand sewing:

https://www.amazon.com/Sewn-Hand-Projects-Stitched-Needle/dp/1600596681/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1479252255&sr=8-1&keywords=hand+sewing+projects


Here's another book. It's for kids, but I'll bet some of the projects could be adapted for adults:

https://www.amazon.com/Sewing-School-Projects-Kids-Will/dp/1603425780/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1479252255&sr=8-2&keywords=hand+sewing+projects

This book, Sewing School, has always looked good to me. It focuses on hand sewing. Sewing School 2 teaches machine work.

Characteristics of Beginner Patterns

• Few pieces
  
• Small pieces
  
• Easy cutting lines
  
• Easily sewable with just a sewing machine
  
• No darts
  
• No zippers
  
• No buttonholes
  
• No sleeves
  
• Use easy fabric, like woven cotton
  
• Don't require pattern matching