Sewing is back — tweens and teens revive the art of sewing

Far from a dying art, sewing remains popular as both a utilitarian and artistic activity. Changing perceptions around sewing, as well as evolving perspectives of sewists, have brought the home sewing hobby to the younger generations. Gen Z and Gen Alpha — those 28 years old and younger — are known for their focus on self-expression and sustainability. Add to that the extensive online resources that teach how to sew, sewing has much to offer preteens and teens.

Sewing was once a top hobby for young women. A 1958 issue of Time Magazine notes that home sewing was a $1 billion-a-year industry and the average woman handmade four to six pieces of clothing every year. In her book Sew Retro, writer and sewing historian Judi Ketteler writes that 52 million people actively sewed their own apparel during the 1950s.

This number declined over the years. Home economics courses, once a primary way of learning to sew and other traditional skills, lost funding. Fast fashion, both convenient and affordable, reduced the need to sew clothes at home. But sewing has far from disappeared. PBS News reports that according to the Food and Agricultural Education Information System, enrollment in apparel and fashion college majors grew by 12,000 students between 2020 and 2023.

Although sewing lessons are no longer as widely available in home economics courses, teens and tweens still learn to sew, and in such numbers that those in the craft industry have taken note. Lilya Korenman, owner of fashion store Couture by LK Design, frequently helps VCU fashion design students in her shop, some as young as middle school age. "Younger people — boys and girls — are discovering sewing as a way to create their own individuality," she explained to Richmond Magazine.

Customcy reports that, as of February 2025, there were approximately 30 million sewists in the United States. This number has stayed fairly consistent in the last few decades. Sew Retro records that the now-defunct Home Sewing Association reported 30 million sewing hobbyists in 1997 and 35 million in 2006. Despite the stereotype that sewing is for older people, these numbers show a constant influx of teens and tweens into the hobby.

Why kids and teens sew: Sustainability, style and self-expression

Many teens and kids come to sewing for the same reasons their parents and grandparents did: custom apparel, tailored fits and repairs that can make clothing last longer. As a 9th grader, Megan Ly explains in her article for Lila Gazette, "People can express their creativity through sewing, and looking at the finished product can make them feel proud of accomplishing something. Sewing your own clothing allows you to alter the style and pattern to suit your preferences and ensure a great fit."

But sewing also has some benefits that particularly fit the Gen Z and Gen Alpha mindsets. In a 2024 study, YouGov found that younger generations were more focused on both fashion and sustainability than millennials. Younger consumers tend to connect fast fashion, which is often constructed of cheap materials and made to last only for a couple of seasons before being thrown out, to a lack of care for the environment.

Although sewing their own clothes is often more expensive, it is an opportunity to fight back against climate anxiety, mass production and fashion waste. By sewing, teens and tweens can choose sustainable fabrics or upcycle thrifted goods to give clothes a second use.

College student Hermine Brintet, writing for Pi Media, notes that younger generations also feel more inclined to stand out. Unique fashion choices or niche aesthetic communities like cottagecore or mermaidcore help teens and tweens find their identity as social media pushes toward uniformity. While fashion retailers try to meet these trends, the creative options available in home sewing, upcycling and mending are an easier way for teens to find fashion that perfectly matches their tastes.

Embracing sewing through Digital Age resources

Teens and tweens have grown up with computers, phones and ready access to online resources. Unlike previous generations who learned to sew from family members or school classes, young people today find inspiration and lessons on social media. It's also a place to share their finished projects. Influencers on Instagram and TikTok show off their designs, projects and thrift hauls for upcycling. Glossy reported that in 2024, Gen Z saved more pins on Pinterest than any other cohort.

Professor Kimberly Guthrie, who teaches fashion design at Virginia Commonwealth University, told Richmond Magazine, "These kinds of videos are inspiring and are driving many of our students to major in fashion. One of my students said that seeing more fashion students and small designers find success through social media makes it feel more accessible as a career and easier to make a name for themselves."

YouTube, TikTok, Reddit and sewing blogs abound with tutorials, free patterns and advice from more experienced sewists. Online kids' sewing classes allow young hobbyists to participate in classes regardless of their location.

What tweens and teen sewists create

For young creators, sewing goes far beyond stitching hems. Teen and tween sewists sew plushies, craft quilts and make garments from scratch. Hand-sewing, embroidery, needlecrafts and working on a sewing machine are all possibilities for teens and tweens.

High school student Maria McDill, for example, is working on a quilt inspired by the legacy of playwright August Wilson. Mining McDill's own heritage, she creates a project that combines history and artistry.

Fashion Magazine explored the recent TikTok trend of making clothes from thrifted materials — an affordable way to source materials while also keeping clothes out of landfills. Visible mending, an embroidery technique used to repair tears or other damage with eye-catching artistic designs, is another way younger sewists can upcycle clothing.

The cosplay community — where fans create costumes to dress as characters from their favorite fandoms — gained younger members in recent years. Woke Waves reports that Gen Z has taken to cosplay with more fervor than any other generation, largely due to social media's influence.

The youngest sewists can make custom pillows, skirts, plushies, blankets, bags and other projects. Online resources make it simple for parents and children to find materials for teaching children to sew.

The next generation of home sewists and fashion designers

From upcycling thrifted clothes into sustainable fashion to making one-of-a-kind homemade outfits to creating creative costumes, many teens and tweens have found the ultimate creative outlet in sewing. For those looking to start sewing at any age, online courses, tutorials and community classes make it easier to learn the basics and unlock a lifetime of creativity.

Margaret Smith, a professional sewing instructor, is the creator of Let's Learn to Sew, a blog that takes the overwhelm out of learning to sew. Since 2005, she has shared these tutorials and sewing patterns with thousands of blog readers and social media followers. Margaret lives in Texas with her family.