11 year old GD with new sewing machine

How about a simple bag? Two squares or rectangles and two strips for handles, could be used to store her scrunchies.
My GD loved making lavender bags at that age as she could chose pretty ribbon or lace to decorate them and then give them as presents. She also made small cushions.

Any friends with dogs? Bandanas to go on their collars.

Dribble bibs for babies? Napkins and napkins rings. Peg bags.
Debbie Shore has a great range of books called "Half Yard", e.g. Half Yard Heaven, Half Yard Home and a few others, with great ideas using a half yard of fabric. I think they're available on Amazon.

I was going to suggest a basic A-line skirt pattern, but not many young girls wear skirts these days.

Cushion covers to match her bedroom?

You could practise putting in a zip, perhaps later on.

You can find instructions for envelope cushion covers online, sorry can't link.

DD at the same age has made a shift dress using a pattern and then a blouse, currently she is in to cooking and the machine has been put to one side, but she will come back to it, when she wants something she cannot afford.

Sh e helped me make curtains for her bedroom.

Great ideas. Thank you all. I thought I could send her regular packs and she can face time if she needs help.

What about bunting. Cut out triangles and sew onto a tape strip. Could be colours to match her bedroom.

Buy a simple pattern from the craft section of the pattern books and start her learning from scratch. Did this with my 11 & 13 year olds, the made bags and now much older buy patterns to make other things and love it.

Her mum will help but I would like to do my long distance granny bit. I shall have a good list!

I was given my Gran's old fashioned manual Singer at that age, and later passed it on to my 2 girls.
They were more interested in making clothes for themselves. Or for their dolls.

I think that's lovely GG, lots of ideas for her to make. I loved sewing as a child and my Mum taught me to use her sewing machine from a very early age. I used to make clothes for myself later on in my teenage years.

Sewing machine patchwork - helps to learn measuring and cutting accurately and sewing seams neatly. First in strips then using the strips to make a bag or a cushion cover.
Also its not too early to start on a very simple pattern try the Minerva website for inspiration.

No ideas, but just wanted to say- what a fabulous thing that she wanted a sewing machine.
Does this mean that there is hope for the future?

We bought our dgd, aged 11, a book of things to make from fat quarters together with a couple of bundles of fat quarters. We wanted something that produced a fairly quick result for her. She seemed pleased!

What a great age to start the love of sewing and fabric for her. Last year when I was visiting my GD in the UK I bought three books from The British Heart Foundation charity shop.

They were all by Debbie Shore and covered a big variety of small and bigger sewing projects ( I think you can get them very reasonably on Amazon and from a company called World of Books found on a famous auction site...free postage in the UK I think). I bet she'd love them

What about a mat to stand her sewing machine on? I always have one under my machine, it makes it really easy to "push away" the machine if I need the table space for any reason when I'm sewing. Just two layers of fabric with some wadding in between, this need not be expensive either; I've used old towels or flanelette sheeting before.

Just to say thank you for the added ideas. I am making a list

mine made a skirt, a bag and an apron at 11. She was very keen but now she is 12 and pre-teen and hormonal, no more sewing interest. Oh well, I tried and even bought her a decent machine for her 11th birthday

Why not try Crazy Patchwork?

It's freeform, great fun and lends itself to learning about the machine by multiple stitch styles.
It's very forgiving and all you need is a backing sheet of any size (this one is small) and colour; some fat quarters and any oddments from the 'rag bag' (does anyone still have a rag bag?)

As you see, I used some left-over, patches from quilts for the central panel but you don't need anything so structured.

The rest are pieces of any shape and size from old garments, plus some sparkly and silvery materials.

A quilter friend made one from many different lace shapes - beautiful.

Mine has been much admired (ny didl has laid claim to it on my demise!) and it took me (after tacking pieces in place) only about an hour to make up.

You can sew it with a thin batting already inside and bind the border with a contrasting ribbon, or leave one end open and slide the batting in later, before sewing up the end.

If you watch the craft shows on tv, you will know there are lots of kits available....simple and more advanced. Have you looked at Hobbycraft? They have plenty of simple things intended for children.
Lucky little girl, I hope it opens up a new world for her.

Just to add a bit more to what I am aiming to do. My GD lives in Australia. We talk and face time and I can record a demonstration of techniques if needed. I thought I could put together packs (lightweight!) With step by step instructions. I will have a look at Hobycraft and kits for children as that will give me inspiration. I know from the scrunchy making that young people like to make what appeals to them and their friends so I would like to add simple clothing projects as time goes by. I can always make a sample if it helps.

Thank you for following this thread. It really helps.

Some good ideas mentioned but all I would say is please make sure that your GD is taught that all seams, etc. must be pressed so that her sewing always looks good.