My 8 year old niece is interested in learning how to sew over the summer.  I am going to show her how to make a quilt as our big project but I would like to start with some smaller projects leading up to this and are looking for suggestions. 

It has been quite awhile since I have sewed but I know it is like riding a bicycle (hehehe)  I want to show her hand sewing and machine sewing.  I think her interest in sewing was sparked with her signing up for girl scouts too.  Her mom (my sister) is very busy and can't really help her too much but since I have boys (who have no interest in sewing) I would love to show her. 

Suggestions....ideas.....any good websites to go to?

I remember when I was about 8, our Brownie troop made pincushions.  We stitched two squares of felt together by hand and stuffed them with pine needles.  Our leader told us if we were going to learn to sew, we would all need pincushions.  It must have made quite an impression, since I remember it lo these many years later.

If she likes dolls, then small pillows and blankets for them are an easy start, since they are basically just straight lines. A toothfairy pillow (a small pillow with a pocket on the front for the tooth/money, for anyone who isn't familiar with them). Or maybe pillowcases for her own bed. Small drawstring bags are pretty easy and can be fun to embellish with buttons, charms, etc. Once she gets the hang of it, an apron can be a fun project. Maybe she can make matching ones for herself and her mom/grandma/favorite aunt [i.e., you ;) ] ? My neice is about the same age and loves to give people presents that she has made herself. 

My grandma taught my sister and me to sew by making clothes for our Cabbage Patch kids. It was really fun to go to the store to pick out the fabrics we wanted to use. We started on easier patterns like pants and bloomers. Once we got the hang of those we moved on to the tops and things with ruffles and pleats. I learned loads, but it might have been better to start with pillows. <grin>