Welcome to Day 5 of SewCalGal's It's All About The Kids Blog Event! Lots of inspiration for kids and a few giveaways too. Head over to SewCalGal's to see the full list of blogs participating.
Did you sew as a child? I did... my mom started teaching me to embroider and sew at a young age. She guided my sister and me as we embroidered pot holders as gifts for family and later on as we learned to make clothing for ourselves. She made most of our clothes, so we fell into it naturally. There has never been a time in my life that I haven't sewed.
Because I enjoy it so much, I think it's important to make sewing available for kids. I spend some time every summer holding Kids Camps in our local fabric store. I think I have as much fun as the kids, though I have to keep moving to keep up with them!
Over the past few years, the kids have made pillows, kleenex covers, pajama pants, quilts, and bags. Most of the time I design a pattern for the classes, so I have control over the difficulty of the project.
Kids are open to trying new things and really have fun. Even when they are having problems, they stay focused when they are really interested. As we all know, there is something very satisfying about making a project on your own and they feel it too. They don't fear making mistakes as much as adults and are very creative with their fabric choices.
These pictures are from last summer's camps. I taught two different sessions, the Topsy Turvy Pillow and the Carry-All Bag. The Kleenex covers were a bonus project for the Pillow girls, as they finished early.
When I use purchased patterns for the classes I try to stick with the Learn to Sew section of the pattern catalog....the kids used the
Simplicity pattern 2164 last summer to make these cute bags. I chose it for its simple structure and purchased webbing for handles.
Here are some tips if you want to help your child begin to sew.
Pick out a project that is simple enough for a child. If they are overwhelmed, it won't be fun and they won't want to finish.
Take breaks. They have lots of energy, but it is hard to stay focused on most projects for more than a couple of hours.
Don't be too picky. If it holds together and there are no holes in the seams, it is ok, even if the seams aren't perfectly straight. You can guide them to try harder but don't discourage them by making them take out every seam. If it seems too hard they won't want to do it.
Help when needed. Even sewers with some experience need help occasionally, so don't worry that if you help with a tricky seam or turn handles right side out that they aren't making it themselves.
You can see from these pictures that they were very happy to have a finished project that they could use after these classes. Were they all perfect? They were in their eyes!
To help in the celebration of kids and crafts/sewing,
Fat Quarter Shop has donated a $25 gift certificate! They really do know how to celebrate. Enter using the Rafflecopter below. You have until Monday to enter and win this wonderful prize! What would you buy? They have so many beautiful fabrics, it would be hard to choose, but it will be fun to try!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Thanks for joining me for this blogging event. I hope you are inspired to start a new project soon with your budding crafter/sewer.I'd love to hear about it when you do!
I love your photos and the happy faces. The projects came out great, thanks for being their teacher, you are the best. I would make pillows.
ReplyDeleteMy mom was a great sewist and she gave me all her scraps. I remember making three-armhole dresses for my Barbies, and lots of blankets for them and for my stuffed animals. My early quilting roots, I guess.
ReplyDeleteAll great points. I loved seeing their excitement when they held that first completed project.
ReplyDeleteI love sewing with kids! My kids, my nieces and even teaching friends kids....so much fun to watch them enjoy something I enjoy! Then to see them so proud of their finished project, just great!
ReplyDeleteSweet post. I never did much crafts when I was young. But when I took Home Ec in school, I learned how to sew garments. It was my first endeavor into sewing. Years later, I gave up garments and started quilting. That's where my passion lies. Thanks for a great post.
ReplyDeleteMy mum didn't sew so I learned at school with Mrs Ellis aged around 7
ReplyDeleteGood for the next generation of sewists. Hurrah! Thanks for sharing the pretty smiles.
ReplyDeleteHugs
Your kids camps sound like great fun. Bless you for doing this. I've so wanted to host something like this and you've inspired me to talk to my local quilt shops to see if I can talk them into letting me do it. :) Love the projects you made in your kids camps.
ReplyDeleteThanks for inspiring and helping the next generation learn to sew and be crafty.
SewCalGal
www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com
i learned to sew in high school back when they still taught that.
ReplyDeleteOnly craftiness for me didn't start 'til Jr.High...with Home Ec. classes. I got my first sewing machine after I was married...and have sewn ever since! lol Teaching my Grangirlie to sew this year, & to crochet...and we have made rubber stamped cards etc too.
ReplyDeleteMy great aunt taught me to sew clothes. I loved sewing with her.
ReplyDeleteI've been sewing since I was little, too, and have taught my niece, nephew, and others to sew. I think it's fun for them, as well as personally satisfying, and it makes me feel good to see their excited faces.
ReplyDeleteMy mother taught me to embroider when I was two and a half. That was a long time ago. I too think when children learn to create something early on, they are more likely to keep creating.
ReplyDeleteMy mom taught me to sew and crochet and I have fond memories of it! Looks like the girls had a great time!
ReplyDeleteMy Mom was an AMAZING seamstress!! We however were not allowed on her sewing room unless invited in! That was her sanctuary!! But the few times I did get in!!!! LOVE! !! I taught myself to sew a few years back. (Moms been gone for 10 years now)
ReplyDeleteI learned to sew in 4-H in Eureka CA on a Featherweight! The cooperative extension had about 20 of them and that's how I learned.
ReplyDeleteMy mother loved sewing and took me to embroidery classes when I was little. I always needed something to keep me busy =). We would make the puffed pictures. (I don't think they make them anymore) They were so cute. You sew around the pigs or chickens, etc and then make a hole in the back to stuff and make them puffy.
ReplyDeleteI do like the smiles that you bring to their faces.
ReplyDeleteMy sisters and I did lots of different crafts -- Christmas ornaments, quilling, potholders made on looms, macrame, etc. Some were things my mom did with us, some we did on our own. A treasured childhood activity for me!
ReplyDeleteI began sewing at 7 and taught myself. But the first thing I sewed I began by sewing the pattern right to the fabric. I then went looking for Mom to ask how to get the paper off!
ReplyDeleteSewing wasn't a fun endeavor for me in the beginning. When I was young - some age below 10 I needed summer clothes. My mom showed me how to pin and cut a pattern for shorts then let me sew them on her Singer treadle machine. I made a bunch and wore them with bandana tops.
ReplyDeleten
Now I sew for joy.
When I was a Brownie Scout I learned how to sew a running stitch. The first thing I remember making was a hand puppet. -- soparkaveataoldotcom
ReplyDeleteI did sew early on. I think I made my first outfit when I was about 8 or so. I didn't care to make little things like doll clothes too much and moved on to sewing my own clothes for most of my life. I even made my wedding dress and some for others. In the last few years I got back into quilt making and that is where I do most of my sewing. I remember 4=H sewing and how much fun it was to sew with others. I finally entered a quilt this year in the county fair. I might do that again.
ReplyDeleteMy mom used to teach me and my sisters how to sew, and knit. I made an apron she still have 30 years later!
ReplyDeleteMy mother was not very crafty so I kind of learned as I got older, I do remember doing some popcorn threads for the Christmas trees with her.
ReplyDeleteI did not learn crafts as a child, but I'm making sure that my Grandies do! Our three year old comes in the house and the first words out of her mouth ( every single time) are:
ReplyDelete"What are we going to quilt today Granny?"
It makes me smile for days!
Jean
jlickun@aol.com
I love all your projects Jean and you are a great teacher, there are some out there that know how to do it but you can really show us. Thanks for taking the time to show us.
ReplyDeleteI was never interested in sewing when I was young. I did make a few Barbie outfits (not very good ones). I did make several Barbie beds with sheets and pillows (shoe box beds).
ReplyDelete