We’ve been busy the past few weeks, sewing up a storm in our little sewing room. I’ve been spending most of my free days helping the kids learn to sew so I haven’t had much time to write- they have been requiring a lot of my “free-time”. (assuming free time is an actual ‘thing’ for a mom of five)
They are starting to get the hang of it. This past weekend, I have been able to step away some and let them have a little creative freedom with their sewing.
Easier Than I Thought
In the end, It hasn’t been as difficult as I thought it would be to teach the little guys(my youngest son is now learning) the basics of sewing. It scared me a little with the needles, scissors and the cost of fabric. However, I found a sale on stuffing for pillows at our local Walmart. I’ve been buying cheap fabric quilting squares on Amazon. (They have been awesome for the little guys to learn to sew on.) And I also found a sale on holiday fabric at Joanns.com, at $3 a yard, I was able to get a few yards of fabric for them to make their Christmas gifts at a decent price. (Also, they make clips you can use instead of pinning fabric together- it’s a great option when sewing with kids!)
So far we have made : 1 billion pillows (give or take ;))
5 coaster sets
6 mug mats
A blanket
2 coffee cozies
My oldest has started this week learning how to make a doll outfit. (still in progress)
Kids on left-Sewing up a Storm. A couple of my projects on the right (I made these to show them what to do with their own pieces)
Finally, Progressing Out of the Pillow Stage
We are starting to progress into more advanced items, but the pillows and coasters have been great for learning the basics of putting together fabric (inside out) and learning the process required to sew a straight line, including tieing down your first and last stitch. We have also made a few pillows with curves (heart, star, letter pillows etc.) Those were harder to learn, but they are starting to get the hang of it.
I have been impressed in their want to learn and enjoyment of creating something new from scraps of fabric. The hardest part is time, patience and helping the little guys understand why we have to sew everything inside out.- then understanding how to layer fabric inside out with batting (3 layers -for the coasters and mug mats)
They are also still working on mastering a top stitch, but I’m not picky on that just yet. They will get better as they go along. I also think it has helped with me sewing my own little projects along with them. They can see what it should look like and why it’s important to follow the steps that I tell them to follow.
I have been considering teaching them how to design a small quilt (maybe for a doll or a baby quilt) as our next “big” thing, once we get through making their Christmas gifts (aka- pillows and coasters) We’ll see how their interest goes.
Learning Process for Me Too!
Teaching the kids sewing has been a learning process for me. It concerned me at first. I was honestly a little hesitant, but it has been going better than I expected it to go. Especially trying to help and teach 3 kids at once. (getting my younger daughter a sewing machine early has been VERY helpful. I was planning on getting it for Christmas, but her interest peaked and with my youngest son wanting to learn too, it’s been helpful. I wanted to encourage them, while they had the interest to do it.) I’m glad I did. Even if their interest dies off, I know they will know enough to start again later in life and are capable of continuing to teach themselves if they find they have that interest. They will also know enough to do basic mending. I’ll be happy with that!
