Anyone who has children will know how testing rainy weekends can be! The videos have all been watched, the board games done with, and don’t even mention baking a cake!
For a change of pace, why not try sewing fun stuff that together, will help educate your kids to learn something new, as well as giving them something that they can be proud enough of to take to show and tell at school the following week. There are a number of easy – but fun – projects that anyone of any age can learn – and who knows, Mom or Dad may have a great time too!
Teaching The Basics
Before you get into sewing the fun stuff, make sure you teach each child the importance of safety using the pins and needles, and how to do a basic stitch, practicing on a piece of material.
If you can afford to, give each child their own little sewing kit, as this may give them a sense of importance and an encouragement to sew more often. However between projects, it may pay to store these kits in a safe place out of reach – random pins and needles on the floor aren’t a lot of fun for anyone!
Pin Cushions – Great Place To Start
Pin cushions can be a great starter project as these are simple, quick and easy to make. As well as this, when the project is finished, it can be added to the child’s sewing kit for future use.
All that this project requires is a scrap of fabric, some stuffing, and a needle and thread. Sew a shape of the material together like a pillow (a square is easiest however you can also sew a circle, triangle or otherwise), leaving a small section open for the filling. Stuff the shape, sew up the hole, and you’re done.
Decorate Shirts And Bags
Decorating shirts and bags is another was of making sewing stuff fun, as it can get your children’s creative juices flowing and creates an end result that they can wear. Rather than sew the whole shirt or bag, buy a plain t-shirt or bag from a second hand store or department store, and decorate with fun sewing stuff like patches, buttons, felt or fabric paint.
Fabric paint is an excellent option for younger children, as there is no sewing required whatsoever – which means no pins, needles, or chance of needless accidents.
Quilts – Easier Than You Think
If your kids find sewing stuff fun, and they get the basic stitches down pat, an easy project to take on is the humble patch work quilt. All you need is an old quilt or blanket, needle and thread, and a bag of rags. Sift through the rag bag, sorting out the patches and materials that you like, then starting from one corner of the blanket, stitch the patches on, over-lapping each one as you go. These long-term projects will not only keen them occupied, but it will help teach your kids commitment, and give them a sense of satisfaction when they finish.
Filed under Sewing, Sewing Accessories, Sewing Alterations, Sewing Basics, Sewing Courses, Sewing Crafts, Sewing Equipment, Sewing Essentials, Sewing Fabric, Sewing For Beginners, Sewing Guide, Sewing Hints, Sewing Information, Sewing Instructions, Sewing Machines, Sewing Projects, Sewing Techniques, Sewing Tips, Sewing Tools, Sewing Tutorials by on Nov 26th, 2007. 1 Comment. 
Advice – Polyester threads are available in a wide range of solid and varied colors. The most popular thread size for sewing is 50wt, but many other weights are used depending on the project.
I’ve been sewing since I was a teenager and still do. Over the years I’ve made everything from curtains to quilts – even the purses I carry. Summer has barely begun, even so you’ve probably already heard, “I’m bored.” So, why not introduce your older children to sewing while teaching them a skill they will use the rest of their lives.
I encourage parents to not only teach their daughters but also include their sons in sewing lessons. My son used to ask, “Why don’t you show me how to use the sewing machine?” He’s always interested in what I’m sewing and eager to participate. Really, he’s not particularly unusual, since so many famous fashion designers are men.
Here are a few reasons I think sewing skills are important for children to learn:
Advice – If you enjoy sewing, then make the best use of the little wonders called sewing buttons. Pick the perfect buttons for your garments and become the envy of high-profile fashion designers.
Assembling any kind of garment or completing a sewing craft project requires reading instructions. Learning to read a pattern and it’s accompanying directions teaches children how to read sequential instructions.
Sewing involves math. Children will learn how to figure the amount of yards (of material) needed for a particular project and then accurately measure them out using either a ruler or tape measure.
Sewing teaches children about different kinds of fabrics. As your children learn about fabrics they will learn how different fabrics are laundered. This naturally leads them into lessons on how to operate the washer and dryer and how to take care of their clothing.
Ironing is a companion skill to sewing. As your children learn to sew a garment or craft project they will be introduced to ironing because it is usually required during and after construction.
As your children become proficient at sewing they will be able repair pieces of their clothing. They will be able sew up torn seams and hem garments on perfectly good pieces of clothing which otherwise might have been thrown out or given away.
Advice – If the ordinary person would think of the hard earned money that would be saved if they would fix that pair of pants, shirt, or skirt they would see that a sewing machine is not that bad of an idea after all.
Don’t worry if you don’t sew or own a sewing machine. Many fabric and quilt shops offer summer sewing camps for boys and girls. Classes are held once a week, for several weeks, where children are taught basic skills and complete a simple sewing project.
Break the summer boredom blues and teach your children a skill they can use the rest of their lives. They’re going to be so proud of their finished products, and the best part, you’re spending quality time with your children.
Carol Boles has a master’s degree in Special Reading and an Educational Specialist degree in Curriculum and Instruction. She has more than ten years experience teaching K-12 reading in public schools. She now manages her own business and is a member of The Lieurance Group, a freelance writer’s cooperative. Find out more about her writing services at http://www.teacherspetplace.blogspot.com or email her Cwrites-56@hotmail.com.
Filed under Sewing Basics by on Jul 14th, 2008. 1 Comment.
Technology has made the sewing machine, once a high priced item, very affordable for most sewing applications. The only major decisions are choosing between a traditional or embroidery sewing machine and how powerful you require it to be.
The more power provides a quicker job and longer lifespan of the machine. Only a handful of companies compose a very large percentage of the sewing machine market. These include Singer, Brother, Husqvarna Viking, White, and Pfaff. All of these brands have a product range from the entry level to expert quality.
As with any buying decision, the history of reliability and warranty features are the most important considerations. Deciding where to purchase is the next step after deciding on the brand and model you want.
Buying from a local retail location offers the ease of returning a product that is damaged at the start or within its warranty period. You can save money purchasing from online stores or an Ebay auction. However, the money saved may not be worth the risk of the trouble you may go though if something should go wrong.
Sewing machines have more moving parts than the average electric device. The more moving parts, the higher chance of a problem during operation.
Embroidery sewing machines are generally more expensive than traditional sewing machines. A traditional Singer can be had for around $150. The embroidery Singers range from $600 to over $3000. Singer is the most popular brand, but in second place are Brother sewing machines. They also have a range from the inexpensive $100 price point up to the industrial grade $10,000 embroidery models. The average non-commercial sewing machine, regardless of brand, is around $300 which is sufficient for the majority of consumers.
My advice is to check consumer feedback sites like epinions.com and magazines like Consumer Reports so you can make an informed decision based on the experience and research of others.
Jeremy MacNabb is the editor of many online guides including The Sewing Machine Guide
Filed under Sewing Basics by on Apr 15th, 2008. Comment.