This past week was exciting for my daughter . :) She got her very own sewing machine. Isn't it nice?!I think it's important to teach the traditions of sewing and skills like crochet and knitting. I taught her to crochet (& knit) a couple of years ago. She especially enjoys crochet and can crochet just about anything. So, this year we will be working on sewing. We've touched on sewing with all the kids by teaching them to hand sew. It's a good skill to have, the hand sewing helps them to learn the mechanics of sewing. Both my son and daughter know how to thread needles and hand stitch small projects.
I do a fair amount of sewing myself, mostly quilted items like: bags, coasters, mini quilts, baby quilts, mug rugs and full sized quilts. One day, as my daughter watched me do my own sewing, her interest was peaked and she asked me to teach her. I have a very good machine but it's difficult to share my machine when we have separate projects we're working on at the same time. So, I decided to purchase a machine for her own personal use! We were able to find one at a vacuum store up north where my parents live. There is an older gentlemen who loves to make sure sewing machines are in excellent working order. He was so helpful and he made sure we got the right machine for her. We purchased one for $79.00. It's a great machine and will do everything she needs it to, plus a little extra. It's older but in this case, a nice old sewing machine is better then new! It came with numerous attachments, a manual and a 3 month warranty. Right now, she is learning the basics of sewing on smaller projects. She has her own loaded sewing basket and some material. We got her a book called: My First Sewing Machine Book, which contains simple instructions for working her machine along with some basic projects for her to do (pillows, pencil case, purse). Her first project was a pair of quilted coasters for her Uncle and his girlfriend. She did a great job! She did them all on her own with some verbal instruction from me.
Here is the book and some of her material:
Her sewing basket came with some scissors, tape measure, pin cushion, thread, pin cushion, material pencil, pins (safety, and straight pins). It's a nice little box with a zipper for the top part and a zipper with a spacious bottom where she can store material or projects she's working on. We got this one on Amazon but when I went to find it again I couldn't locate this particular one (some of this she got for Christmas last year). There are lots of options though, see here for more selection. Also local fabric stores carry starter cases.
Here she is sewing one of her coasters:
The finished product! They look really good. :)
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Oh, gosh, I wish you were closer! My daughter and I have a sewing machine and can't figure out how to use it! LOL We need to find someone to teach us! LOL (Someone said it sounded like our tension was off and probably needed servicing...) Her coasters look GREAT!
ReplyDeleteYou may want to try looking locally for a vacuum store. Often times they take in second hand sewing machines and refurbish them. I got this machine up where my parents live but I also have a vacuum cleaner store in my own town that services sewing machines. It may need to be serviced: cleaned, oiled and generally tuned up! :0) Also, local fabric stores or Community Centers may have a sewing class you can take that will teach you how to use your machine and do simple sewing. I'd like to run a class for our own local homeschoolers at some point. I think it would be great fun. :)
DeleteHow fun!! I am thankful that my mom encouraged me to sew. I use the skill so much more so than I thought I ever would. Including making most of my girls' skirts.
ReplyDeleteThe coasters look wonderful :) Keep up the great work.
It really is a lot of fun! My mother in law got me this beautiful machine for my 30th birthday. At first, I was worried she had spent money that would never be used because I wasn't sure I'd use it. A few years later and a couple babies more who have grown up enough - and I am using my machine LOTS. It's truly one of the best gifts I have ever received. My brother and his girlfriend got me some smocked material from Mexico that I will use to make dresses out of. That will be my first attempt at clothes since high school! lol
DeleteShe should come teach me! My mom got me a machine for Christmas and I've been so busy I haven't sat down to learn. Well, I have sewn on a machine before, but they were very simple projects when I was a Girl Scout years ago!
ReplyDeleteYou'd be surprised how much you remember from those experiences! :)
DeleteLovely !! I get excited just looking at my sewing Machine. I always enjoyed sewing all the way back to elementary school. I never stopped and as a stay at home mom as my husband left for his 2x6 months deployment I started my little sewing business which had done great for the past 2 years .. all because I kept sewing and still remembered these basic skills. Btw the coasters are super pretty !!
ReplyDelete