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On the first day of the new year, we posted a picture on instagram and facebook that {for us} created a good bit of discussion, as well as “likes.”
Our oldest niece has expressed an interest in sewing for almost 2 years. In the past, all she has been taught to do is raise and lower the presser foot and turn the hand wheel. On occasion, we’d let her remove the pins as I sewed. She had no knowledge of the foot pedal or even the power switch. **Keep in mind she is our niece and is not with us 24/7, and when she is with us….we aren’t typically sewing during her visit :).*
For Christmas, we discussed the possibility of getting her a basic sewing machine, but decided she could use our back-up machine when she visits. Since “Sister Momma” doesn’t use a sewing machine and with EA’s young age, she really didn’t need to sew on a machine, unsupervised.
Besides everyone being excited to see our niece sewing, what were followers interested in knowing more about?
Our niece is using our back-up machine which is a Brother CS6000i. This machine can be purchased for about $150 {I think ours cost about $100 when we purchased it}. We believe it is perfect for young children that are learning to sew {due to an inexpensive price tag and an extremely slow setting}. In fact, it is even my go to machine for buttonholes! To get more details on this specific machine, visit Andrea’s Notebook for a more thorough review.
We’ll be up front and say, we had no idea how smoothly this would go when we decided to let her try. Was she too young? Would she be careful? So much of this depends on the child. EA is a very young four, but she is a “typical” firstborn. Couple that with having a very long attention span, being attentive and smart and in hindsight she was definitely ready to “power up” the sewing machine. **Please keep in mind, she does not live with us which we think creates a bit more intrigue, as well as, we have no fear that she will want to be running the machine 24/7 when we need to be using it for something else.**
Our starting point was following the method that Jenn of JennuineDesigns laid out in her “Tiny Sewists” series. Especially if you have a young child, we would HIGHLY recommend going this route. Her lessons begin very basic and progress to several child friendly projects. We have not delved into any of the projects yet, but we’ll cover that later.
Also, Sally of daisy-chain creations did a series “Sowing while you Sew” and has several wonderful projects for the beginning sewist. Her projects could be done with young children, but would also be very appropriate for tweens. Amy of Peek-a-Boo Pattern Shop and Hayley of Mouse House Creations also have free projects available on their sites. Really, the list could go on and on because there are loads of free beginner projects available online. Simply try and hone into your child’s likes to find the perfect project for them!
EA was definitely ready to use a sewing machine. She was extremely attentive and could answer the questions as we reviewed. But what was more important to us was that she truly desired learning, and she had fun while experimenting!
Interestingly enough, we have yet to sew a true project with EA. There really is no desire there. She is throughly enjoying experimenting with different stitches using different colors of thread. Right now, we may continue to work some on stitching shapes sketched out on a sheet of paper, or maybe stitching a curve. We are tickled with this route, and hope that it gives her the confidence and experience she needs when she is ready to sew that first project.
Our biggest fear is that once we delve into a project she may become frustrated and discouraged if it is not perfect the first time. Being OCD comes naturally to her, and we worry that she’ll never think “outside the box” when we see her meticulously stay in the lines when coloring. We are enjoying the fact that she is getting to experience using a sewing machine without all the “rules and regulations” imposed when sewing an actual project. Plus, by practicing, she will improve and hopefully {in her eyes} her first “real” project will be deemed a success!
And you’ll be the first to know. . .because she is all about “Show & Tell.” Stay tuned. . .
*Please note: This post contains “affiliate links”, yet we do solemnly promise that all proceeds will be used to fund our fabric {and sewing} obsession!
Wow! Look at her attentiveness…she’s going to be making her own outfits soon! Thanks for the shout out too:)
We shall see :)! She “made” something for LG the last time she was here….we’ll be blogging about it soon…
Best Aunties ever! Seriously, teaching little ones to sew is so amazing…and you’re doing it just right!
Awww, we hope so!
Loved reading about EA and the machine. I had an Elna Air Electronic SU when my younger daughter was small. It has a setting you can use that pretty much picks one stitch at a time. When she was 5 I put It on an antique school desk and let her have free reign. She grew up to get a degree in fashion design and retail marketing. I just bought a used Bernina for her birthday so I can get my hands on that Elna so I can work with my 6 year old granddaughter on that machine. She is interested in learning to sew too.
Neat!! So excited you’ll continue the tradition with the next generation….
It is refreshing to see you teach like I do!! I have 3 granddaughters that I have taught to sew, starting at age 5. Ruled notebook paper is my starting point. Then I draw circles, squiggly lines, squares, triangles, etc., on plain paper for learning different stitching techniques. The most enjoyment I get is teaching a class of 8 – 12 year olds and watching their faces as they accomplish each step and finally finish a project. Keep up the good work teaching EA and this is something she will always be able to “take” with her.
These are FANTASTIC ideas!!! Thanks for sharing them as well…