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    Sewing For Kids: Sewing Space


    2009 - 09.03

    When teaching your children to sew, there are things you can do with your sewing space that will make them more comfortable while they are sewing, and even better, help encourage a greater desire to sew. Give them little project to complete, let them explore their creativity. This a bit of information about sewing for kids.

    WHERE?
    Although we would all love to have our own sewing /craft room, most of us have to find a small corner in the house where we can sew. Through experience I have learned, that if you want to learn something, or more importantly you want your kids to learn something, the source needs to be readily available. Otherwise, "out of sight, out of mind".

    I started very early having "centers" around the house (primarily in the areas where we "lived" the most) for my girls. Some years we even gave up furniture in an area in order to have TOOLS for learning. A Reading center, Music center, Building center, Science center… If things were out (neatly organized, of course) and readily available, there was never a question that they would be used. 

    sewing tips sewing was no different . We started sewing in the laundry room, which when everything was set up – the table and machine, we couldn’t wash our clothes. So the girls were only sewing when I set aside the time for it, and it had to be put away immediately afterwards.

    When we moved to an area where it could stay out all of the time, the girls improved rapidly, as did I. Why? Because we could see it, we wanted to sew more often, and the girls didn’t have to always wait for me. **With my 3 year old, at the time, there were limitations.

    Added Bonus
    Moms, we rarely have a chunk of time where we can complete a whole project from start to finish. This set up is a huge advantage for us as well. I will see that I have 15 minutes to spare, and I can sit right down and sew several lines and then walk away!

    SEATING

    We’ve talked about where, now let’s talk about your child’s positioning. It’s very important that your kids are comfortable while they are sewing. It is also important that they are sitting high enough to look down on the needle and their hands. If they are older this is easy. If they are young, you have two choices for those little bodies.

    1. Buy a small child’s table.

    PROS: this is very comfortable for your child.
    CONS: if you are sharing machines, it isn’t real comfortable for you.

    childrens sewing fabric2. Use a regular table.

    If needed, use pillows to raise your child on the chair. For their feet, find a storage box to place the pedal on.

    PROS:you can use what you already have, and it is much easier to share the machine. 

    CONS: at first it may feel a little awkward if your kids are real little. When my 3 year old started sewing, she worked at a child’s table. This was because she never knew where to place the foot she wasn’t using, when she sat at the larger table. However, by age 6 she preferred being at the "big" table with us.
    Whichever one you choose, just make sure they are comfortable!

    3.Buy your child a childrens sewing machine  

    When you know and are surey are capable to work independently. Start giving them hand sewing projects and or just any sewing projects for kids, let their creativity shine out! 

    Kristi learned to sew right along with her daughters. The girls were age 3 and 6, at the time! Because it was such an enjoyable experience she wants to encourage others to pursue this endeavor.

    Kristi experienced the woes of feeling very ignorant just trying to read a pattern and was discouraged from trying to teach her girls on her own. After receiving a new sewing machine from her husband for her birthday, she became bound and determined to fulfill her desire to learn to sew.  childrens sewing machines
    Kristi’s plan was to learn everything before she tried to teach her kids. But as she was learning, her girls caught her enthusiasm and in amazement she watched them flourish in learning to sew right along with her. Kristi says that, "quite honestly, because we knew nothing I experienced a real freedom in my own education".

    At age 8 yrs. old, her younger daughter could sew her own dresses, and her older daughter, at 11 yrs. old, had a passion for sewing, and was a better seamstress than Kristi.

    What Kristi wants to do, is share her journey in sewing; to help others know (with hindsight being 20/20) that the best way to learn is by doing. She has shared with friends and family their way of learning to sew, as well as, the projects and patterns that built their skills. She has seen it not only work for others, but truly bring a delight into the sewing experience.

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     By Kristi Borchardt
    Published: 5/20/2007

     Children’s Boutique Sewing Patterns: Scoop Neck Dress Top Sewing 

    Scoop Neck Dress Top sewing pattern: I have tested the revisions and will be working on the pattern to send out to testers sometime this week.

    Les Petits Anglais: Sewing the t-shirt

    I’m a stay-at-home mother and for the last few months, I’ve been setting up a business from home making european-style clothes for small children. 

    Tips And Basics For Successful Sewing

    From sewing hems to rolled hem sewing, you can learn it all with these sewing tips. Here are few of tips that I would like to share with you.

    Sewin’ Sisters Sowing: Sewing list by priority

    Marcellene Currens is an ordained minister, and the founder of Sewin’ Sisters Sowing, Sew Much for Charity, and Our Sewing Recital. She is passionate about teaching sewing to adults and children. Sewing was the very first profession, … We are self-supported, giving our own time and materials in both learning and teaching others basic sewing skills and tips.

    Oh Sew Busy: Sewing Machine

    This afternoon I put the last stitches into my new sewing machine cover while sitting on a quilt down near the cattle yards while the children played in the dirt and on bikes.

    Sewing Machine: Embroidery Patterns


    2009 - 08.30

     Embroidery machines are great for personal sewing and craft projects.

     patterns and tips for embroideryEmbroidery sewing machines offer both the services of embroidery and sewing in one appliance. Thus, these machines offer the best of both worlds, and are available at attractive prices.

    Brief History about Embroidery

     The earliest embroidery was done by hand, following which the process became mechanized with the use of the mechanical  embroidery machine . A sewing machine with or without built-in stitches can be used to "manually" create  embroidery designs on fabric . These manual types of embroidery machines are used very little these days, and mostly for fiber art and quilting projects. This type of embroidery is used to embellish garments, though with decreasing frequency these days. Replacing it is the free machine embroidery process, often called "thread drawing or painting", which is favored by quilters and fabric artists to embellish or to create samples of textile art. Machine embroidery designs are great to use for anything.  However, it is the computerized embroidery sewing machines that have revolutionized the market. They can be used by inputting a pattern, however complicated or intricate it may be, into the machine and getting its exact replica on  fabric . These embroidery sewing machines contain a special software that reads digitized embroidery files. They are extremely popular among professionals, crafters, quilters, and seamstresses, owing to their precision and convenience. They are widely used even by those who enjoy embroidery as a hobby.

    The best machines have facilities for both embroidery and sewing. Some of the high-end models come with an inbuilt large color touchscreen, a USB interface, design editing software on the machine, embroidery adviser software, and design file storage system. The embroidery sewing machine prices range from $400 up to the expensive ones costing $2000. Brands that sell this product are Brother, Singer, JAMAC Kenmore and Shark. Commercial embroidery machines are available in the range of 1, 2, 4, 6, 12, 15, and 18 head machines. Industrial embroidery machines can be purchased from between 12 to 56 head models.

    There are also several kinds of embroidery softwares available. This variety includes softwares that can convert a photograph into an embroidery design. Some websites offer tools that allow a buyer to customize stock designs, thus eliminating the need to buy a digitizing software.thread and threading tips

    While using a computerized sewing machine, one needs to follow these steps to create a design in thread.

    1. The first step is for one to buy or create a digitized embroidery design file. Plenty of design files are available for purchase, as well as those that can be downloaded. Ensure that the designs you buy or download are compatible with your machine. If you have a design in a different format than that which your machine uses, you could convert it using a conversion software. However, if you have your heart set on a specific unusual pattern, you may have to create it. Out of those that are available, you may want to incorporate some changes or combine one, two or even three designs, using an editing software. It will enable you to rotate, scale, move, stretch, distort, split, crop, or duplicate the pattern. Many softwares also enable one to add text and change colors.
    2. Once you have settled on the design you want to use, load the file into the embroidery sewing machine. Transferring can be done through cables, CDs, floppy disks, USB interfaces, or special cards that resemble flash and compact cards.
    3. The next step is to secure the fabric. This needs to be done to ensure neatness and prevent wrinkles in the material and other problems. Where small embroidery designs are being made, the material is hooped, and the hoop is attached to the machine. The machine automatically positions it under the needle. In large designs, one or more pieces of material (such as vinyl, nylon or open mesh), called "stabilizers" or "interfacing" are added under and/or on top of the fabric.
    4. The last and most enjoyable step is to start and watch the machine work its magic. Depending on your machine, you may be required to change threads or cut them.

     

    While deciding which embroidery sewing machine to buy, consider models that are long-lasting and require minimum maintenance. Other qualities to take into consideration are versatility and easy switchover from embroidery to regular stitching functions.

    By Marian K
    Published: 7/2/2009

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     Embroidery Pattern for sewing at Sew, Mama, Sew! 

    Free Embroidery Pattern at Sew, Mama, Sew! – In the throes of Ollalieberry Overdrive, I was looking at these dark, mossy-green sheets and thought I should take a few minutes to embroider a little flower on the pillowcases.

    Embroidery pattern - Sewing

    Loobylu embroidery pattern – Claire from loobylu offers this super cute embroidery pattern for your personal use. Similar Posts: little bear embroidery pattern | crafty news | mixtape zine | cute embroidery patterns.

    Sewing Fabrics, Patterns

    Sew chic purses and bags to match your outfits. These are fun to sew. Start with a basic pattern and personalize your bag with special embellishments.  

    The most Popular Thread: Polyester Sewing Thread

    To sew these pieces together various sewing threads are available and the choice is dependent upon the fabric that has been chosen. For example if the material that is chosen to make a dress or blouse is cotton.

    Sewing thread

    Duty rate for Yarn (other than sewing thread) of artificial staple fibres, not put up for retail sale. Duty rate for Synthetic staple fibres, not carded, combed or otherwise processed for spinning. 

    Sewing With the Right Thread

    When doing a lot of sewing, thread quality is as important for your sewing machine as it is for your project. Quality thread can be inexpensive.

    Learn how to sew, its kids stuff


    2009 - 08.30

    Sewing is a fantastic talent and if you’ve got it then why not show it off! Here are some tips and basics for teaching your kids how to sew. Startoff with simplicity sewing patterns then gradually teach them more depending on your experience.

    Teach your kids how to sew and share your creativity with your little ones. You would be amazed at how quickly they can learn, but remember it takes time, enthusiasm, effort and alot of patience.

    Before you start to teach your child to sew, you need to ask yourself 4 important questions about their personality. Based on the answers to these questions, will determine how you approach teaching them how to sew, and more importantly how to give them a joyful experience learning. Tips for sewing

    Starting Off Tips For Learning To Sew:

    In the “9 Secrets to Successfully Teach Your Child to Sew”, I discussed knowing your child’s personality. The 4 questions were:
    1. Is your child a perfectionist?
    2. Do they get frustrated easily?
    3. Do they like following specific directions, or do they like to invent things on their own?
    4. Are they able to stay on task for a block of time, or do they learn in spurts?

    Before we delve into the answers to these questions, it is important to remind you of the crucial point of our teaching. We are wanting to instill a  desire for sewing, not just another thing that our child needs to learn how to do.

    So many times before we start something we think we need to know everything there is to know about it. Think about how our children learn the most important things in life. Did you sit your child down and explain to them the mechanics of crawling and walking prior to them doing it?

    If you do not know how to sew, the best way to give your children a desire to learn is for them to see you learning to sew . Another way, is for your child to see things that other kids have made. We have many friends who have expressed an interest in learning how to sew after they have seen something that our girls have made.

    So, no more saying “I just don’t know how, or I don’t think I can teach them myself”. JUST GO FOR IT!

    NOW, back to the questions. Maturity level is an essential ingredient when considering how to work with the answers to these questions.
    I will use my own children, and a few other kids from families I have worked with, to show how the answers to these questions determine your initial approach to teaching. I will use different colors to represent the different girls. All of these girls had never sewn before.
    A. 3 yr. old
    B. 6 yr. old
    C. 8 yr.old
    D. 9 yr. old
    E. 14 yr. old

    1. Is your child a perfectionist?threading tips for beginners
    A. Absolutely not
    B. No, but could lean that way
    C. Yes
    D. Absolutely not

    E. Not extreme, but wanted her work to look good
    2. Do they get frustrated easily?
    A. No, enjoyed a challenge, and would conquer whether done correctly or not
    B. She enjoyed trying new things but if it got too difficult she would choose to stop instead of conquer
    C. Yes, if something is too difficult
    D. Not when working on own creation. Yes, when what she was doing was not her choice.
    E. No, would follow through until correctly resolved

    3. Do they like following specific directions, or do they like to invent things on their own?
    A. Always liked to create her own things
    B. She preferred following an example if she knew that one was available. If specific directions were on hand she would follow these. Always found great satisfaction in accomplishing the steps to instructions.
    C. Very diligent to follow specific directions
    D. Extremely creative. Preferred to invent her own creations.
    E. Wanted to sew clothes with a goal of creating her own patterns.

    4. Are they able to stay on task for a block of time, or do they learn in spurts?
    A. If creating own thing, could stay on task for long periods of time. If following specific pattern, only in spurts.
    B. Could stay on task
    C. Could stay on task
    D. Only worked in spurt E. Could stay on task

    basic sewing for kidsWays to help them to learn

    Based on each of these precious personalities, and their maturity level, this is how they started their journey of sewing.

    A. Was given a box of fabric and some stuffing. Was taught the basics of how to make the machine sew straight lines, putting the foot up and down, and pressure on the pedal. She was allowed to create whatever she wanted for 3 months before I asked her to follow a  pattern . Her first pattern was for a quilt. She only worked on this project once or twice a month. All other times in the month were spent on her own creations. Because of the freedom given to her, she mastered straight lines and foot pressure very quickly. When creating on her own, she would spend blocks of time working diligently. During the times that we worked on specific patterns, she would sew and then would play or draw while I pinned the next step. Some days she worked for 15 minutes, other days she would last a couple of hours. Time was based on her interest. *Reminder: due to her age she was never allowed to use the sewing machine without me in the room with her. By age 5 she made her first dress. She continued to sew her own creations but at this time they actually looked like quilts and pillows. She just completed her first dress on her own (a little help from me with cutting and following the pattern), at the age of 8.


    B.
    Started with practicing straight lines and foot pressure on the pedal. She decided that she wanted to sew a teddy bear first. I was concerned about this because of all the curves and the fact that I had no idea how to make one. I drew the outline on some fabric, cut out the bear and she sewed around it. I told her repeatedly how difficult of a project this was which gave her a lot of confidence when we were done. After this I gave suggestions on some easier projects. She devoured them. Because of her desire to sew clothes, we literally learned to understand patterns together. The amazing thing was how easily we understood them due to the projects we did prior.  She would spend a minimum of 1 hour working on her projects.sewing tips for beginners

    By the time she was 8, she was making her own dresses and sewing costumes. At 9, she was branching out into creating her own doll clothes without patterns. We practiced cutting off and on, but it was very difficult for her to get a good straight line. By age 10, she was doing all of it: cutting, marking, pinning, reading the patterns, and sewing.


    C.
    Started with practicing straight lines and foot pressure on the pedal. She wanted to follow whatever pattern I thought would be best for her. I picked something that was very simple and wouldn’t be easy to mess up. We spent a lot of time encouraging her, and the lines had to be really really bad in order to rip them out. After several completed projects, her lines corrected themselves.

    She continued to follow a progression of patterns that built skills one at a time. Now she has the confidence to try harder patterns and isn’t as concerned with perfection. She has also created some of her own designs.

    D. Started with teaching the basics: straight lines and foot pressure. Then gave her a box of fabric and let her go. She needed quite a bit of supervision, with gentle reminders about not sewing when there was nothing under the foot. She had no desire to follow a pattern; instead she made her own. She spent approximately 1 1/2 years sewing her own things. Her skills naturally improved and progressed in difficulty. Afterwards, she decided she wanted to try store bought patterns. Once she learned some of the basics for constructing these patterns, she was on her own again however, her projects became more involved and had a more finished look. 

    Click To Learn How To Sew Like Professional

    E. Started with all of the steps. She wanted to learn everything in order, from laying out the pattern, cutting it out, marking, pinning, and  sewing. She wanted to start with clothes, so I gave her several choices for easy dress patterns that would build skills one at a time.

    As you can see, each girl started with the  basics of learning to sew straight lines and work the foot pedal but how they progressed in their learning was based on their unique personality. After they mastered these steps and were confident in their ability, the projects increased in difficulty in order to introduce new skills. This reduces the pressure to learn everything at once.

    By Kristi Borchardt
    Published: 5/10/2007

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    Three Basic Stitches For Hand Sewing

    Sewing machines help to make sewing faster, but sometimes you need to sew an item by hand, for example, when you are repairing an item.

    . App fef lique Quilting | Applique Quilting

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    Singer Castle Blog & More: Antique Singer Sewing machines

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    Sew,Mama,Sew! Blog » » Easy Hand Sewing for Kids ~ Early Years

    I grew up sewing with my mom and he’s growing up sewing with me. I don’t think there’s a “right” way to introduce kids to sewing, but if you want kids to love to sew I think it’s really important to let go. 

    Teaching Sewing

    What great encouragement!! My little 3-yr old also loves to “sew”. I got her a little sewing machine for kids which is not too good quality. So whatever se sews, I re- fef sew on my machine. But have lots of fun! 

    Teaching kids to sew

    Yesterday I started teaching dd10 to sew. She spend the afternoon sewing straight lines on looseleaf paper. Then we graduated to corners, and circles and swirls. She did fantastic.

    Tips for teaching children to sew

    Beginner fabrics. fleece is a great “cut and sew” fabric for kids because of its no fray properties. working with cotton fabric is a great way to teach pre-washing, the grain of the fabric, pulling a thread and the warp.