Teaching your kids to sew

Over the years my two girls have shown an interest here and there in learning to sew. This interest comes and goes but I always make sure to grab the moments when they're keen and interested and help them give it a go and learn. I believe that learning to sew - and other crafting skills are valuable ones for kids to learn.

But back to my girls sewing. Over the years, they've made a few things pencil cases are always a favourite:

Roll up pencil cases

Lined and zipped pencil cases

I've encouraged them to design their own things too - here's ...well..ok, another pencil case, designed by my younger daughter:

And a cuddly turtle, designed and made my by youngest.

There were other things they made - it just seems to be the pencil cases I took pictures of!

Then a couple of years ago, I decided to put together an e-book which was a short course for kids to learn to sew. Something with a bit of structure to help kids (or indeed adults) learn some basic sewing skills which would enable them to sew all kinds of different things - particularly learning to follow tutorials as there are so many great tutorials available online now - you can learn to make just about anything!

My girls agreed to be the 'pattern and tutorial testers' for my book. After I had written each individual tutorial, I would give it to them to try and follow and make the item themselves. They would then be able to give me feedback on what they found easy or difficult and I could adjust the patterns and tutorials accordingly.

I decided to incorporate my favourite thing and one I'm passionate about into this learn to sew book too - clothes upcycling.  So the contents of this e-book can be made using an old pair of jeans and some co-ordinating fabric.  

My girls both had a pair of coloured jeans that they'd grown out of that they wanted to use - and they chose their own matching fabric to use with them.  

We had a lot of fun with creating this e-book together, and the girls learnt a lot about sewing too!

Here are all the things they learned to make following the tutorials in my e-book. Those in the picture below are the ones I made as examples while I created the tutorials - and I also used a coloured pair of jeans!

This e-book is available as a FREE PDF download.

To get your copy just click here.

So why not help your kids learn a useful lifelong skill and make some fun things along the way.

Happy sewing and upcycling!

Can your kids sew?

This is an e-book course I developed to teach kids to sew. 

 It uses a pair of jeans as the main fabric for the nine projects included in the book.

I chose a pair of jeans because I personally love sewing with denim, it's strong, hard wearing, looks great and only improves with age.  Sewing with old clothes is also a very eco- and budget friendly fabric source option, which is something I feel strongly about.  It teaches kids to use what they've got for sewing resources - the tutorials making use of all parts of the jeans from the zip to the pockets and even the waistband!  

Most people have an old pair of jeans at home that they can use for this, or there are always plenty of second-hand jeans for sale in charity and op shops for just a few dollars.

The nine tutorials in the book build up skills and techniques gradually, but each project is achievable for kids to make either by themselves or with a little help from an adult.

Through the course of the book, kids will learn skills like appliqué and putting in zips; and also how to read tutorials and patterns that use both written instructions and photos to make each step clear and straightforward.

My own two daughters, aged 10 and 12 when the book was created, were been my pattern testers for this book. It was great to see their sewing confidence grow as they progressed through the tutorials. They started out with the super simple and very fast project - tissue pouches.

and then went on to make things like bags, soft toys and zipped pouches!

By the end of the book, once all the tutorials have been completed, the sewer should have the confidence to be able to browse through the endless sewing tutorials available online - both here on my blog and on many other fabulous blogs and sites - and try making lots of new things!

To download your FREE PDF copy of this book to teach someone (or perhaps even yourself) to sew, for just

Click here

Thank you for your support of my blog and my sewing tutorials. I would love to hear from you if you use this book to help kids (or adults too)  to learn to sew!
Happy Sewing!

How to teach your kids to sew

Can your kids sew?

My kids have shown an interest on and off for years and I've helped them make things here and there.

But finally I decided it was time to add a bit of structure to their sewing learning - while still trying to keep it fun.

So I created a series of tutorials to help kids learn to sew using a pair of jeans.  

My girls used a pair each of coloured jeans they'd grown out of.

By sewing with an old pair of jeans, the kids also learn about upcycling and making use of materials you have, as well as learning a series of sewing techniques that are gradually built upon so that by the end of the course they should have enough knowledge and competency to tackle most free sewing tutorials you find online!

One of my daughters' friends has also been testing out the tutorials in my book. Here are some of the first things she made.

A fabric basket and tissue pocket.

And a cute pencil case!

Apparently, she enjoyed the sewing so much that her mum had to take her to the charity shop a few weeks later to buy her another pair of jeans to sew with! 

So if you'd like to get your kids sewing, in a fun (and cheap) way - just using materials and fabrics you have on hand. Then do take a look at my e-book - there are more details here.

The book is available as a FREE PDF download.

Simply click here to get your copy!

It would make a great gift for someone - perhaps packaged up with an old pair of jeans to get them started!

Happy Sewing!

A different kind of pencil case

The pictures below show my daughter's pencil case. She was gifted it by a Japanese friend.  We also saw pencil cases like this on our trip to Japan earlier this year. I loved the design and idea of a pencil case that you could open to stand up and choose your pencils and pens from in an upright position.

When we returned home from Japan, I searched for a tutorial to make a pencil case like this and found one here at Ikat Bag.

Finally yesterday I got around to having a go and making one of these pencil cases myself!

My first attempt was less than successful!

The padding I used - a piece of foam from an old school bag, was too thick.

And although it seemed to work ok initially....(yes that's part of an old placemat I'm using too - you know me...use what you've got!!)...

..half way through I realised it was too thick to be able to add an extra layer to sew the next pieces to it!

I was also a bit confused by the templates I downloaded, which didn't include seam allowances - and I got confused as to which pieces to add seam allowances (SA) to and which not to add to.

Did 'no SA' mean it didn't need one added? or it didn't have one and I should add one? 

So in my confusion, I found that my cut pieces were not all the right size!

----------------------------------

I took a break, had a good look at my daughter's pencil case and tried again with thinner padding and I just cut everything with big seam allowances and kind of worked the sizing out as I went.

This one turned out much better ....

- but I'm still not 100% happy with it.

My stitching isn't the neatest,

and the zip didn't quite match up and needed some adjusting, which put another part out.

I didn't do very well with this particular tutorial, but that's not to say it isn't a good tutorial.

Everyone learns in a different way, and there are several different tutorials for making most things, all done in a slightly different way. This is something I learnt early on when I started blogging and writing tutorials. 

Initially I was worried about posting a tutorial for something that had already been made, but I soon realised that was ok. 

When I write and post a tutorial, I'm 'teaching' and everyone teaches in a different way.  You have to find your own style for both reading and writing tutorials. Some people will like my tutorials and find they can understand them easily, others may be confused by the way I explain things. The same goes for me reading other people's tutorials - some will work for me, some won't!

I won't be letting this pencil case go. I'm not sure exactly what I'm going to do with it, but I have to figure out something that works for me! I still love the concept and design, I just need to fit it to my style!

I have a lot more to learn with zips.  Look at how neat the zip on the bought pencil case is.

Mine on the other hand was a little wonky...

I definitely need to do some more playing around and learning with this design. I learn best by trying and testing things out. At least I have well over 100 zips (yes, I counted them) and plenty of fabric to practise with!

Have you seen these pencil cases before?

Have you ever tried to make one?

Crochet on Soda Tab Earrings and Bracelet

Last year my daughters and I started to collect soda tabs to try making some bracelets we'd seen on Pinterest. 

Here's some they made.

Pretty nice, but there's only so many you can make, and we still have an ongoing collection of soda tabs in my 'craft stash'. Another thing that needs 'using up' 

So I thought I'd combine some of my crochet learning with soda tabs, inspired by more things I've seen on Pinterest - where I now have a whole board just for Soda Tab Crafts.

I just started by playing around with some embroidery thread, a small crochet hook and some soda tabs.

Then I joined some of these together, added jump rings and earring hooks and....

 and there I had a nice unusual pair of new earrings!

 Next to try was a bracelet. Again I had no real plan, other than to practise my crochet around the soda tabs.

Once I'd finished a few and joined them together - a little differently to the earrings, I had to find a way to fasten the bracelet.

Another rummage through my stash and I found some old press studs that my mum gave me years ago.

I chose some sew in ones. Nice and simple to attach (even if I did sew one side on upside down initially...oops!).

And pretty soon I had a nice unusual bracelet to go with my new earrings!

I do like my new crochet soda tab jewellery.

What do you think? Would you wear this?

I also tried another kind of soda tab flower, which I tied to a fishtail macrame piece made previously, that could then also be tied as a bracelet.

I'm not so sure about that one.

At least I've used up a little of my stash. Making jewellery isn't going to use it up very quickly though - but I think it's definitely something I will play around with more!

Have you crocheted onto anything interesting or unusual?  Or have you crafted with soda tabs?

I'd love to hear any thoughts or ideas you might have.

To see more of my 'use what you've got' posts and ideas - go here.

A Granny Square Scarf - crochet learning

Crochet is Amazing!

The more I practise and learn to crochet, the more impressed I am at the process of turning single strands of wool into something complex using just a hook, scissors and needle.
I've been sewing for years and I love creating things with fabric and other materials and using my sewing machine to do it. However, the simplicity of the materials and process for crochet is something special. 

I love the fact that it can be done anywhere, no need for machines, or electricity.  I'm fascinated by the stories I see and read about crochet being used in third world countries to help lift people out of poverty by using the resources they have to create things using a simple crochet hook.

Even more amazing is the fact that something so simple can be used to create something incredibly complex. I'm not just talking about the amazing cute creatures and characters that people crochet - plenty of incredible images can be seen on my Pinterest crochet board. But around 20 years ago, it was found that a mathematical concept that was thought to be unable to be created as a 3D model, could be created through crochet!  
Crocheting Hyperbolic Planes like you find in coral reefs.



My crochet skills are still very basic, but I'm enjoying the process of learning a new skill and seeing a new method of creating things.



My latest crochet project

My latest learn to crochet project has involved practising making lots of Granny Squares. I didn't start out with any particular plan other than to practise, but ended up with a pretty cute scarf for my youngest to take on her upcoming school trip to the cold weather in Canberra.

My Granny Squares were less than perfect - varying in size a lot as I still haven't mastered an even tension when I crochet!

Still, with a little stretching they all managed to fit together as I joined them, albeit not perfectly!

I then added a simple double crochet edging in the bright pink colour chosen by my daughter.

Here you can see how wonky my squares are joined, but wool, just like fabric is very forgiving, so I managed to work around the dips and waves!

I added some pink tassles on either end and it was all done!

My daughter is very happy with her new scarf and I'm very proud of my latest crochet creation!

This scarf took me a while to make, but it was good to practise the basics.  
I'm already looking forward to starting another crochet project. I want to do something different this time.
As always, any suggestions and recommendations of things to try are most welcome!