Grace creates

I like the idea of coloring books, It's such a good thing you are doing. Have you considered letting him pick out fabric.

Radiana

Thank you all so much for the encouragement and great ideas!!!

QuiltE

What fabrics? ... I'd start him with some quilting cottons ... they aren't slippery and are easier for him to manage til he learns a little more as to how to run the machine and work with the fabric at the same time.

While fleece is very forgiving, IMHO it's stetchy-ness and the way you work with it could be a little hard for someone starting out. Likewise the shine of taffeta lining and silky-jerseys is enticing, though could be a total frustration creator for a new sewer. He can have lots of fun starting out with the stiffer cottons ... and then once he's comfortable with that move on to the other fabrics.

As for purchasing the fabrics ... give him a gift certificate and go shopping with him! He's already "designing", so now that he's moving onto the "real" stuff, he'll have lots of ideas as to what he wants. Just help steer him in the right direction and support him along the way. Of course, first he needs to do some basic paper design/sketches, to help you figure out whether he needs one yard ........ or ten!

BTW ... for the gift certificate, make it a personalized Grandma certificate, rather than a store one. You can have fun with what you put on it, including, the $$ value, the sewing lessons, Grandma accompanied STASH trips. And the big benifit it doesn't limit the shopping to one location.

To go with the machine ... how about some thread and some hand sewing supplies that he'll also need.

Radiana

I was thinking of having him start with paper for the first couple of weekends and then we'll go shopping for fabric. I like the idea of the gift certificate from grammy but if he gets it with his sewing machine he'll insist that we go right away. I'll have to limit his choices to the cotton at the bargain tables but I think he'll have fun rummaging through it all.

QuiltE

Oh but the gift certificate could have that disclaimer there ..... as to what hoops he has to go thru before he gets to go shopping for fabric! Kind of like a check list before it is valid!!!!

Do you have some ugly stash fabric ... that you wouldn't mind parting with, and that he'd think was cool? Maybe you could convince him to make a patchwork cape for his first project .... or instead of squares, just long strips?

helenhiwater

All good tips for learning to sew on the machine. As far as design goes...I learned by hand-sewing doll clothes. You can try out your ideas without using much fabric and get a very good idea of how things fit together. The main thing is to have fun with it!

Momala24

I think you've started off exactly the right way. I,too, sew with my grandson sitting on my knee and we both love it. There is a book out there called Kids Can Sew which I used with my own children as they were learning how to sew but I think the best advice is to just keep doing as you are. This way, he can direct which way he wants to go and you can provide the right technical help. So much fun to sew together isn't it?

teacherbailey

Try letting him sew with thread and needle on notebook paper a few times to practice straight lines, then maybe gift him with a bunch of 3.5" or 4.5" squares of all different colors so he can make a fast pillowcase? Then pick him up a few solid color sheets (also known as HUGE, inexpensive pieces of fabric!) at the local thrift store, and a pair of fabric scissors, and turn him loose. Playing with his ideas is the most important thing right now!

JanieH

When I started teaching my great niece to quilt, I told her there were two things I wanted her to learn: first, it has to be fun. If you don't want to sew that day or want to for only a little while, that is okay! The second thing: there are no quilt police. She loves both of these rules and loves sewing because it is fun!

nancia

your story brought to mind one of my most treasured memories. when my son was 7 our favorite aunt was in the hospital dieing from throat cancer. she couldn't talk. my son sat down at my viking and hemmed the edges of a red fabric square. the pattern was multi-colored hearts. he spelled out in letters,"dear aunt b, i love you! danny".
he felt that she could hold the fabric in her hand and could feel the stitched letters and know that his love was with her. after she passed the square was returned to danny. i keep it for him, in a drawer, with other treasures. that was just the beginning of his sewing.