cathyvv

My 7 year old great niece(Ashleigh), her 8 year old brother (Foster) and their 13 year old brother (Gage) visited over their spring vacation. The younger kids are great, very lively and curious, the 13 year old, well, he's 13 years old...a good kid, but 13 is a tough age.

The two younger kids came out on Easter Sunday. Monday we went to the beach. Tuesday it rained. What do you do with two active kids when it rains?

Well, thank God I have a sewing machine and a 'stash' to let kids shop in! I suggested that my niece make a doll quilt, and my nephew decided to make a quilted mat for under his hermit crabs tank.

I did all the cutting, then showed them how to put the pieces together with elmers washable glue. Then I showed them how to thread the sewing machine, pull up the bobbin thread and had them practice sewing straight lines on some scraps of fabric. Of course, I stressed that they had to keep their fingers out from under the needle, and got them into the habit of turning the machine off when they wanted to look closely at what was being sewn.

Then they started sewing. These two kids took to the sewing machine like ducks to water! They had a great time piecing their quilts - simple 4 patch, one big block each. Ashleigh didn't want a doll quilt - she wanted a twin sized quilt. Since I only had one week with her and the smaller fabric was only 1/2 yard, she settled for a baby-sized quilt. They worked on their quilts on and off all week. I put the binding on them using the sewing machine - would have liked to do it right as the quilts would look better, but time and my hands would not allow it.

I had to do a little bit of 'straightening' seams, but not as much as I thought I would. Could these kids possibly be more talented than I am?

Both kids were proud of their work. Foster asked if he could do a harder project next time - like a pillowcase. Ashleigh would grab scraps and sew them together to make headbands and scarves. It amazed me how comfortable they were with the sewing machine. When my Mom was trying to teach me, I was always nervous about it, and certainly not as proud of my work as they are.

Gage was invited to make something, but declined. It's hard to be a teen and think you're too cool for something that looks like fun.