mdall

I have given my kids the opprotunity to sew an item for their 4H projects. I know this seems strange for 4H much less boys. Here is the reason. They did not complete their projects last year that they chose even after we invested the money into them. So this year I decided that if they want to try they can but if they bail on the projects I can then finish them off and sell them and recoop the money invested. If they stick to it and complete them then fine they can keep them. So, here is my problem. What projects would be easy for them with no sewing experience at all. I have my old machine that they can use which is just a basic straight stitch machine. No fancy stuff. One would like to do an American Flag no problem there. The other one wants to make a 4H quilt for his bed (ambitious little thing isnt he?) So what pattern or patterns would be good for him that will also work with the 4H theme. For those of you who arent familar with 4H its shamrocks. Next issue, how do I teach a 15 year old with learning disabilities and an 11 year (the ambitious one) how to sew. Yes, I know this seems like a stupid question but I have to admit I do not have the most patience in the world. Good news is the 11 year old wanted to try something today so I let him try to applique a leaf onto a quilt I was working on and amazingly he did a really good job. Maybe this is an omen that teaching him will be easier than I think. Any of you that have taught kids how to sew please any advice would be greatly appreciated. I would love for at least one of my kids to learn and love it as much as I do since after all kids are the future and the art of quilting will disappear if the younger generations dont learn it.