Need some help here....
 

My sister and I were talking last night on the phone. She said my daughter had a sewing machine she did not need and gave it to Miss Nat. Now here is the dilemma I live 9+ hours away(give or take an hour or so)...depending on who's driving...lol I can't be there to teach her to use her machine and she can't be up here because of school and her Mom's work schedule.

My sister's idea of sewing a button back on is using a staple and bending it through the holes on the button.
And then she waits for our Mom to visit and asks her to sew it back on the right way. I kid you not...those were her exact words.

I need some ideas for books for Miss Nat who is around 9 years old. Something easy to read and learn from.

This is so funny..My sister can design a house, add air conditioning duct work to a high rise. But can't thread a needle.
We laugh about this all the time.

Perhaps a book on her favorite animal or movie

I'm thinking there must be sewing tutorials for children somewhere on the internet?

I *just* gave a set of 3 books for children's sewing away to Goodwill. I don't see the same series on Amazon (mine were about 15 years old), but I did find this one:
http://www.amazon.com/My-First-Sewin...dp/1908707054/

and this one:
http://www.amazon.com/My-First-Sewin...dp/1908707003/

Thanks Prism,

I wonder if she could get those for her Nook.
I knew you ladies would give me some excellent leads..........Thanks all !!

I just did a search on Amazon using the phrase "kids sewing" and it came up with a lot more books to choose from. Good luck!

This one written by a couple of famous quilt book authors looks especially interesting:
http://www.amazon.com/Best-Sewing-Ma...dp/1571202544/

Miss Prism,

You are a jewel!!

Thank you so much. :)

Some possibilities.
4-H and take sewing and someone surely would be willing to help Nat learn.
Look up the Home Ec (or whatever those classes are now called) teacher in the local middle school or high school. If he/she can't tutor, they may know someone who can.
Look up her local Home Economics Extension branch---------generally thru a state college. Again, they may be able to point Nat toward help.

Good ideas Annie. I will pass them along.

Thanks

Alex Anderson wrote one for kids..... http://www.amazon.com/Kids-Start-Qui...start+quilting

Jan in VA

the 'kids singer sewing book' is a good start- it has exercises in it that teach all kinds of things- like sewing straight, and using a pattern- we used it for our youngest beginners in the sewing school. and it does not matter if the machine is a singer or not- they are just the ones that (claim) the book- it is not machine brand dependant at all

Why not use skype to show her?

Sounds like fun! In addition to the book, I would also look into a beginner's class in her area, just to get her started. How to thread the machine etc. Maybe your sister could ask around, one of her friend's moms might sew and be willing to get her going.

Many LQS now have classes for kids. Maybe give her some classes as a gift .

I'd check at your local quilting store OR a regular fabric store to see if anyone offers one-on-one classes. Surely there's a Granny around that would love to share their knowledge of sewing. If that child was near me, I'd help in a heartbeat!

**Books are good, however, some things are best learned from a real person.

If she has a Joann's fabric near then she could sign up for a class there- I know it's not the same as you teaching her, but I have found that having someone show me is 10x easier then reading about it! Good luck Miss Nat!

"Piecing, the piece of cake way" is so simple I get it. If I get it, a 9 year will have a breeze. I bet she's one of those kids who can look at any remote and automatically can program with it.

Also you might want to check their local LQS shop. My shop here is Richmond does learning to sew birthday parties for kids and beginner sewing lessons. I took a beginner sewing lesson and a how to operate a sewing machine at my LQS 2 years ago and there were children in the classes.

I've used this book before....it seems to be well written. The child was able to understand....besides, maybe it isn't too advanced for the child's mother to understand....lol

I want her to learn sewing not scare the heck out of her..........LOL

Thank you Ladies for the wonderful advice and help.

I will call her later today and tell her about the book. And I think she said she was heading to Joann's this weekend, maybe she can inquire about classes while she is there.

4-H is the best option. They teach everything from the most beginner basics to creating a small project and in later years, they teach quilting, sewing with suede, wool, etc. VERY good program.

That is what I was thinking as well. Skype is free and you would be able to spend time with her on there and show her how it is done.

Perhaps when she gets a vacation from school she could come stay a week or so with you. You could teach her the basics during that time. I've seen young people start quilting by taking squares or strips and sewing them together and making small lap quilt tops. Then next time she has a few days teach her the next step in FMQ. Sometimes all it takes is just get them started.

This is the best kid's sewing book I've seen:

[h=1]A Kid's Guide to Sewing: Learn to Sew with Sophie & Her Friends 16 Fun Projects You'll Love to Make & Use [/h]
Most sewing books assume the child has some one there to show her how to use the machine.

Do you guys have skype? Almost like being there...

Sorry I would go a different way. If she is an avid reader send her a copy about the slave line going to Canada. I'm sure if she doesn't know from her background it will fascinate hef or Jennifer Chavez?. Books. Reading about sewing may make her moe interested which she isn't .

Check at quilt shops in her area...we have one here that has taught a great series of kids classes. They have not made just quilts, but pillowcases, totebags, and many other items.

My thoughts exactly. You could schedule a "class" each week and you could have so much fun.!!

Make an appointment once a week and show her how to thread, clean, and have her practice sewing straight by following the lines of a notebook paper with no thread. Show her what tension is and parts of the machine. Have her do the things you show her while you are watching so if she has trouble you can tell her then. I would love to have someone with me when I sew as I always want someone to hold my hand as I know I am going to blow it.

Oops I forgot to tell you to meet on Skype to Skype. If you con't don't know what that is she can tell you.

Depending on where she lives I would call the local county's extension office and ask if they have any 4-H groups for beginning sewers. That is the way I learned and now have taught many girls through 4-H. Nine is a perfect age to start.

This is the one I bought for my daughter, tho she is a bit older than Miss Nat. But it's good and covers all the basics of understanding a sewing machine and how it works. It's not "kiddy", but a good book for a smart, motivated 9 year old.
http://www.amazon.com/Me-Sewing-Mach...sewing+machine

It sounds to me that she needs to spend part of her Spring Break with her aunt learning how to sew.

There's a book out there called Kids Can Sew which I have used with children that age and I think is pretty good. You could also go to your regional Agricultural Office and pick up the 4H sewing book for beginners. They're usually pretty good.