Oh happy, happy, happy time teaching my two granddaughters!!
 

Yesterday, my two granddaughters used one of my sewing machines for the first time. We live a few hundred miles apart, so when DDIL mentioned that she hoped I could teach the girls to sew and would welcome having a machine for them......I was on cloud nine. It was fun to pull things together as a starter kit.

Each child had fun during the lesson and had some things to show for their efforts. We started out with safety and having fun as our themes. Our chatter even included keep your eyes on the road (fabric being sewn), no texting while driving, keep within the speed limit, and turn off the engine before going near the needle. There were lots of giggles, especially when they figured out how many years I had been using a sewing machine (58) and I considered the sewing machine as my personal power tool. Their father has lots of power tools for fishing, carpentry, etc.

My three children had their own comments about the pending sewing experience when we Skyped on Friday evening. Two adult children immediately commented about the time I put the machine needle through my right index nail/finger! Great advice given and accepted...

Having taught sewing to 8 to 14 years olds for a number of years, sewing with the DGDs yesterday was a dream come true. :) Hopefully, many of you will also experience this joy with your families!

that sounds like such a joyous occasion!

My baby will be 3 in 5 -6 weeks and she love to sit in my lap and push the start stop but and the thread cutter button. I already think she's a future fabriholic, that baby touches more fabric than I do and comments on which ones are pretty. She even likes the quilts here on the board.

Oh yes, it is a joy to teach my little ones, too! 7yo DGS and 5 yo DGD. I started off like you, teaching them about the parts of the machine, safety, etc. Then they both sewed some strips together with 1/4" seams....muchl better than I can do. Then they were ready for a "project". My DGD made a Barbie pillow and stuffed it herself. My DGS spent a lot of time picking out his fabric (he's that way about everything...LOL) but Mommy came to pick him up before we could sew. It's waiting for him when he comes back!!

I, too, am teaching my DGD to sew and quilt. It is so-o-o much fun, as I had only boys. (Well, I shouldn't say ONLY. They were pretty cute, but no daughters! Hehehe!)

My GD and I have worked on sewing and quilting projects together for several years. She is very creative and likes to sew. Her mother(my DD) doesn't even sew a button on, she comes to me. We have fun together. Recently we made a pillowcase for a gift for her BFF's birthday.

I've taught many girl scouts who were at least 9 or 10 years old. There are many gs badges and try its that involve sewing! They get such a kick out of it when they have something to show from their efforts! I'm glad that you've been able to teach your DGD's about sewing.

Some of my favorite memories were teaching my nieces to sew. I gave them certificates that they were certified with conditions to do two projects per year with their aunt to maintain certification. Every Christmas they made gifts for their parents and grandparents. One project was a grandmother's quilt. I sent white squares to all the grandchildren to decorate with fabric paint, fabric crayons, or whatever they wanted. Then the 7 and 9 year olds put it together as a quilt. My mother loved it. Another time two ten year old cousins who had been begging to do zippers made zippered fleece jacket for their parents. My personal favorite was the year about 15 people made a paper pieced Santa block and sewed it to sweatshirts. The kids loved all the metallic threads and fancy stitches they could use.

My granddaughter started sewing skirts when she was 6. Last year at 8 she made her first quilt adn a second one and entered them in the Columbia County Fair, and won a Best of Show and second place. Now she has co-hosted a couple of our TV programs. My eldest grand son started using my mid arm when he was 9 and does a better job on it than I do. Grandchildren are WONDERFUL.