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How exciting! It will be great to share your love of sewing as the years pass.

I like the idea of practicing with the unthreaded needle with lines on the paper to help with speed and accuracy, but if it were my kid, boredom would quickly ensue. This might be a good chance to use up those scraps for a crazy quilt. Just let her sew strips or squares together until they make a 11" square and then trim to 10.5. If she makes a mistake or the edges get wonky, just lop them off and have her try again. I did this with my adult daughters and it was a lot of fun. Since I had an end size in mind, I wasn't too worried about an accurate seam. I sewed them all together and made a lap quilt, which I love.

I think if you focus on fun and not accuracy, you'll have a life long sewing partner!

Quote:

Originally Posted by FoggyButFocused (Post 8500569)

I hadn't thought of a crazy quilt idea! What a brainwave! I think I'll try this. My daughter is very independent and creative and I don't want to rein her in, so to speak. Yes, my goal is to have a lifelong sewing partner! I have four daughters and I dream of family sewing weekends in the future. 😊

Quote:

Originally Posted by cindi (Post 8500552)

I started sewing when I was 5. Mom would give me scraps from the clothes she was making and tell me to sew them together. It looked like a mess of random strings of different sizes, but once I’d made two (she’d tell me when to start a new one) she’d help me cut them into squares for a potholder. We’d sandwich that with leftover flannel and turn it inside-out and I’d have to close the opening with hand stitching. That gently taught me how to use the machine, how to cut fabric and how to hand-stitch. I was so proud of those potholders and mom always made sure she used them when I was around.

After that, she got a simple shorts pattern - that taught me to stay in the seam allowance, hemming, simple curves, cutting curves and inserting elastic. Then it was on to a simple shirt (no collar) to teach collars and buttonholes and how to sew on buttons. Then a stuffed animal to teach accuracy.

Best lessons ever. Still vividly remember all of them! I never felt bored, but was always doing something simple to learn a new technique. By the time I was in the 7th grade I was making my own winter coats!

Make it fun, make it simple, and make things that will be enjoyed or worn. Good luck - you’re passing it on to a new generation!

It warms my heart to hear that you have such wonderful memories sewing with your mother, cindi! I hope that I can give similar memories to my children.

So much depends on the child, one granddaughter wanted to sew from an early age but she is a pedal to the metal type, color outside the lines, too impatient to worry about size of seams or other niceties. But she loved sewing, still at it 10years later, has refined her seams & methods, very creative, sells some of her creations, goes on sewing weekends with me. I’m glad I let her do it her way. Her sister who wants things to be right, sewed slow & precise but doesn’t enjoy it, hasn’t sewn in years.