Teaching the kiddos
 

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.

For the one who wants to make a quilt maybe a T-shirt rag quilt. You could use one layer of flannel and a layer of the T shirt. If you don't have enough T-shirts he could just do two layers of flannel. Then its just straight stitching.

this is a very simple shamrock quilt. the 12" blocks are snowballed on 3 corners. the sashing and border are 2". the finished size is 60x88, which will fit generously on a twin bed. i designed this for you in my EQ5
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Your 4-H leaders should be able to help you with curriculum as well as information on the exhibit categories available at the fair. QuiltnNan's pattern looks nice and might be achievable, but there are 4 leaves in the 4-H shamrock, and they each have a symbolic meaning for its members -- head, heart, hands, and heath if I remember correctly.

I don't quite understand the (*especially boys*) comment----guys are wonderful quilters, have been designers, taylors, textile designers through out history....women are the 'newbies' to the textile world...in Victorian days ladies sat & worked on 'fancy hand work' but men created wondrous fashions, home décor...and boys LOVE getting to use machines! sewing machines are no different. when we do our annual pre-school quilts it is the boys who are always the most excited to get to sew with the machine- the little girls are often timid & more than willing to let one of the boys do that part for them. when my nephew started quilting some woman made a comment about it being odd---he turned around and said--- 'you sewing is the 'odd' thing- women have no imaginations & need patterns to follow- guys know how to envision & create' (yup- he's a little opinionated and all man!) don't let 'gender' effect your attitude about projects- you may just find its the boys who have the 'color sense', imagination and creativity to produce some wonderful projects. :)

What about a penny quilted pillow. I am thinking about making one of those. They can use a few old wool skirts or an old wool jacket. They also could share the wool clothing they find...just have them wash them to felt them several times in the washing machine. They could also use old suit coats for the pillow backing.

What kind of learning disabilities? Really they shouldn't get in the way unless he has difficulties reading and even then slow and steady with moms help should be golden. Patterns for kids I always like to recommend Yellow Brick Road. It's a super simple first quilt were he won't have to worry about matching corners and points. Before jumping into the quilt I have my kids make a few small things to get feel of what they are doing. Mug rugs, needle books, tote bags, a pillow case and wall hangings are my first semester then the quilt is second.

Good Luck with your 4H projects I hope you have fun with it. :-)

T

QuiltNan, thanks so much for working that up on EQ for me. That design would be great and still will work even with having to add a fourth leaf to accomodate the 4H's as Daylesewblessed metions. Just add a fourth block instead of the stem. Ckcowl, I guess I should have been more specific, I personally see no problem with guys with sewing, quilting, designing, etc. I should have mentioned its more the place we live. Trust me it wont go over well and they will most likely get picked on. We live in the abyss of redneck land. LOL Oh well, someone is always gonna find a reason to pick. Ill just teach the kids a nice response that mentions Versace, Hilfilger, Hugo Boss, among the many others. Plumtree, the older one has a form of Autism known as Aspergers. He does have lots of trouble comprohending directions and such but that can be overcome by watching so I will have to show everything a couple of times and just be patient. I am most likely overthinking the whole thing and should just relax after all noone is expecting this to be perfect especially me considering I am not even close to perfect. I was thinking of Yellow Brick Road for a pattern. That was one of the first that I did and it turned out great, was alot of fun to piece since as you mentioned there is not much worry about points and such, also it ended up being the first quilt I ever place with in a show. Thanks everyone for all the wonderful comments and suggestions. Keep them coming everyone. Will be starting on these projects in most likely the next two weeks once the group leaders approves them.

One way to make the 4H shamrock easily would be to do it out of yo-yos.

And yes, boys/men are often very good at such things. Two of my guys have done quite well with costuming, one moving on to now making and designing steam punk leather items - top hats, goggles, etc.

If the interest is there, encourage it and they will do well. Interest overcomes many learning disabilities! Lack of interest means doomed from the start whether there are learning issues or not.

Let them have fun with it!

I cant believe I didnt think of this before. I could start them off of some wheelchair bags. They are super easy to assemble, will get them started on the basics of learning to operate the machine, and best of all will count toward their community service portion of the program if we donate them to a local hospital or nursing home. Thanks everyone.

During my 4-H years, there were specific things to make for sewing projects. The first year was a very simple unlined tote bag. I am sure that things have changed over the years, but I would check with their group leaders to see what is acceptable before even raising their hopes to make a complete quilt.

Don't worry about the guys being teased. You can pump them up so that they are so proud of their accomplishments that they will be excited to show their work. Then, before you know it, their guy friends will want them to do one for them. My son had an extra elective to take in his sr. year of high school so he took a home ec. class. Well -- he learned to service my sewing machine and he made an awesome set of vinyl covers for his guitar amps. Really impressed his friends! Have a great time with the boys.

There is so much to say here..... but I'll try to keep it simple.

I was a home-ec teacher for over 20 years and I agree about teaching the boys to sew. They are creative, they aren't afraid of the machine and they are always very proud of their projects. And, I was a co-leader for my daughter's and granddaughter's 4-H group.

Do check with the leaders to find out the categories for the 4-H show. You don't want something disqualified because it doesn't fit into one of the categories. But, having said that, most anything sewing could be squeezed into a category for a show..... unless it's only a garment show.

Your idea of showing your son the steps to making his quilt is really the best plan. Most kids learn better by viewing and doing..... we all learn best that way. Having taught many student with autism, I'm aware of the frustrations..... some will get frustrated and want to quit... others want to keep going, forever. You'll have to decide which your son is and adjust to his needs.

My DGD's first 4-H show she wanted to make a quilt..... she loved horses and we found a pattern with large pictures of horses. We fussy cut the horses to 12"x12" blocks and alternated them with a 9-patch coordinating fabrics. The quilt was easy for her to work on (until the quilting.... that was a struggle) and she still has the quilt today. She got a blue ribbon and was so proud. She's married now and has a 4-year old and she's already talking about Nanna teaching her little one to sew. Of course, I'm really excited to do that..... wish she wasn't 12 hours away.

OOOPs. you are right, of course. 4 leaves :)

I don't know if its still available but a few years ago there was a cotton fabric with the 4H clovers all over it. I think they were about an inch to inch and a half in size. If you can find any of that print, it and a solid green would make a simple patchwork quilt.

I vote for rag quilts of some sort. I buy denim jeans at thrift store on bargain day for $.25 - $.75 a pair .... it took several months to get enough. Cut into 6" or 8" squares. Pair each square with t-shirt or flannel (from cut up shirts, also from thrift store) or other fabric and stitch using 1/2" seams. Can be made to whatever size they want and can be to fit the person. So easy for kids and very forgiving in construction process. Good luck!

I have a DGS with Aspergers as well. He is 9 and is high functioning, but attention span of a gnat unless he is playing with video games or hand held games. I have a computerized embroidery/sewing machine, and we have made embroidered pillowcases because he loves the puter part! The DGD's made pillow cases but didn't care to do the embroidery. Cases are easy, straight stitching, can have a cuff or not, etc. You could piece the cuff with the 4-H clover blocks, etc. It took about 30 minutes to learn to properly thread the machine, and he was so excited to get the thread in the needle (I didn't show him the auto threader). It was a challenge and he did it! All the kids sewed and took home pillow cases (I sent a machine home with the girls as they are in Texas) but the DGS can come over any time and sew with me!

They can also make themselves pillow cases - my grands (boys and girls) start with pillowcases - they use them until they fall apart!! They can make bags to carry groceries. Mine also love to create quilts on EQ7. They are so fun to work with!!

a 4 h clover would be easy just use 4 hearts [we all made them in 2nd grade ] points together