Teaching a 10 year old to sew
#51
What a wealth of information. Thank you! I guess since pretty much everyone thought the mini machine would be a piece of junk, I'll look for a regular size machine for her to use when I fly into Texas next week.
I sure appreciate everyones ideas!
I sure appreciate everyones ideas!
#52
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Coastal Georgia
Posts: 1,508
Originally Posted by Quiltinvaca
Someone has already suggested a simply draw-string bag with no lining. This is something all kids love.
Whatever you makes, do not be too critical! My granddaughter made her first quilt when she was 8 or 9. It was 4" square blocks. She had more fun laying them out on the floor to get the exact pattern she wanted. I taught her to sew the rows then put the rows together. I stressed making the corners meet until she looked up at me and said: "Gramma this is MY quilt, I like it this way". I quickly learned to keep my mouth shut!!
Whatever you makes, do not be too critical! My granddaughter made her first quilt when she was 8 or 9. It was 4" square blocks. She had more fun laying them out on the floor to get the exact pattern she wanted. I taught her to sew the rows then put the rows together. I stressed making the corners meet until she looked up at me and said: "Gramma this is MY quilt, I like it this way". I quickly learned to keep my mouth shut!!
#53
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: CA
Posts: 154
I've taught many young girls to sew. I usually start with some sort of bag. Joanne's has some panels that are easy to cut and get the girl right on the machine. The second project i usually do is a simple garment that requires pinning and cutting. I have never used a "starter" machine, but I do put the speed on slow on the machine. Masking tape on the machine that goes from faceplate all the way down the front of the machine really helps keep the seams straighter.
Have fun!
Have fun!
#54
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Coastal Georgia
Posts: 1,508
Originally Posted by piccupstix
What a wealth of information. Thank you! I guess since pretty much everyone thought the mini machine would be a piece of junk, I'll look for a regular size machine for her to use when I fly into Texas next week.
I sure appreciate everyones ideas!
I sure appreciate everyones ideas!
You can go to a place like Walmart and get a decent machine at a very good price with several stiches on it. My GD uses the Brother SQ-9000 with 80 stich and also prefers to use the start/stop button than the foot pedal. She has better control of that than the foot pedal.
#55
Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Rochester, NY.
Posts: 49
I would start with a small wall hanging too. My granddaughter has made two of them using Meryl Butler's book, Ninety Minute Quilts. I also bought her a White mini sewing machine and she now uses a small Kenmore machine I bought her from Sears. I hope she enjoys it as much as mine does.
Lucille
Lucille
#56
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Haw River, NC
Posts: 307
I am working with my grand daughter who is 10. She is making a quilt with scrapes of material and no color pattern. She is making it for herself and will be large enough for her cover up with. She is doing it in blocks of all sizes. I let her pick the colors and place them where she wants them. If the seams aren't straight, I help her and show her how to make them better. I always tell her, that everyone who makes quilts, makes mistakes and have to take seams out and do them over. I tell her she is doing a good job on her first quilt. It always bring a smile to her face to think I really like it.
#60
UPDATE ON THE SEWING WITH THE 10 YEAR OLD GRANDDAUGHTER
Well, Just back from Texas and I had a Janome mini sewing machine mailed down there. It was refurbished but I thought since it was Janome it would be good. The reviews on it were all good. Only 5 pounds. I ordered it form Best Buy.
Well, it was a day of frustration as Writerwoman and others of you had predicted. She sewed the lines on the sheet of paper with wonderful accuracy. She was very thrilled as she began to sew her pillow case. Unfortunately, the machine jammmed after sewing just a couple of inches. I worked with it for hours packing it away and then getting it out again and brushing it, tearing the bobbin apart, of course rethreading, searching for any loose threads etc.It would sew an inch and quit again. Jam up.
Finally, after calling all the sewing machine shops in the area and inquiring about their used machines (which were minimal), we went to Sears and bought a Singer Simple.
It was not the machine I wanted, but I didn't want to pay a fortune and I did want to make memories with her sewing.
Even though my wallet was hurting, my heart was singing as she sewed with concentration and felt successful.
(I took the Janome mini back to Best Buy and they easily refunded my money AND the shipping cost, the next evening)
She made two more pillow cases the following day. Went to the fabric store and she picked out material for pajama bottoms and insisted she could make the top too. We bought the material, which was a medium soft cotton knit.
I cut the material out for her,pinned it for her, even drew lines with disappearing ink until she became more competent.She was thrilled!!!!
She started on the pj top but soon became unhappy that she had to be careful and I finished that up for her.
I told her that many people have difficulty shirts and tops and that really was a project we could tackel as she practiced sewing.
She has decided she is making everyone a pillowcase for Christmas this year and I will be flying down to Texas in November to cheer her on.
Well, Just back from Texas and I had a Janome mini sewing machine mailed down there. It was refurbished but I thought since it was Janome it would be good. The reviews on it were all good. Only 5 pounds. I ordered it form Best Buy.
Well, it was a day of frustration as Writerwoman and others of you had predicted. She sewed the lines on the sheet of paper with wonderful accuracy. She was very thrilled as she began to sew her pillow case. Unfortunately, the machine jammmed after sewing just a couple of inches. I worked with it for hours packing it away and then getting it out again and brushing it, tearing the bobbin apart, of course rethreading, searching for any loose threads etc.It would sew an inch and quit again. Jam up.
Finally, after calling all the sewing machine shops in the area and inquiring about their used machines (which were minimal), we went to Sears and bought a Singer Simple.
It was not the machine I wanted, but I didn't want to pay a fortune and I did want to make memories with her sewing.
Even though my wallet was hurting, my heart was singing as she sewed with concentration and felt successful.
(I took the Janome mini back to Best Buy and they easily refunded my money AND the shipping cost, the next evening)
She made two more pillow cases the following day. Went to the fabric store and she picked out material for pajama bottoms and insisted she could make the top too. We bought the material, which was a medium soft cotton knit.
I cut the material out for her,pinned it for her, even drew lines with disappearing ink until she became more competent.She was thrilled!!!!
She started on the pj top but soon became unhappy that she had to be careful and I finished that up for her.
I told her that many people have difficulty shirts and tops and that really was a project we could tackel as she practiced sewing.
She has decided she is making everyone a pillowcase for Christmas this year and I will be flying down to Texas in November to cheer her on.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
SewExtremeSeams
General Chit-Chat (non-quilting talk)
5
01-29-2013 09:27 PM