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  • Tips for quilting with young children?

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    Old 04-22-2010, 07:54 PM
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    sew cornie's Avatar
     
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    My two boys (ages 4 and 5) are very interested in my quilting projects. While going through my scraps box the other day, my oldest asked if he can make a quilt for his teddy bear, and of course his brother chimed in that he'd like to do one too. I'm looking forward to sitting down one-on-one with each of them next weekend to get them started.

    Safety first of course, so they won't be using the rotary cutter. And I know I can put a rolled up sock under the foot pedal to limit their speed, but how do they reach the foot pedal to begin with? I know lots of you have sewn with children and I appreciate whatever advice you can offer.
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    Old 04-22-2010, 08:00 PM
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    a footstool maybe? depends on how far of a reach and if hes comfy in the chair with feet on stool while sewing... if its not high enough, put a phone book on top of it maybe lol
    my 5 yr old isnt asking to actually sew yet.. thank goodness.. shes content with handing me strips for her quilt for now :D
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    Old 04-22-2010, 08:12 PM
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    Move the sewing machine to a child-sized table. If you don't have one, maybe a low shelf or coffee table. Then they can sit and reach everything with the pedal right on the floor!

    Careful with that iron, too.

    Have fun!
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    Old 04-22-2010, 08:38 PM
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    At that age, I ran the pedal and they sat on my lap and sewed.
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    Old 04-22-2010, 08:51 PM
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    Great idea Amma. Never thought of sewing withthem on my lap.

    Sheila
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    Old 04-22-2010, 09:20 PM
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    Originally Posted by MegsAnn
    Move the sewing machine to a child-sized table. If you don't have one, maybe a low shelf or coffee table. Then they can sit and reach everything with the pedal right on the floor!

    Careful with that iron, too.

    Have fun!
    what a great idea.
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    Old 04-23-2010, 03:32 AM
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    Originally Posted by amma
    At that age, I ran the pedal and they sat on my lap and sewed.
    I did the same thing with my son. He wanted a blankie for his Build-A-Bear to go ni-nite. We tied the blanket. Made me very nervous, those tiny little fingers with a needle going up and down!! 17yrs old and put blankie with teddie in attic!!
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    Old 04-23-2010, 04:16 AM
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    a child sized table!!!
    my 4 year old granddaughter made her first quilt for her daddy sitting at her little carebear craft table and a brother machine with speed control. I did cutting and ironing, she did the rest...some of her seams were 1" wide but it was all good, the quilt came together great, then we tipped a dresser on it's side for her to stand on and she quilted it on the 'big-machine'
    her daddy (in the military) has carried that quilt all over the world for 5 years now!
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    Old 04-23-2010, 06:57 AM
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    When DGD first started sewing she had a step stool I put her sewing machine foot on. Soon after it got her a kids table to use. Just the right height. She keeps her sewing machine and fabric on the table and has a sewing area just like grandmas. :-D
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    Old 04-23-2010, 08:44 AM
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    Originally Posted by ckcowl
    a child sized table!!!
    my 4 year old granddaughter made her first quilt for her daddy sitting at her little carebear craft table and a brother machine with speed control. I did cutting and ironing, she did the rest...some of her seams were 1" wide but it was all good, the quilt came together great, then we tipped a dresser on it's side for her to stand on and she quilted it on the 'big-machine'
    her daddy (in the military) has carried that quilt all over the world for 5 years now!
    That is wonderful!
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