Sewn with Kids
A. was invited to a birthday party and wanted to make something as a present. We made a matching skirt for the Birthday Girl and her doll. A. sewed the hem, side seams and zig-zagged the raw edges and I cut, sewed on the 2nd tier and the "thingy" where the elastic goes. (Technical, I know.)
They turned out well, but I must admit that the sewing process was not my best "mom moment" and I lost my temper several times (I am going to blame it on other children coming in and out and being annoying, but it wasn't pretty). What is it that makes sewing with kids so hard? For me I think it was the fact that A. wanted to do it all by herself, but I really needed to be there at every moment overseeing the process. At this age you can't just give general directions and walk away for a few minutes. I know we will get there and it is important to me that my children learn to sew, but man...it is an intense process.
Thankfully, I was given a chance to redeem myself. A. is totally obsessed with the idea of making doll clothes for her babies and not a day has gone by without her asking if we can start making them "right now!". Yesterday evening we cut out the pieces for a doll dress. I explained how the pattern worked, we found the pattern pieces, I pinned them on the fabric and she cut. She only had to recut one piece. Thankfully doll clothes are small, so it wasn't a big deal.
This afternoon, we sewed it all together. I did the pinning again and would mark sewing lines with pen for her to follow. Tricky seams like the neck and armholes I sewed, but she did a great deal of the sewing, zig-zagging and taking out of pins. I would help guide the fabric regularly, but she was in charge of the pedal. (I am doing this full disclosure, because my husband hates parents who do projects for their kids and I want to document/disclose the real division of labor for him - he was traumatized by pinewood derby races.) A. also did some pressing, but by the time we decided that the skirt was too short and to add another layer to it, I was getting tired of the process and sewed on the last layer by myself. BUT...I did not get frustrated or lose my temper this time, so I will count it as a success. :)
Here is the happy girl with her doll.
She has big plans for making all of the clothes featured in the pattern (help!).
I really am proud of her and her desire to learn how to sew and make things!
Good Job!