Teaching Children to Sew: Your Sewing Space

WHERE?
Although we would all love to have our own sewing /craft room, most of us have to find a small corner in the house where we can sew. Through experience I have learned, that if you want to learn something, or more importantly you want your kids to learn something, the source needs to be readily available. Otherwise, "out of sight, out of mind".

I started very early having "centers" around the house (primarily in the areas where we "lived" the most) for my girls. Some years we even gave up furniture in an area in order to have TOOLS for learning. A Reading center, Music center, Building center, Science center... If things were out (neatly organized, of course) and readily available, there was never a question that they would be used.

Sewing was no different. We started sewing in the laundry room, which when everything was set up - the table and machine, we couldn't wash our clothes. So the girls were only sewing when I set aside the time for it, and it had to be put away immediately afterwards.

When we moved to an area where it could stay out all of the time, the girls improved rapidly, as did I. Why? Because we could see it, we wanted to sew more often, and the girls didn't have to always wait for me. **With my 3 year old, at the time, there were limitations.

Added Bonus
Moms, we rarely have a chunk of time where we can complete a whole project from start to finish. This set up is a huge advantage for us as well. I will see that I have 15 minutes to spare, and I can sit right down and sew several lines and then walk away!

SEATING
We've talked about where, now let's talk about your child's positioning. It's very important that your kids are comfortable while they are sewing. It is also important that they are sitting high enough to look down on the needle and their hands. If they are older this is easy. If they are young, you have two choices for those little bodies.

1. Buy a small child's table.
PROS: this is very comfortable for your child.
CONS: if you are sharing machines, it isn't real comfortable for you.

2. Use a regular table. If needed, use pillows to raise your child on the chair. For their feet, find a storage box to place the pedal on.

PROS: you can use what you already have, and it is much easier to share the machine.
CONS: at first it may feel a little awkward if your kids are real little. When my 3 year old started sewing, she worked at a child's table. This was because she never knew where to place the foot she wasn't using, when she sat at the larger table. However, by age 6 she preferred being at the "big" table with us.

Whichever one you choose, just make sure they are comfortable!

Kristi learned to sew right along with her daughters. The girls were age 3 and 6, at the time! Because it was such an enjoyable experience she wants to encourage others to pursue this endeavor.

Kristi experienced the woes of feeling very ignorant just trying to read a pattern and was discouraged from trying to teach her girls on her own. After receiving a new sewing machine from her husband for her birthday, she became bound and determined to fulfill her desire to learn to sew.

Kristi's plan was to learn everything before she tried to teach her kids. But as she was learning, her girls caught her enthusiasm and in amazement she watched them flourish in learning to sew right along with her. Kristi says that, "quite honestly, because we knew nothing I experienced a real freedom in my own education".

At age 8 yrs. old, her younger daughter could sew her own dresses, and her older daughter, at 11 yrs. old, had a passion for sewing, and was a better seamstress than Kristi.

What Kristi wants to do, is share her journey in sewing; to help others know (with hindsight being 20/20) that the best way to learn is by doing. She has shared with friends and family their way of learning to sew, as well as, the projects and patterns that built their skills. She has seen it not only work for others, but truly bring a delight into the sewing experience.

To learn MORE from the "9 Secrets to Successfully Teach Your Child to Sew", go here