presents
Sewing for Kids
FREE SEWING 4GUIDES
1 2 3 4
1 Tic, Tac, Toe by Connie Keck 2 Ready, Set, Sew! by Marla Stefanelli 3 Pillow Primer by Sheila Zent 4 Q&A: Child’s Play by Ellen March Sewing for Kids
FREE SEWING 4GUIDES
Not only is sewing an enjoyable and practical pastime, it also gives children a chance to develop creativity, reasoning and fine motor skills. In “Pillow Primer,” discover how to teach a child to sew an easy pillow in just ten steps. Create the cute and clever fabric sewing cards in “Ready, Set, Sew!” for young children to practice basic hand sewing. In “Q&A: Child’s Play,” learn essential tips for introducing a child to stitching by machine . Make learning fun for kids of all ages with the adorable soft game board project in “Tic Tac Toe.” Passing on the love of sewing to a new generation is incredibly rewarding, and these simple guides make it so simple and fun to share sewing with the kids in your life! Happy sewing!
Beth Bradley Associate Editor, Sew News
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 Tic, Tac, Toe ...... PAGE 1
2 Ready, Set, Sew! ...... PAGE 5
3 Pillow Primer ...... PAGE 10
4 Q&A: Child’s Play ...... PAGE 14 K IE KEC cToeCONN TicTa
TURN SCHOOL SUBJECTS INTO Cutting GAMES for an exciting learning alter - Cut a 21 ”-square game board native. Some children respond well to from the light-colored felt. the competitive nature of games, while For the game pieces, cut nine others enjoy the hands-on aspect. 3½”x5” rectangles from the Repetition is less of a factor for children same felt color (1). if they are focused on the goal of Cut three 4” x21” strips from winning the game. the vinyl. Adapt this Tic-Tac-Toe game to any Using the templates on page 62, age level and subject. Before a player trace and cut out nine Xs from can win a space, she must correctly one contrasting felt sheet and nine answer the question on the card in Os from the second contrasting that space. The game is made to fit felt sheet. 3”x5” cards or flash cards. 1 WHAT YOU’LL NEED 21 ” 5” Fabric Game 31⁄2” Enlarge the game 7 One 26 ” square of light-colored felt piece 7 Two sheets of felt in contrasting dark colors board for classroom 7 1⁄4 yard of 16 gauge clear vinyl 21 ” Game board use, or make a smaller Other 7 Chalk or removable fabric-marking pen version for travel. 7 Fabric glue 7 12 ” of 1⁄2”-wide elastic 7 Teflon or walking foot Waste 7 All-purpose thread: matching and contrasting
1 sewNEWS Make learning enjoyable and portable with a multi-subject game board.
2 sewNEWS 2
Assembly Divide and mark the game board into HOW TO PLAY thirds both horizontally and vertically. Using contrasting thread, sew a decora - 1)Set up the board by placing tive or zigzag stitch along the marked a game piece and question card lines (2) to visually divide the game in each pocket. Make sure the squares. answer side isn’t showing. The question card should cover the Place one vinyl strip long edge ½” game piece and be visible above the uppermost horizontal stitch - through the pocket. ing line. Edgestitch the sides and lower edge. Stitch the vinyl to the felt ¼” 2) The first player chooses the 3 from each decorative stitching line to space she wants to win. The form pockets. Repeat to attach the player answers the question on the game board. If the player is additional vinyl strips ½” above the correct, she removes the ques - second horizontal stitched line and ½” tion card and the game piece. above the game board lower edge (3). The player then turns the game To create game pieces, glue an X on piece to reflect her letter (X or O) one side of each 3 ½”x5” felt rectangle and returns it to the pocket. and an O on the opposite side. Allow 3) The players continue the the game pieces to dry thoroughly game until one player has three before use. Xs or Os in a row. For a portable game board, loop a 12 ” elastic length and hand-tack or machine 4) If there is only one player, have the child choose a letter 1⁄2” stitch it to the game board halfway and attempt to win three in a row, down on the right-hand side (4). or challenge the child to fill the
When finished playing, place the cards entire game board with her letter.
4 and game pieces in the pockets. Fold the upper third of the game board Z CLIP & KEEP down, the lower third of the game WITH YOUR GAME board up, and then fold the resulting Secure with topstitching rectangle in thirds horizontally toward the elastic. Loop the elastic around the folded game board to secure. Elastic loop
Use a Teflon or walking foot when sewing vinyl. Or place tear-away Actual size templates stabilizer or lightweight paper between the vinyl and presser foot. Baby powder is another option. Sprinkle the vinyl with the powder, and then lightly brush it off. Thoroughly clean your machine after using baby powder.
3 sewNEWS and the question is ... from vocabulary lists, work - Gather questions sheets, book discussion questions, textbook review questions or other educational sources. Purchased flash cards also work with the game. the only As the child grows and learns, thing that needs to change is the card selection. The game can be used by one child or in a group/team environment.
For PRE-SCHOOL children, consider the following topics:
Picture Identification Place pictures from magazines on one side and the name of the object on the other (i.e. — cat, ball, apple, house).
Color Identification Draw a colored dot on one side of the card and write the name of the color on the other side.
Letter/Number Identification Write single letters or numbers on the cards.
For ELEMENTARY students, try these options:
Letter Blends Place letter blends on one side and have the child identify the sound the blend makes (i.e .— th, st, cl, gr).
Vocabulary Words Write a word on one side of the card and its definition on the other side. Vocabulary lists are available from teachers. Your state’s Department of Education will often have vocabulary lists by grade level.
Math Problems These will vary but may include addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, percents and decimals.
Science Problems Look at a child’s textbook for questions in the chapter review sections. Some topics might be plant/animal identifi - cation, constellation identification and science vocabulary. Connie Keck holds a doctorate in education and is a consultant and teacher educator across the United States and the Pacific Rim. Author of over 36 educa - Social Studies tional books and numerous articles, Keck focuses on Use questions in the chapter review section of the child’s items teachers can make themselves as learning tools textbook. Consider geographical information, historical for students. Her sewing interests include home décor, names, places, dates, etc. Z fashion, crafts and machine embroidery.
4 sewNEWS Reasdy, eset, w !
MARLA STEFANELLI Whimsical sewing cards make a special holiday gift so your little helper can sew along at your side.
SEWING CARDS are a great On a copy machine, enlarge the square wrong side. Repeat to adhere way to introduce young children designs placed through-out the the fusible web to the remaining to sewing. They also help develop following pages to create the full-size fabric square. Leave the paper backing fine motor skills and eye-hand patterns. Patterns have been reversed, on the fusible web for now. coordination. For full-size patterns so they’ll face the correct direction Trace the bee body and wing; sun; for the sewing card designs, visit when fused to the background. chicken body, beak and feet; flower, www.sewnews.com. For each sewing card, cut two 7 ½” flower center, stem and flowerpot MATERIALS squares from a light blue background onto the paper side of the remaining fabric. Cut one 7 ” square each from fusible web. Cut out each shape 7 1⁄4 yard each of two light-blue cotton fabrics for backgrounds interfacing and fusible web. Center outside the lines. and fuse the interfacing on one fabric 7 Variety of scraps for the motifs
7 3⁄4 yard of 1⁄4”-wide ribbon (black for bee, orange for sun, pink for flower and red for baby chick) tip : To position the shapes, use 7 1⁄4 yard of lightweight fusible interfacing a light box, or trace the fullsize 7 Heavyweight double-sided fusible web (one 7 ” square for each card) pattern and eyelet locations onto 7 1⁄8” (3 mm) eyelets in assorted colors; tracing paper. Turn the paper over setting tool so the motif is facing the correct 7 Monofilament and all-purpose sewing direction, and align it with the thread fabric square. Slide the shapes 7 Fabric-marking pen or pencil into position under the 7 Permanent fabric marking pens; Use tissue paper tracing to place motifs red and black tracing paper. in proper position. 7 Craft knife
5 sewNEWS 6 sewNEWS Following the manufacturer’s instruc - tions, fuse the motifs to fabric scraps similar to the cards shown or as desired. Let cool and cut out the shapes on the lines. Peel off the paper backing, and posi - tion the motifs on the interfaced fabric squares, overlapping as indicated on the bee and flower patterns. Fuse Enlarge 200% in place. Using the monofilament thread, stitch around each shape with a 2 mm- wide, short zigzag. Stitch so the right- turning. Remove the web paper and follow the manufacturer’s instruc - hand swing of the needle falls just off backing, trim the seams to ⅛”, and tions to secure the eyelet. the motif edge. clip across the corners (1). Cut the ribbon into 25 ” lengths. Tie Mark the eyelet locations with small Turn right side out, poking out the one end with two overhand knots, dots. Using the permanent markers, corners. Turn in the opening edges placing them on top of each other trace the face and wing details onto and finger press. Finger-crease the and without over tightening. This the motifs; use red for the mouths edges, so the seam is at the edge, then creates enough bulk so the knot and black for the rest. Let the ink dry press to fuse all the layers together. won’t pass through the eyelet. and set with an iron following the Edgestitch around the square, stitching To create the “needle” end, fold the manufacturer’s instructions. (Avoid the opening closed at the same time. other ribbon end in half lengthwise over pressing the monofilament To insert the eyelets, use a craft knife for about 1 ” and wrap snugly with thread, as it may melt.) to make small slits a scant ⅛” long, masking or cellophane tape (2). With right sides together and using a forming an X at each eyelet location. Teach a child to sew. Begin by ” ¼ seam, stitch the web-backed Push an eyelet through the fabric coming up from the back to the square to the square with the motif, from the motif side; it should fit front, so the knot is on the underside. leaving a 3 ” opening on one side for snugly in the hole. Use a setting tool
1 Sew two squares together. 2 Fold ribbon end in half and tightly wrap with tape. tip : When sewing some fusible webs, build-up on the needle
1 may cause skipped stitches, Trim to ⁄8”. 1” broken thread and uneven tension. To help avoid the prob - 3” Opening Tape lem, regularly remove the needle from the machine and clean with a solvent (such as rubber cement thinner, lighter fluid, or rubbing alcohol), to remove the Clip across corners. gummy, sticky substance.
7 sewNEWS After the child laces the ribbon length through the eyelet holes, show him/her how to weave the needle end through the previous stitches on the back (3). After your child completes several cards, stack and lace them together through the eyelets on the left edge to form a book, tying the ribbon ends in a bow.
3 Weave ribbon through stitching on back to finish.
On the Edge When zigzag or satin stitching around corners, remember these simple rules: 8 For outside corners, stop with the needle on the appliqué outer edge. 8 For inside corners, stop with the needle in the appliqué. 8 Then raise the presser foot, pivot the fabric, lower the presser foot and continue stitching the next side.
Needle
Outside Inside Corner Corner
Enlarge 200% Stop at Stop on fabric at corner. outer edge.
8 sewNEWS Don’t worry how your child sews the card—let them do it their way.
Enlarge 200% Enlarge 200%
B
More Sewing Fun Add eyelets around the perimeter of each square, so the squares can be sewn together to form a simple quilt (A). Short on time? Make sewing cards from large-print novelty fabric. Place the eyelets about 1 ” apart outlining the design, or incorpo - rate them into the design (B). A Look to coloring books and gift wrap for more sewing-card motif ideas. Instead of using metal eyelets, stitch small eyelets or button - holes at each location. Z
9 sewNEWS TEACH KIDS TO SEW IN
SHEILA 10 B ASIC pilloZENT w STEPS PRIMER
10 sewNEWS tip : Explain to new sewers the difference between high-quality fabric shears and paper scissors. Cutting paper will dull scissor blades, so a separate pair of shears must be used solely for fabric. fabric store field trip
SEWING IS BECOMING POPU - 7 Take your students to a fabric store to find the needed supplies. Explain LAR with the next generation. Kids each area of the store and what various items are used for. Describe fill sewing camps and classes in fabric how the fabric is arranged by groups, including fashion fabrics, quilting stores and sewing-machine dealer - cottons, novelty and seasonal prints, home décor fabrics, flannels, knits, ships. Experienced adult sewers are felt, fake fur, fleece, etc. Show where on the bolt to find the price, type often enlisted to lead Girl Scouts, of fabric and care recommendations. Inform the students that fabric 4-H’ers and home-schooled kids comes in different widths, which has an impact on how much fabric to in sewing activities. To organize a buy. Be sure to point out the sale rack and remnant bin. successful sewing class, start with an 7 introductory project that is fun and Next, visit the racks with decorative trims, ribbon, lace and fringe. Point quick, yet also teaches basic sewing out where the prices and fiber content appear on the spool or card. skills. Locate the display with sewing tools, hardware and notions, such as Crafting a simple butterfly pillow webbing, hook-and-loop tape and elastic. Walk by the thread rack and takes students through 10 basic explain the differences in thread produced for general purposes, sewing sewing steps. Students will develop on buttons, quilting, serging and machine embroidery. On the zipper good habits from the start, while rack, show how different sizes are arranged and grouped by color. Note learning core techniques they’ll use special labels for separating and invisible zippers. Also visit the button in future projects. display, and show how it’s organized. MATERIALS 7 Move on to the pattern catalogs, pointing out the different companies. 7 1⁄2 yard of fabric Let students select a pattern and learn how to find it in the pattern 7 Polyester fiberfill drawers. 1 1 7 1 ⁄4 yards of ⁄4”-wide twill tape 7 Pass by the sewing machines and sergers. Compare machines with 7 11⁄2 yards of matching or contrasting and without electronic embroidery capabilities. ribbon 7 7 Fabric marking pen Don’t forget to look at the shelves of interfacing, quilt batting and fiberfill, describing each one’s use. Also stop by the departments that 7 Beeswax (optional) display quilting tools, doll-making supplies and specialty items for bridal, step 1 formal wear and costumes. Shop for fabric, coordinating ribbon 7 Wrap up your tour at the cutting table, and watch how the staff and other supplies. Lead students measures and cuts fabric, trims and other supplies. through the fabric store aisles, com - paring lightweight cottons with 7 If time permits, let students wander back to the department of their mediumweight ducks, canvases or choice, giving them a chance to let their creative juices flow. home décor fabrics. Although any of these fabrics would work for a pillow, discuss the differences in weight and price. Let students select their fabrics and fold while evenly matching the 1 Align ruler with selvage; draw a 15 ” line. and find ribbons for the trim, allow - selvage edges. Smooth the folded fab - ing them to discover how different ric on a flat cutting surface. Briefly combinations change the finished define the lengthwise and crosswise project’s look. Have each student grain of the fabric. Using a yardstick gather the additional necessary or 18 ” ruler and a fabric marking supplies before making their final pen, mark a 15 ” line parallel to the purchase. selvage (1). To ensure a true square, step 2 use the cardboard back of a notebook To measure and mark pillow squares or a sturdy piece of paper. Align one on the fabric, fold the right sides of edge of the cardboard against your the fabric together. Explain the selvage drawn line, matching one corner to
11 sewNEWS When cutting fabric layers, pin the layers one end of the line. Place the ruler together inside the cutting line to prevent along the cardboard edge, and mark the second line. Repeat twice to the fabric from shifting out of place. complete a 15 ” square (2). For a larger pillow, extend each line to 17 ”. again through the top. Pin either ances. Turn right sides out, and press step 3 parallel or perpendicular to the edge to show how the notching helps Cut pillow squares. With the scissors (4), and explain that the pins need to curved edges turn neatly. resting on the table surface, have the be removed as you sew. step 7 students cut through both layers along Leave an unpinned 5 ” opening Turn the pillow right side out. Insert a the drawn lines (3), producing a fabric along one edge. Using a ½” seam lightly sharpened dowel stick or simi - square for the pillow front and one allowance and beginning at the 5 ” lar object through the pillow opening, for the back. opening, stitch around the outside and push out each square corner (7). step 4 edges, pivoting at each corner. Back- With your fingers, roll the straight Teach the basics of the sewing stitch at the beginning and end of edges along each seam and press. ” machine. Explain what each part of the stitching on either side of the 5 Discuss ironing safety by pointing out the machine does, and demonstrate opening (5). areas on the iron that heat up and proper threading. Have the students areas safe to touch. take turns test-sewing a two-layer tip : Never sew over pins. Remove pins as you sew to avoid breaking step 8 fabric scrap. They should practice Stuff pillow with fiberfill. Working stitching along one edge with a ½” needles or pins and wearing down with small handfuls at a time, pull the seam allowance. Demonstrate back- the machine’s feed dogs. fiberfill apart into airy mounds before tacking and how to pivot at corners inserting it into the pillow opening. by leaving the needle in the fabric. step 6 Push the first few handfuls into the step 5 Clip the corners (6). Explain to the furthest corners followed by the near - To pin and sew the pillow, place the students how trimming seam allow- est corners. Fill the pillow center squares right sides together. Show ances removes bulk when turned with fiberfill until full, but soft. The your students how to pin the fabric right side out. If time permits, stitch a butterfly pillow will be cinched in edges by inserting the pin point from sample scrap with a curved seam and the center and won’t need as much the top through both layers and out demonstrate notching the seam allow- filling as a normal pillow.
2 Mark remaining lines of square. 4 Pin vertically or horizontally through 6 Clip corners. Do not clip stitching. both layers.
Optional curved seam with 5 Using a 1⁄2” seam allowance, stitch pillow notched edge. sides. Leave a 5 ” opening along one side. Backstitch opening edges; pivot corners.
3 Cut along drawn lines through both fabric Pivot. Pivot. layers. 7 Turn right side out. Push out corners.
1⁄2”
Pivot. Backstitch. Pivot.
5”
12 sewNEWS bring on the boys!
Boys are learning to sew, too. For a masculine version of the project, boys can choose to create a standard pillow, eliminating the cinching step. Add step 9 additional fiberfill as desired before hand stitching. To slipstitch the pillow opening If cinching the pillow, consider combining fabric with coordinating ribbon, closed, cut an 18 ” length of thread, cording or belting, such as the following: and slide it through beeswax to add 7 strength and avoid tangling. Slide the Race car print pillow tied with a checkerboard ribbon leading end of the thread through the 7 Denim pillow tied with a rolled-up bandanna eye of a hand needle. Tie a knot in 7 Camouflage print pillow “belted” with fluorescent orange webbing the opposite end. Demonstrate the 7 Khaki twill pillow wrapped and knotted with nylon rope technique of weaving the needle back and forth between layers to slipstitch the opening closed (8). Upon com - pletion, make a few stitches, ending with a small loop. Insert the needle through the loop, and pull the thread to tighten and knot the thread. Take satnoethper stit1ch0 and trim the thread. Cinch the pillow with ribbon. Wrap the twill tape around the pillow center and tie a loose knot. Pull the ends tightly to cinch the pillow center. Tie the tape ends into a secure knot. Students may need to help each other hold the tape tightly as they make the final knot. Trim the tape ends (9). Wrap ribbon around the center to hide the tape, and tie it into a pretty bow on the pillow front.
8 Tuck in fabric at opening even with seams. Slipstitch opening shut. Avoid stitching outer layers.
9 Cinch pillow with twill tape; knot. Trim ends close to knot.
Sheila Zent writes and publishes eXpresSew sewing patterns for teens and tweens, gaining inspiration from her 11- and 14-year-old daughters. A sewer for over 30 years, Sheila assists local Girl Scout troops, instructs and speaks at Family and Consumer Sciences sewing classes at local high schools, and constructs costumes for community theater groups. For more information on projects like the one featured, www.expressew.com. Z
13 sewNEWS Q&A ELLEN MARCH
1 The Singer Zigzag Chainstitch Sewing Machine, for ages 6 and up, is fully-functional and battery-operated
schools don’t teach children how to begin sewing lessons. You can even child’s play sew anymore. The few schools that do purchase a child-specific sewing How do I teach my children how to teach sewing in home economics machine that will allow your child to use a sewing machine? What’s an classes usually start at a seventh grade easily understand the machine mecha - appropriate age for them to start level. Knowing how to sew enables nisms (1). Check the box for the sewing by machine? you to teach your children at an earlier manufacturer’s recommended age Mary A., Kansas City, MO age and open their eyes to the won - group for the machine. Sewing stimulates creativity, builds derful world of sewing. Since children Teach your children to sew just as confidence, helps with balance and are most receptive to learning new you’d teach anyone. But take a few coordination, and encourages personal things and retaining information precautions to ensure their safety: expression. It’s a shame that most between the ages of 5 and 12, those Give them protective gloves to wear ages are the most opportune times to while cutting and, if you teach them
14 sewNEWS 2 Extra-small Klutz gloves and auto-retracting rotary cutters protect children’s fingers
to cut using a rotary cutter, make sure they use a rotary cutter with an automatically retracting blade (2). Never leave children unattended while using the sewing machine or scissors or while handling needles. It’s crucial that you explain how to properly handle all sewing tools as well as review the sewing machine manual prior to beginning each lesson. Point out all the machine’s functions and demonstrate their uses. Show the children how to thread the machine, and then have them thread the machine several times to build their confidence. Draw several shapes, such as a circle, square and rectangle, onto paper and have the children sew over the lines. Teach the children how to pivot and back - sewing world. Find group classes or to you by the Sew News editors, for stitch. Periodically adjust stitch length s and organize a sewing club for your great beginner projects as well as basic widths and practice each stitch avail - children and their friends. The more sewing techniques. Before you know able on the machine. Once the they immerse themselves in the craft, it, your children will be the next children are comfortable sewing on the more their sewing skills will flourish. Project Runway prodigies. Z paper, move on to sewing on scraps Purchase a copy of Sew It All, brought of different fabric types. Take the children to the fabric store and familiarize them with each area: the cutting table, notions, fabric aisles and craft areas. Pick out an easy- sew pattern and gather the supplies needed to make the project; let the resources children pick out the fabric. Guide AllCrafts, allcrafts.net, offers online sewing classes and free sewing the children step-by-step while pattern links. sewing the project, making sure to Sewing and Craft Alliance, (412) 372-5950, sewtrendy.com or sewing.org, stress the importance of having fun— offers projects and school programs geared for teen sewers. not necessarily being perfect. Research online or at the library sources for resource materials to assist you in Fons & Porter Quilt Supply , (515) 462-1020 or (888) 985-1020, planning sewing lessons that continue fonsandporter.com, provided the Klutz glove. to advance the children’s skills. There’s Nkok, (888) 656-5869, nkok.com, provided the Singer Zigzag Chainstitch always something new to learn in the Sewing Machine.
15 sewNEWS