teaching a DD

Liz, My DGD is 4 as of last week and she has been "sewing" with grammy since she was old enough to hold her head up. She started out sitting beside the machine in her infant seat and then to my knee . Last summer she was in charge of snipping the threads of my chain peices for a special quilt we made to gether. This year she is pracitcing to "steer" my machine while I run the "gas " peddle. She is getting the feel of moving in straight lines on paper with lines marke on them. Last week for her birthday, she recieved her first sewing machine a tiny portable that has

Six is a great age to learn with parental supervision. My daughter started at or before age 6. These were the steps I took:

First, she sat on Mom's lap and watched while I worked to learn.

Then when she had some familiarity with what was going on, she got to put her hands over mine as I did the work.

Then my hands went over hers to make sure she did the right thing as she did it herself.

When I felt she could do it on her own, she did it herself. (I might have run the food pedal.)

If you can afford it, a hand-crank machine (they aren't *that* expensive) is a good thing to use for a pint-sized beginning sewist, so they can't hurt themselves as much.

My youngest made himself his own pair of shorts when he was 4 (He was always precocious, though.)

Dear Liz,

I was nine, and taught under extreme circumstances. I had chickenpox and a bad case of poison ivy. The only way my mom could keep me in bed was with a tea cloth with little Mexican motifs in the corners. I was fascinated, and have not put my needle down since (70 next birthday).

Teri

Liz,

I'm glad you had a blast with your DD. I like your idea of having her learn to hand sew with basting a dress that doesn't actually need it - can I steal it for when I teach my DD? (17 months next week!).

I think my Grandma taught me to hand sew at about 8 - I can't quite remember which is frustrating. She dies just after I turned 12, and I was given her sewing machine, and taught myself to machine sew. I know one of my birthday presents at about age 9 - from my Grandma - was a sewing basket with needles, sewing thread, embroidery scissors and a tape measure. I still have the scissors and tape measure.

I would think 6 is a great age to start to learn. I'd be very tempted to keep the iron for Mummy's use only though! Have you seen this:-

Sarah

My grandma started teaching me when I was 6 (using her treadle). I had both my kids learning at the same age, too. However I never left them alone with the machine until I was sure they had mastered it (didn't want any sewn fingers!) and that was a different age for each child.

-Irene

------------- "You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough."

- Mae West

cool idea, thanks :)

I had her try out needlepoint a while back when I was on a needlepoint bender. I gave her small squares of latchook canvas, bright colored rug yarn, and big plastic needle. Worked well, but she didn't grok basketweave. Asked me on every single up and down where the needle should go. Time for another try!

-Liz

Or hide the power cord and let the child turn the handwheel.

Joy Beeson

Won't work on my Designer 1, but I do have a lovely treadle. It was my only machine for years. Made my wedding dress on it. Now I'm spoiled beyond belief by electronic wizbangitude .

She probably can't reach the treadle either, but it could be way fun trying.

-Liz

My grandmother taught me by letting me sit on her lap at the treadle, why she handled the 'treadling' part. That way she controlled the speed, etc.

-Irene

------------- "You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough."

- Mae West