Random Sewing

I guess it’s not too random. I’m trying to keep up with my students. My Sewing Club class needs more projects to choose from. Some have made most of the projects, so I want to make sure they have projects to sew that interest them. I think this is key for keeping the interest of tweens and teens, which in turn helps them to progress in their sewing. The projects must be things they would like for themselves or it holds very little meaning for them.

Remember in Home Ec class? The teacher made everyone sew the same thing. A pot holder first, which by the way was not cute or clever looking. At. All. The next project we all had to make, despite knowing how to sew more complicated techniques, was a wrap skirt. Everyone knew you had made it, because there were a bunch of girls wearing their “Sewing Class Skirt” to school each year. Once or twice of being told, “Oh, you made that in sewing.” was enough for me. Never wore it to school after that.

I must have driven that lady mad. I refused to follow her guidelines for picking projects. I would just start the project at home anyway (or just sew it entirely at home and bring it to school just to be graded). But I loved the projects I chose, wore the clothes I made, and have always loved sewing. I wonder what it would have been like for me had I chose to submit to the boring projects she made the other girls sew.

When you don’t allow the projects to be student led, it can be a turn off to kids. When kids are allowed to choose the projects based on their interests, personality, and whatnot, then the class is much more lively and fun! The kids are excited to sew and even more proud when their projects are done, because it’s more meaningful to them personally.

Giving them choices matters. I allow the kids to choose, so we sometimes have several projects going on at once. It is a little more challenging as the teacher, but it is awesome for the kids. The class is full of energy and it allows them to support each other’s individuality. They see what the other kids are making and it inspires them. It also helps to build a healthy self-concept when the kids share in the enthusiasm and compliment one another for the various projects, valuing their unique creativity, personality, and ideas.

So back to what I’ve been up to.

Fabric Bins. These make great gifts. My daughter made one for a friend as a birthday gift last month and her friend really liked it. She made it small, so it could fit on her dressing table to hold hair accessories.

I thought the girls in the sewing club might want to make some. Great beginner project for tweens. Here are my examples:

I have a couple girls who are very new to the sewing club, so I wanted to offer another simple and small project: coasters. Another great gift choice. I like to encourage handmade gift giving around this time of year.

There are several designs… plain (not shown), strips sewn in a quilt-as-you-go method, and shabby chic rickrack edge.

I’m working on a few other projects that would be great gift ideas–with teenaged recipients in mind. I hope to share those soon.