April 10, 2014

Seam Allowance? Helping Kids Sew

What’s a seam allowance? This is pretty common for kids to ask and a challenge to master. After explaining what a seam allowance is and showing students the lines along the throat plate of the sewing machine, it’s still a skill that takes lots of practice and much more explaining. Sometimes my very young students don’t know what 5/8 means, especially if they have not done fractions in school. They don’t have to be ready for fractions to be ready to use a sewing machine.

There are some really helpful ways to help kids of all ages to sew a seam allowance accurately. We learn about seam allowances during the first class of my beginning sewing program. I explain, then demonstrate sewing a seam allowance. Then the kiddos sit at their machines and they do it for themselves. Learn by doing.

Their sample goes in their Seams and Samples Book. I encourage them to practice a few extra times in class and at home between classes. Sewing slowly helps us to control our sewing. But those tiny lines are hard to see and sometimes they’re not labelled [which is a complete bummer]. What I do for all my students, and not just for the beginners–anyone who wants this, I place brightly colored sticky tape along the seam allowance guide line.

I use electrical tape, because it’s just the right size, a solid color, and can be removed easily. I have never had it leave any residue either. In addition, it can be reused several times. The same piece of tape can be used for our practice samples. We start by sewing 5/8″ samples. Then I have the students move the tape to 3/8″. I’ll go around and check their tape and let them get stitching. Having the kids move the tape helps them get the idea of different seam allowances.

I cut the electric tape longish (about 3 inches), so the kids can easily line up the length of the fabric as they sew. Easy to see the tape and a bit easier to keep the fabric even with the tape’s edge as they try to control their speed. Most of the projects we sew in the very beginning are rectangular and have straight seams. Helping the kids to have it straight before it reaches the presser foot helps them to get the idea. I’ve been told that all those lines on the machine look the same. And once they get off, they may choose a different line to start following. The bright green line is easy to see and follow, even when they get off track.

If your child still has a hard time and is going over the tape, you can stack the tape up, like 5-10 pieces high on top of each other. Then place the stacked pieces of tape onto the machine. This makes it easier to keep the fabric against the edge of the tape. Or you could purchase the reusable vinyl strips called “Sewing Edge” by Qtools. We use these at my house and they work wonderfully for piecing quilt tops, especially when chain sewing.