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CHAPTER 1

Craft with Your Kids

Quilting isn‘t just for mothers and daughters. Anyone with a passion for quilting can join in!

Though this book is written from a mother’s point of view, the techniques covered are applicable to any adult (fathers, grandparents, kids’ club leaders, etc.) who wants to pass on their love of quilting to the next generation. There are many benefits to teaching kids to sew that anyone can participate in.

Why Should You Teach Your Kids How to Sew?

IT’S AN ALTERNATIVE TO SCREEN TIME.

Sewing and stitching are a calming alternative to the offerings of the fast-paced electronic age in which we live. When your child wants to work on something quiet and doesn’t feel like reading, stitching is the perfect remedy.

Sewing is a great way to limit screen time, while also fostering creativity and imagination.

Similarly, in a world in which just about everything is conveniently available at stores or at the click of a button, stitching demonstrates to children that they can slow things down and make things with their hands. When they take the time to create and experience how much effort it takes to make something beautiful, it will allow them to appreciate what they have and teach them patience.

IT’S A CONNECTION TO YOUR HERITAGE.

Sewing and stitching is a way to connect our children to the past. Your child will gain a large appreciation for handmade things once they realize what it takes to make things with her hands. Take your child to the museum and show them textile and needlework items made by children around their age from bygone eras. Your child will start to see quilting and sewing as a hobby for anyone, not just adults, and feel way more excited about getting involved.

IT’S A RELATIONSHIP BOOSTER.

Crafting with children opens up an additional channel for communicating with them. You will find out their styles and what colors they like, just to start. When you are constructing these projects with your child, you will find that they become more open with you. Things you might find difficult to speak with them about any other time will become natural to discuss.

It’s a good idea to spend time talking about the projects with your child. Color choices are always fun to discuss. You’ll be surprised at how different your child’s fabric and color preferences can be from yours and how decisive they can be about them. For instance, I often ask Gwen for her opinion on my color choices. She, on the other hand, feels confident about her color choices and seldom second-guesses herself!

In addition to getting some insight into what your child does and doesn’t like, you get the opportunity to create memories with them that both of you can look back on fondly. Play the audiobook version of a favorite book (Gwen and I love Paddington Bear) to play in the background. As you work, youll find just how much you both enjoy stitching, chatting, and laughing together.

Sewing is an ancient art. Teaching kids the craft will give them a connection to past generations.

When you create with your child, a new way to bond forms, giving you many opportunities to connect with them as they grow.

Gwen loves bright colors, and especially enjoys projects where she gets to use rainbow-colored fabrics.

IT BUILDS CHARACTER.

Sewing and stitching will help your child develop discipline and perseverance in seeing through a project to the finish. They will realize that they have to put in the work in order to finish a project and will get a deep sense of accomplishment when they do finish one. You’ll also find that your child will show kindness to their friends by stitching simple projects for them, like a monogram ornament.

IT BUILDS SKILLS BEYOND JUST HAVING FUN.

Encourage your child to use their crafting skills for fundraising purposes. Doing so will instill a respect for community and allow your child to see that using their skills for positive endeavors can be fun. I love to see children being able to explore other entrepreneurial adventures through crafting—while doing it for a good cause at the same time!

Ideas for When to Use This Book

This book is all about fun ideas to foster the love of needle and thread in the next generation. The projects are designed to include both adult and child participation. Each project includes step-by-step instructions that shift from adult to child and back again, so all are able to participate throughout the project.

Here are a few ideas for taking these ideas even further once everyone gets the hang of things.

Forming a stitching group will allow you and your kids to share your love of stitching with like-minded crafters.

FORM A STITCHING GROUP.

A stitching or sewing group meeting that includes both adults and children is a fun way to spend quality time with friends and kids. I have found that friendships among adults and children are formed in these groups since everyone already has a love of sewing in common. Beyond stitching, children will also have opportunities to learn and observe how to sew appropriately from the adults. They learn to respect the wisdom that adults can share, and the adults have the opportunity to bond with their kids by passing on useful and skill-building knowledge.

A group can get together on a regular basis to work on the same or different projects highlighted in a book, and then a special meeting can be organized to celebrate the finished projects. The encouragement children receive from such events will propel them further in developing the love of needle and thread.

HAVE A SEWING PARTY.

This book has easy projects (such as the monogrammed pillow ornament here and the pillowcases on here) that are easily adapted for one-time party projects. Depending on the age group, fabrics can be cut and projects partially finished ahead of time, so that the little partygoers can easily complete them in a short amount of time before they run off to play. Working on small projects in a party setting can spark interest in your child to do more stitching and sewing projects on their own.

QUILT AT CAMP.

Sewing and stitching summer camps have gained a lot momentum in recent years, and the kid-tested projects in this book are easily adaptable for camp settings. Their simplicity works really well for larger groups that will be easy for young beginners to understand.

BUILD SKILLS IN OR OUT OF THE CLASSROOM.

An adult who is teaching a child to sew can use the featured projects in this book to hone stitching and sewing skills, whether in a personal or more formal teaching setting. We will cover a variety of techniques!

Sewing activities during summer camp craft time are becoming more popular.

A sewing party is always an excellent idea!

Set aside time to schedule your sewing projects with your child.