sewing for kids 101: starting to sew on a machine

This wee machine from John Lewis has been perfect for the girls as they each started to sew on a machine. 

Over the course of the last week I have been plagued with the phrase…’Can I sew now?’. Plagued as in,we seem to have a million things to fit into a short time and sewing hasn’t been high on the agenda!!

I carved out a little time and sat down with Maddie to show her some basics of how to use the machine.

Here are the key things I think they need to know at first…

// pedal control – slowing down as you come to the end of your fabric
// guiding the fabric gently through
// keeping the stitches in a straight line
// lifting the foot
// turning the fabric so they can continue to sew around a corner
// changing the type of stitch

…and as it turned out, she had been watching me thread the machine so she can now change the threads if she wants to. I just need to thread the needle.

And now she’s super enthusiastic and we’re starting to make baby blankets. Probably the first project of a very long list!!!!