It seems like there is always a lower corner of my design wall that my daughter has taken over and I don't mind. Not. one. bit. But, designing leads to wanting to sew. She's been continually asking me to teach her how to quilt and I can only put her off for so long. (It's so hard for me to stop what I'm doing and take the time to teach her...I'm selfish with my sewing time!) It seems to me like she is too little to start sewing, but I'd hate to miss my window of opportunity.
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| look at those little hands using her mama's ginghers. aren't they precious? (i'm going to have to print out this photo and hang it in my sewing room somewhere.) |
Today while my boys were at summer school and a friends house, I took a break from my sewing and we started sewing up one of her designs. It's made from scraps, naturally. She made a slab! I'm so proud of her. Of course she had a lot of help, but it's a good start. It makes me grin seeing hello kitty front and center.
She keeps telling me that she wants to grow up to be a quilter. That's such great news! Maybe between the two of us we can make a dent in my stash. Wouldn't that be something?!
60 comments:
That's so sweet! Maybe you could get her some fabric glue and she can glue fabrics down rather than having to sew them? =D
Aww... those little hands look so sweet! Your little Miss did a fine job with her block...I think she loves dots as much as I do. ;o)
Nurturing her creativity in this way will not only give her confidence, but will make for some beautiful memories (and quilts!) together, so bravo for taking the time to teach her.
This makes me grin. One of my early memories is of my mom teaching me to sew at age 5- the summer before kindergarten. She sat me on her lap and showed me where to put my hands when feeding the fabric through the machine. My first projects were doll quilts. 21 years later, I still can't stop sewing and now when we visit we trade fabrics, ideas, and patterns.
For whatever it's worth- when i started begging to learn to sew, Mom handed me a big project (I think it was a dust ruffle) and a seam ripper, and said that I'd have to have the patience to undo mistakes before I could learn to start new projects. After I was done taking apart that dust ruffle, she taught me to sew. :)
-Ellen
I LOVE this!! My son is always wanting to sew with me or work with me (he just turned 3, so still a bit to go there).
So, to keep him happy, I have these little heavy-duty cards that have turtles and fish on them, and holes around the main design, then you "sew" with a shoelace back & forth through the holes, as you would when hand-sewing!!
He & my daughter (2-years old) love them and it lets them think they're helping mommy sew!
YOU MUST HAVE THAT PICTURE WHERE YOU CAN LOOK AT IT, AND REMEMBER THOSE LITTLE BABY HANDS..SO PRECIOUS..HER BLOCK IS LOVELY!!
I have just helped my girls make a cshion each with their names appliqued on the front. The 6 year old needed a lot of help (partly because she has a long name full of curves poor love, lol) but my 9 year old was able to do things with me hovering not too far away in case help was needed. She was a bit indignant that I made her do her own unpicking, but all in all did an awesome job. Only problem is they now want to sew more... Like you I jealously guard my precious sewing time and have to remind myself constantly how rewarding it is to share my love of sewing with them...!
I've been teaching my granddaughter ever since she was four - any time she wants to sit with me at the sewing machine, we make little "pillows" for her dolls. She also likes to design "quilts" with her lego blocks! We made one of her designs for her mom's birthday last year - she was so proud!!
So awesome, and yes that picture must be framed. :)
Though he never sewed when he was at home, my 29 year old son is now a quilt designer with his own pattern company and many published quilts. And another son is studying costume design and construction at grad school. You never know where those little hands will end up. :-)
Maybe she needs this, LOL.
http://www.target.com/p/hello-kitty-sewing-machine-green-11706/-/A-10094055
How awesome is that??? My granddaughter who is almost 5 is always pinning fabric on my design wall. She comes up with some very cool ideas!
I'm not sure how old your daughter is, but I learned to sew on a machine around the age of 6 and was reading patterns and constructing garments shortly after. BEST THING EVER for me. I still sew and love it--just wish work did not interfere. Maybe you can set aside a block of time each day and then the rest of the time she can plan her "block" for the next day??
My daughter who is not 17 and making her own quilts has been an inspiration. Your daughters block is so cool. Nurture this love of hers, she has you to follow and for a mom that is the greatest thing. Get her a small one speed sewing machine and let her have at it!!
Cool - way to go mom and daughter!! My adult daughters aren't quilting yet, but they are starting to talk about. And right now my younger daughter is hemming jeans for her boyfriend, so at least she's getting machine practice :)
She did great! Before you know it she will be writing a book with you.
I love the Hello Kitty fabric, she has great taste. I am going to have to find me some of that.
So cute! My mom taught me to sew at a young age. I remember she gave me a piece of cross-stitch fabric, and I just made a big ol' mess of it with random stitches on it. Eventually, I was patient enough to actually learn real stitches though. :) I also learned a bit of quilting and most of all, clothing construction. But when I was a teenager, I hated it! Many fights ensued over forced sewing.
But now I'm back sewing, still avoiding clothes, but with a new love for quilting. All this to say that even if her love of it wears off sometime in the next decade or two, keep the faith. She may be back. :)
That'd be cool...then you can call yourselves, "Crazy Mom and Crazy Daughter Quilts." lol (I think it's time to invest in a little machine for her!!)
It's so precious to share that sewing time with her. I'm impressed that she is making slabs. I've been more like your son, crawling into bed with my copy of your book as my bedtime reading. It's amazing what colorful dreams I've been having lately.
wonderful that she is starting so young : )
She's gonna be an awesome quilter...especially loving Hello Kitty!
Thanks bunches for sharing!
Toni
www.lifeinapinkbunnysuit.com
It's ADORABLE to see those little hands cutting!So "CUTE"!
oh, yes! you must encourage her to help with the scraps and the stash :)
Awesome! I love it! Lately, I've had all three of my little girls wanting to work on quilts - I know what you mean about feeling selfish with the sewing time, yet not wanting to miss that opportunity. Fun times!
Well done!!! My daughter made a pillow too last year. She is now 10, 9 at the time. I find it interesting to see what color combos and patterns they choose. These naiv and young people with no pressure of what is good or bad, right or wrong. For them it is all about what they want. And it turns out to be a success. This pillow is fabulous! She has done a great job. One of my most popular posts on my blog is Nelly's pillow... She is stealing the attention of her Mama. Good for us we are bringing up creative people for the next generation of quilters. Be proud. Be proud!
That is so lovely! Your little girl has made such a good start - I love the piece she made :) And what lovely memories to share :) Maggie xx
"she wants to grow up to be a quilter"...that's the nicest thing a mom can hear...:o)))
Love those little hands!
Someday she'll know what it took for you to let her use your precious Gingher scissors!! ;-) You may be a "Crazy Mom," but you sure are a good mom, too!
What an adorable picture and sweet memory for the two of you! She did a great job!
I've been sewing with Katie on her Hello Kitty sewing machine. She's made two drawstring bags. Wouldn't it be fun to get together with them too!
It's never too early to start sewing. I started when I was 8. You too will be the next generation of mother/daughter designers.
She did a great job with her slab! What does she want to turn it into? (Although if she likes it just the way it is I wouldn't blame her, lol)
Amanda,
I know I have said it before but I am saying it again. I love your blog. Great picture of your little girls hands, so little. Thanks for sharing.
Nancy
Whew!...I'm so glad to hear that you have a hard time stopping what you're doing to teach your daughter to sew. I can totally relate because I have the same situation going on at my house. I love that my girls want to sew but it always seems like there's never enough time for everything!
GREAT stuff! Keep it up, you're training our quilters of the future!
Judi
How old is she? My daughter is 8 and I think she has outgrown the kid's Janome I bought her. When I get her a new machine, perhaps I can send her old one to you? ;)
Love those little hands! They will grow up before you know it. Enjoy!
Deborah
Aww, that's so sweet! My daughter made her first quilt all by herself last summer. She was five and she made a doll quilt with squares she collected in our local shop hop. She even free motion quilted it herself! She entered it in our local fair and got best in class and first place ribbons, can you tell I'm one proud mamma! If your daughter is interested I say they are never to young to learn.
I`m so glad I`m not the only one selfish with my sewing time....My daughter started pestering me when she was about 7 or 8 years old. But you`re a much better mum than me, and definitely less selfish....At 19 she`s still waiting!! Maybe I`ll follow your excellent example, and make this summer, the summer to make it happen.....
ooh, a junior maker. How pleased you must be and what a lovely quilt design
Oh, the cuteness! Tell her she doesn't have to grow up first to be a quilter - she's being one right now. :)
SO awesome! Feed the fire (even if it means double stash, LOL!!)
That is so sweet! Cherish it! :)
I learned to sew by sewing along with my mother, she had an older machine that she would thread for me and I would make barbie clothes. I have been sewing since I was 8 yrs old. Oh how I wish my now 28 year old daughter would sew with me, I dreamed of of having a girl to sew with, well maybe a granddaughter. Enjoy it while you can they grow up fast.
Darling. I love it when my daughter sews with me. By the way, I referenced your book and oatmeal quilt on my blog. I tried to email but my computer is giving me fits when I try to open bloggers' email links. Happy Quilting!
My oldest made her first quilt when she was 6. I had to sit her on some phone books and put the pedal on an overturned trash can. I also added the borders and helped her with the finishing, but she pieced those squares herself. Your daughter is not too young. That's great that she wants to do it!
Too delicious, making things with my boys is one of my favourite things to do. We usually cook, but maybe ws need to give sewing a try...how grateful will their future spouses be!!? x
The picture is just adorable - and of course you must teach her! She has a good eye - I love her block!
I think it's fantastic that she wants to learn to sew and that she has such a great mom to teach her! My mom rarely used her sewing machine while I was growing up, so everything I've learned I had to teach myself.
How great! She wants to be like her mommy. Sounds like you and your girl will for sure have a lot in common as she grows up. Enjoy this time, it will pass way too soon!
I have taught THREE daughters and two SONS how to sew. Here's a little blog post I wrote awhile ago giving people advice on how to do that.
It is so fun to sew with kids! I gave my 4.5 year old son my old brother machine and am giving him "lessons". Kids seem to love what their parents love at that age, here is hoping it sticks!! (It was wonderful to meet you at the modern meet up, I am enjoying your book!)
This is so cute! I just love her block!
I just showed my 7YO daughter, she said "Mom, I want to do one!!"
So great that she wants to sew. And design. And be a quilter. Love her slab!
That picture of the hands is just too precious. Definitely print that one out. Levi made his first pillow cover--a large 16-patch. So much fun. And he is a year younger. But he wanted to do it and I didn't want to discourage him by saying, "Sorry, you're a bit young." It took us three sewing sessions because of short attention spans, but he was SO proud of it!
Hold tightly to these days! I have two daughters, 17 and 22 and neither one wants much to do with quilting. I asked my oldest why she doesn't want to learn to quilt and she said that if she ever needs a quilt, she just needs to ask me and I will have one done in a jiffy. Why should she bother to learn when I can make one so much faster? She is learning to sew, so there is some hope. My younger daughter makes beautiful quilts but says that sewing hurts her back too much. It makes me so sad that neither one loves quilting as much as I do. I miss the days when they loved to spend time with me. :(
seeing those sweet little hands makes me wish I had been quilting when my kids were that small...Love it what a precious picture.
I know exactly how you feel! Too fun. I love your idea of printing out that picture and framing it in your studio. That will be something to treasure!
Those little hands are incredibly precious!!! Can't wait for my little girlies to get old enough to work Mama's sewing scissors! :)
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