If you read this blog then no doubt you'll have worked put that we're a practical family.
Both side of the family are practical, On my side my father is a farmer and an agriculture engineer, my mother was a flower arranger but is also trained in soft furnishings and does many other crafts, my sister designs fabric and wallpaper for a living and my brother is a tree surgeon.
On my wife's side her father is a mechanic, her mother and grandmother are both amazing knitters and her brother is a car sprayer.
So it's no wonder that our children seem drawn to anything practical or craft based.
Sewing is certainly one that has grabbed my eldest daughter attention. She is fascinated by it. She loves anyone spending time with her showing her how to make something and picks up the skills really quickly. If any clothes break or tear she is the first to say she'll fix it!
For Christmas my mum got her a book on sewing dolls clothes. I think this turned out to be the perfect present. She has studied it cover to cover and keeps talking about what she wants to make.
So today she made her first dolls outfit. She was so pleased with herself!
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| Looking good |
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| Hands learning skills |
She was just beaming when she finished this outfit and she's already picked out what she wants to make next!
It was wonderful seeing the satisfaction she got from making something herself. Something which has never diminished for me or my wife, although I'm the first to admit that my skills do not lie anywhere near a needle and thread! I'm hoping now we have the old dinning room sorted out my wife can get her sewing machine out and do more of that as she used to love making things before we moved and had the space.
So a nostalgic question today - what was the first thing you can remember you made as a child that made you feel proud?
Well done your to your eldest. She was bound to be practical with all those practical genes!
ReplyDeleteShe is certainly surrounded by it!
DeleteOh how lovely. I used to do that when I was little. There are a lot of knitted and crocheted patterns on Pinterest but there are also a lot of sewn patterns as well including free pdf's. Thought it might save money and extend her doll's range of available styles and outfits as she progresses. Its good to give the littlies practical skills. Tricia
ReplyDeleteSo many patterns out there it's great. I rememeber my mum and sister buying a huge suitcase full of them and I'm fairly sure they still have and use them as the fashions have come back round!
DeleteI have had a sewing machine all my life, I'm not complete without on, it's a wonderful skill and even better if it becomes a love of sewing for her. Wonderful book, great gift.
ReplyDeleteSuch a good gift and great skills for her to learn. When you take to something early like this it always seems natural I think.
DeleteThe look on her face says it all. Well done Miss Seamstress!
ReplyDeleteShe was like that all day!
DeleteThat is quite impressive! Very good job there. I was a "paper doll" addict when I was small, cut and glued many paper outfits. And a town planner. We lived in the country with acreage and I built towns in the piney woods. I used pine straw, twigs, cotton bolls, whatever I could find. Loved it!
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of building a little town outside. I bet my kids would love to do that!
DeleteHow fantastic, and how brilliant of her granny to get her that book. She's done a wonderful job on the clothes. The first thing I made, I think it was a pair of jodhpurs for my Sindy doll. But I have always been very creative as well and will have a go at virtually anything. I used to love making buildings and fences for my farm animals too. Your children are growing up so well-rounded, they are an absolute credit to you.
ReplyDeleteThank you! They really do crave to be creative which is so nice to see. Although this morning I have banned crafts in the sitting room (it won't last) as all three of them were gluing something together on the sofa whilst I was putting the washing on the line!
DeleteAbsolutely brilliant Kev.
ReplyDeleteIt's all her!
DeleteYou have taught her that if she wants it done right she best do it herself. Trouble with that is that now she will be afflicted with the same malady you and I have, and will never be satisfied with anything store bought.LOL
ReplyDeleteYou'r next job will be to teach her to wrench on cars so that she won't be taken for a ride at the mechanics shop when something in the car breaks.
Yes, I fear she is doomed. Just last week I was fixing the car and thought didn't cross my mind (or wallet) to go to a mechanic! That's what's YouTube is for! I sometimes curse that I won't let anyone else do anything and I fear my children will be the same!
DeleteWonderful for her to make an outfit for her doll, she looks so proud.
ReplyDeleteI have a cross stitch picture of a mouse that I did when I was about 8. It was made with yarn rather than thinner thread. It's the oldest thing I remember making.
One tip with needles is that the eye is made by punching the steel so turning the needle around can make it easier to thread. The other thing I was told was to damp the eye of the needle rather than the thread because some threads get bigger when wet. Having said that one thing I really try not to put the needle in my mouth and just dampen it with a bit of spit on a finger. I know people who hold pins between their lips but I can imagine how bad it would be if I were to accidentally breath one in.
Helen
The girls love their cross stitch as well and have been doing a few kits they've been given. Threading the needle is always a pain so we'll try your tips thanks!
DeleteHow wonderful! Sewing is a life skill that is invaluable, to my mind. This could be your daughter's start toward a profession of design . . . which could go in so many directions. And if not, just the joy and sense of accomplishment she gets is absolutely fantastic.
ReplyDeleteI drew, colored, cut out and played with hundreds (really!) of outfits I made for my collection of paper dolls. Then I designed some outfits for my 13" doll and my dear aunt made them for me out of leftover fabric she had. This same aunt taught me to sew on my grandmother's treadle machine. I made all of my own clothes from junior high until I left the business world to become a homemaker on our homestead. Now jeans and sweatshirts get mucked up too fast to take the time to sew them myself!
My sister who now works in that industry has warned me this is what will happen and she wants to push them the other way as it's so poorly paid in the UK! But so long as they were happy I'd never worry. In the meantime it's a great skill for them to learn and so much better than being stuck by a screen.
DeleteI remember knitting a pair of tiny mittens for my new sister when I was ten. My mum was still in hospital and I had to ask a neighbour how to decrease and make small holes for the ribbon. My sister never wore them as she died at eight days old and I never saw her. This was all sixty odd years ago and things were different then. I never stopped knitting although I can only manage small articles these days as my hands get so tired with heavy knitteds. Good on your little girl, she is a delight and you must be so proud of her. Love Andie xxx
ReplyDeletesending you a hug from that story, that's a memory that must stay with you and I'm sure your mother was glad she had your support at that time.
Deletegreat job! tell your daughter i couldn't have done that good even if i followed the book!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you could have, I've seen what you cook, you must be super creative!
DeleteI love this! Tell her she did a beautiful job and to keep up the good work. You've set a good example by loving your own hands-on practical work. Kids pick that up and imitate both our interests and our attitudes.
ReplyDeleteEverything around me is hand made at the moment and it's a lovley feeling. Oneday I'll change as many things as I can. They don't have to be made by me but made with purpose and love would be good,
DeleteI made a halter for my horse out of baling twine. Just braided all the ropes together and copied another halter. it was crude and rough but my horse didn't seem to care! Tell your daughter I am mightily impressed.
ReplyDeleteI swear baler twine is the most useful tool ever invented. Another use I had never even thought of!
DeleteI am so thrilled to read this post Kev. I was very excited when I found this amazing book. (Ask your Dad) I was planning on getting it out when I baby sit next week and helping her make some clothes for her dolls - looks like I was beaten to it. I thought it had got forgotten about but she obviously had found it. looking forward to having the girls over at Easter to do some more sewing with them. Love Mum x
ReplyDeleteThanks Mum, she really loved it, it could have been written just for her. I'm sure she'll want to do more with you next week as well!
DeleteThank you everyone for your comments on this. She loved it when I read them out to her.
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