My kids all want to learn to sew, and so we are on a sewing adventure, and they hope to end up with new quilts handmade at their own hands! Join us as we sew through the summer each week! Sewing with Kids — week 1, week 2, and week 3.
Owen and I have been talking about making a monster, and finally took an hour to do it! Look at this face —
He’s so happy to have “made” a new friend! Here’s what we did:
I taped a few blank pieces of paper together, and asked Owen to draw his monster. He started with the eyes, and legs, then I encouraged the addition of a head and arms. Simple and fun sketches are perfect!
Then we cut him out, to use as a pattern. He added the mouth, and mustache too!
Owen picked out two blue fabrics that he wanted to use, and we pinned him down, and cut him out.
Pattern weights would have been handy here, but we made the pins work, and kept his fingers away.
Using the scraps, we cut out the eyes, and a mouth in a smile. Then using the Lapel Stick to put them in place for applique.
Owen sat on my lap at the sewing machine, he’s 4, and not quite ready to take on the machine yet.
I encouraged him to help me steer the fabric around the applique pieces, but after that he was ready for me to finish sewing the project for him.
So we pinned the right sides together, to sew around it. I left the bottom open, and we added legs with the remaining scraps.
He’s pretty excited to have him turned right side out!
I pressed the seams flat, and we started stuffing him! I added a little bit to the arms for him, and let him have at the rest.
I cut 3″ strips from the scraps, folded the right sides together and sewed up the sides. One is slightly longer than the other, but it adds to his charm!
We added a bit of stuffing the sewed across to make feet, then finished stuffing and pinned them in the bottom. I had previously pressed under about a 1/2″, then sewed legs in place as I closed up the monster.
One happy boy with his monster! The key to this project, was letting him have creative freedom, and me not trying to make it perfect.
Have you been sewing with your kids? I think next week I’ll put a linky up to see what all of you have been up to with your kiddos!
Happy sewing – Amy
How cute! Owen’s smile says it all! My granddaughter (age 3) and I made a pincushion for her mom yesterday – she was so excited to be sewing on my big Juki instead of the featherweight I told her I’d teach her on! She picked out the fabric, sewed all the seams (rather the same way you did with Owen) and then helped me turn and stuff it. She was so proud, she took it to her mom right away before I had a chance to get pictures!!
Amy that turned out so cut! how big is the Monster I looked like it is almot as tall as Owen. Very cute idea. A thought on the pattern I make a lot of my pattern using freezer paper its nice too because it iron on to the fabric and you cna just sew around it. It is still heavier then traditional pattern paper tough. I buy Golden rod for machine quilting and its think like traditional pattern paper.
Remember the skirts we made in 4-h where the top of the pants were used for the top of the skirt and then the gathered fabric sewn on for the skrit part! Those were always so cute. I bet the girls are abouthte right age to enjoy those.
This is wonderful. :D And the smile is awesome.
Ohhhhhhhh, just the best pictures ever. Owen is so proud as he should be.
How cute and a new designer in the makings!
This is wonderful! What a great creation! And I love kids sewing!!! Would love to have you link up to our Family Sewing month! http://hopefulthreads.blogspot.com/2011/07/july-monthly-project-announcement.html
I’d just like to mention to the moms who want to sew with their kids that I’m having a giveaway for a children’s beginner’s hand sewing kit on my blog at http://sewingwithkids.blogspot.com If you’d like to enter for a chance to win it come on over!
I emailed Amy and she said it was OK to leave this comment.
:-)
That is absolutely priceless!
Owen looks like a very happy boy!
I’m amazed at your looseness with your kids! So proud of you Honey! Adorable monster! Mom
I love this idea! It would be a fun project for my 6yr old and I. We could make a big one for him and a small one for his brother (on the way).
Hi Amy! Love this post- inspired me to make a kid’s project a priority in our house this week. My 3yo Nora loves sewing with me- pulls the pins out when I tell her it’s time and MUST push the threadcutting button after each seam. Such priceless bonding. Great blog and can’t wait to meet you at the SS!