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From: AndreaSews
Date: 06-29-2007, 11:11 PM (1 of 17)
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Today I gave a friend a sewing lesson. She made her daughter a nice little dress. She did a fine job, too. While she was trying to concentrate, her son was begging her mercilessly for her attention. I ran a distraction by simultaneously giving him a lesson. He was so proud of his hand-sewn pillow, which kept him busy just long enough for his mom to get through her project! (It took him a little extra time b/c he sewed his pillow to his pants a couple of times and I had to cut him free!) Then it occurred to me: THAT's how Mom and Grandma got through so much daytime sewing when we were kids. They double-teamed us! What a great way to share an interest with a child _and_ get through a project, for goodness sakes.
Andrea
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User: AndreaSews
Member since: 02-18-2005 Total posts: 1007 
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From: DorothyL
Date: 06-30-2007, 07:48 AM (2 of 17)
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I suspect women have worked that way since the beginning of time, Andrea. Imagine an older cave girl distracting the cave kids while the cave moms sew together some bear skins for winter coats. The cave moms get their work done, the cave kids will have bear coats when it gets cold and the cave girl is learning skills she will use when she is a cave mom. The cave men, meanwhile, are watching a game of cave ball and drinking fermented cave hops of course. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: toadusew
Date: 06-30-2007, 08:20 AM (3 of 17)
Andrea, what a clever idea you had by giving your friend's son a sewing lesson while his mom was trying to concentrate. I'm sure that they were both grateful to you, and everybody learned something useful!
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User: toadusew
Member since: 01-08-2005 Total posts: 369 |
From: blackie
Date: 06-30-2007, 10:26 PM (4 of 17)
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Andrea, as a mother of little ones may I say you are a doll for doing that. I recently moved my sewing stuff - ALL of it - to my mom's. She graciously allows me to sew while she watches my kids. Today Sophie helped her in the garden etc. while I sewed some raingear for my husband. Having cost-free, loving child help is about the best gift we mothers get sometimes. see the mundane life of a housewife.
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User: blackie
Member since: 03-31-2004 Total posts: 594 |
From: MotherInLaw
Date: 07-01-2007, 12:12 AM (5 of 17)
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Andrea you are such a good friend. That was sweet of you to occupy they little one while she was struggling to learn something. The little boy reminded me, (and I'm still laughing at the part about him sewing his pillow to his pants) about the time I sat all the kids down in my living room and taught them how to hand embroidery. My grandson was the same age as two of my granddaughters so everything they did he wanted to so he was embroidering too. I didn't realize the damage to my husbands leather chair until way later, he was so quite I was so proud of him I couldn't tell him anything when I discovered he had poked holes in the chair and later those holes from the needle caused the chair to crack and later tear. He was laying the hoop on the chair arm while he poked the needle in and out of the fabric. It was going all the way down to the chair arm. It's funny now but I almost cried when I saw what happened. Dorothy what an imagination you have. Can I come and hang out with you sometimes when I'm down, I'm sure you will cheer me up with your wit. 
I'm regressing back into my youth, I just have to figure out how I'm going to convience my body to come along with me.
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User: MotherInLaw
Member since: 06-25-2005 Total posts: 1118 
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From: MaryW
Date: 07-01-2007, 12:10 PM (6 of 17)
The very first time I sewed with my MIL she asked if I could sew. I said "sure, a little." I didn't really but she was an excellent seamstress. Anyway, she said good, here, sew a button on Barry's shirt. I sewed the button on to his shirt as well as to the tablecloth. When I stood up I shook out the shirt and everything went flying. 
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542 
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From: DorothyL
Date: 07-01-2007, 12:12 PM (7 of 17)
| Great story, Mary |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: lendube
Date: 07-01-2007, 02:15 PM (8 of 17)
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Funny story, Mary! Funny pictures in my head, Dorothy! Great idea, Andrea. Necessity is the mother of invention. I've sewn something to my finger a few times!OUCH!  That was no fun.  Lennie |
User: lendube
Member since: 08-06-2006 Total posts: 1548 |
From: MotherInLaw
Date: 07-02-2007, 12:37 AM (9 of 17)
Mary my MIL was a good seamstress too I sure wish she was here to teach me a few things. She would have so much fun with all my machines. I often ask my husband what he thought she might say about all my machines.........she loved to sew and would have been in heaven to have the machines I have. Poor darling she didn't live to be 63. My MIL knew I didn't know how to sew. I brought her all my mending when I was dating my husband. She got me when I was 13 so she knew me pretty good. 
I'm regressing back into my youth, I just have to figure out how I'm going to convience my body to come along with me.
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User: MotherInLaw
Member since: 06-25-2005 Total posts: 1118
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From: material_pakrat
Date: 07-05-2007, 12:22 PM (10 of 17)
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I keep a box of beads for when my freind comes over sewing. Our 2 girls have fun making necklaces etc. It's also giving them the basics with the needle. I will have to progress them soon onto felt and a REALLY blunt needle. But they are both learning slowly, and we get a bit of time to sew. It's also amazing how long 2 girls can keep themselves occupied with a tape measure.
Cheers, Soph.
I'm happiest when I am sewing! |
User: material_pakrat
Member since: 12-13-2006 Total posts: 220 |
From: bridesmom
Date: 07-14-2007, 05:03 PM (11 of 17)
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Question for all you moms with little ones and friends with little ones, how old are they before you can sit them down with the beads, or some type of little craft?? Just curious, as I have my granddaughter at the moment, and although she's not old enough yet, I'm thinking this would be a great idea, specially when mom comes over to sew.
Laura
Tickled pink with my Innovis 4000D |
User: bridesmom
Member since: 01-21-2004 Total posts: 2026 |
From: Pudge99
Date: 07-14-2007, 05:25 PM (12 of 17)
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Old enough to sit at the table and grasp something but not put it directly in the mouth. I would say 1 1/2 to 2. I use pipe cleaners and pony beads.
Gina
Pictures of my successes and failures Pfaff 2040 Janome Mylock 134D Singer Futura CE-100 w/ Autopunch Husqvarna Viking 3D Sketch |
User: Pudge99
Member since: 10-30-2001 Total posts: 1375 |
From: Reta J
Date: 07-14-2007, 06:12 PM (13 of 17)
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I taught my kids all kinds of crafts when they were little. Started them by the time they were 2. At 2, they did finger painting, lace cards with cording that had a tip on it so they wouldn't have to have a needle, plastic canvass with plastic cording. As they got older the crafts got more involved. But they liked the stormy days when they couldn't go out and I would dump pom-poms, wiggle eyes, chennile stems, mini roses, etc. on table and they created what they wanted with what was on table. Some were very interesting. I still have a couple of their creations on my fridge, (i glued a little magnet on them for a fridge mag.) They are now 19, 22 and 25. The oldest is now doing crafts with her kids ages 6, 4 and 4. (One 4 year old is hers and one is her fiancee's that lives with them 1/2 time). By the time they were 6 they made book covers using felt and my sewing machine. Yes my son can operate a sewing machine also, he consideres it a power tool like my table saw or drill, and not for sissy's. lol Thats his story and he is sticking to it!!! Sewing Forever
Housework Whenever Reta J |
User: Reta J
Member since: 01-30-2002 Total posts: 136 
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From: pinkroses
Date: 07-14-2007, 07:03 PM (14 of 17)
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That was a clever thing for you to do and nice for the mom. I know she probably appericated it too. I thought that was cute when he sew his project to his pants. I bet he was schocked. Ha pinkroses I know I have a guradian angel watching over me. I am very gratefull. PINKROSES
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User: pinkroses
Member since: 11-30-2005 Total posts: 64 
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From: AndreaSews
Date: 07-14-2007, 09:19 PM (15 of 17)
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At what age? I think it all depends on the child. A friend and I made sewing cards the other day, having them color a coloring page, glue it onto a cereal box panel, and we poked holes around the image. Kaela loved it and could do it without supervision (5 1/2). She'd do that stuff at age 3, but needed a person right at her side to help keep the frustration at bay. Now it seems that she can sit down and just tinker happily. Her friend (boy, age 4 1/2) said he didn't think he could do it. He did it though, but only for a short time and then ran off to play. At age 2, she did large wooden beads (the size of her 2 yr old fists) with shoelaces.
Andrea
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User: AndreaSews
Member since: 02-18-2005 Total posts: 1007
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From: MartySews2
Date: 07-15-2007, 01:25 AM (16 of 17)
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When my DD was less than 2 years old, she had her own set of sewing cards that she threaded with shoelaces and would string wooden spools and large beads into necklaces. She loved playing with them at Grandma's. By age 3, she was doing plastic canvas projects with yarn. When she was 5, she was doing some hand embroidery and cross-stitch. By age 10 she had her own sewing machine (not one of the toy ones) and was sewing her own garments. Of course, this is the same child that I had on roller skates at the skate rink when she was 18 months old and begining to walk. She loved all of it. Now, at 19, she is going to start college next month. My, how time flies ... Marty 
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User: MartySews2
Member since: 05-03-2007 Total posts: 293 
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From: grandma C
Date: 07-16-2007, 10:23 AM (17 of 17)
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User: grandma C
Member since: 01-15-2007 Total posts: 263 |
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