Sewing Lessons

My 12yo son is mechanically inclined. When I sew, he watches with fascination trying to figure out how the machine works. The last couple of months he has been asking for lessons on how to work the sewing machine and to teach him how to sew.........I am not a patient woman and therefore not a very good teacher. I found a Kwiksew pattern for men's pajama bottoms, picked some fabric from my stash (yeah i have a fabric stash too)
Today we got started he learned:

• how to cut out a pattern
• reading pattern instructions
• winding a bobbin
• threading bobbin and machine
• pressing
• seaming
• finishing edges
• SAFETY first
• you cannot watch TV while sewing a seam with a sewing machine.
• Putting in a button hole

We got all the way through to one of the side seams in the leg
He just has three more leg seams, a waistband to turn under and seam finishing then he will be done. After working for three hours though, I thought we both needed some lunch and a break.

His general response while sewing was, "Cool!" "Look at that!"
Now his sisters want a turn at the machine..........must relax first.

Having "sew" much fun

Sunday evening I pulled out the sewing machine to work on a a project for the swim team. The team captains wanted the coaches names embroidered on some deck chairs, for a coaches gift. I do my machine embroidery free hand and the results are not always polished perfect,, but after taking off the cover and practicing a bit I think the chairs turned out well. They are now with the team captains ready for their presentation tonight at the awards banquet. I will try and take a picture tonight.

Between loads of laundry yesterday I was able to fit in a baby quilt. It is actually more crib size. I fell in love with the fabric when I saw it put together at my local quilt shop. After the top was put together a couple of months ago I wasn't as in love with it as I wanted to be.
My dh informed me last week that his office was going to have a baby shower for one of his co-workers. I pulled out the top dug through the stash for batting and a back. " ta-daa" a very cheery, sunny, bright baby quilt.


I most excited because I didn't have to make any trips to the store to finish it. thank heavens for the fabric stash.