by Sherri Sylvester | May 30, 2013
Father’s Day is coming up soon, so I though I would share a little project that my kids made for Daddy. (Oh, and I helped!)
I have been making pajama pants and shorts for my husband since we got married. I have a great Simplicity pattern that I have edited over the years to create the perfect shorts. So, I figured he would appreciate a pair that the kids helped make. I love finding things my kids can make and give as gifts. I think the process of being involved in creating something that they can give away is so valuable. Taking the time out of your day to create is an amazing thing.
I’m always interested in the fabric choices of my children and love to let them go in the fabric store to see what they like for their own projects. (Even when they end up with character fabrics! Ack!) My oldest picked this blue (though she calls it purple – Daddy’s favorite colour) cotton fabric. Then we aimed for the thread – matching purple of course!
Once at home, I admit, I did most of the work. I find that the kids tend to lose interest when things get tedious – or past 10 or so minutes of actual machine time. The youngest lasts a bit longer because she sits on my lap and pulls pins and presses the back-stitch button when I need her to. The oldest does like to run the camera though, and spent a lot of time setting up this shot of her toys with a “mountain” in the background.
Now, when their Daddy wears these pj’s my kids are proud that they helped to make them, it’s so fun to see! If you have time over the next 2 1/2 weeks, get your kids together and make something for their Daddy. Don’t make it fancy – just make it! Have fun!
by Sherri Sylvester | Apr 11, 2013
Before we get started, just to make sure you know – tomorrow (Friday, April 12th at midnight) is the last day for the giveaway! Don’t miss out on your chance to win the 7 fat quarters Double Decker Fabric is giving away! Click here to sign up.
My oldest daughter has become more interested in sewing lately, hooray! So the other day we decided to do some sewing. (Yes, the kids were still in their pajamas and fancy dress up skirts!)
I started out with some “awesome” Dora fabric that I accidentally promised myself into buying last Christmas. I was attempting to bribe my kids into being excited to stay in the fabric section. Unfortunately it backfired when they saw the licensed character fabrics. I try to stay away from them, they usually feel a bit tacky – but in this case, a promise is a promise and a 1/2 yard came home with us “to make something” with.
LOVE that she needs a stool to reach the foot pedal!
I think I have finally found a good use for it. The kids can stitch whatever they’d like with it and I won’t feel bad if it gets ruined! Thankfully though the sewing went really well.
I started my oldest out with a square piece of fabric and drew some straight lines on it with a water soluble marker. She practiced stitching down the lines. After that I figured we could fold it in half and make a little pillow for her Teddy. So she got to practice back stitching and pivoting at the corners.
Looking at her while she was sewing on “Mommy’s machine” was amazing! And the look of concentration and pride in the fact that she was doing it all by herself! And she really was, it was fun to see how well she figured it out.
My youngest got involved too, we made a pillow “together”. She sat on my lap and held the back stitching button down when I needed her to. She also got to fill the pillow which was a big hit. My oldest also loved using the spray bottle to make the water soluble pen lines disappear.
I think Teddy is pretty happy with his new pillow too! Apparently the next project in line is a pair of red pants for Teddy – but not just any red pants, they need to have heart knee pads… has she seen this on Made by Rae? or did she come up with it herself?!
