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Aunt Norie’s Sewing Room

By Eleanor Mckee - | Nov 17, 2010

“How can I teach my child to sew? Where do I start?”

I’ve been asked many times over the years. That’s a good question. I, of course, always have to look back to my childhood. It seemed everyone learned to sew. Maybe some out of pure boredom, long evenings, chores all done, no homework, no TV, tired of board games, only the radio left to entertain. Why, even some of the boys learned crafts like knitting, weaving, etc. After all, who is more fretful than a child with nothing to do?

There are maybe too many things for a child to do in today’s world. A child is overwhelmed with the world today and what is expected of them, I feel.

However, back to the original question. Maybe start with and when that button pops off and you hear: “Mom, sew this button back on for me, will you?” You might answer: “No, but come here and let me show you how to do it yourself.” 

New trendy little fads that come on the scene, such as those fringed long strips of fleeced fabrics a few years ago, actually taught a lot of the kids to sew. It was just cutting, no actual stitching, but it awakened the desire to create, to make out of fabric, to learn.

If they have an old-fashioned, so-to-speak, grandma who perhaps makes rugs, that ripping apart — the child holding onto one end as grandma rips out the seam — that’s a lot of fun and talk time. That love and patience grandmas are so full of anyway.

“How can I teach?” First you have to find, create or light that spark to make a child really want to sew. One has to have that need or desire, like maybe just to please grandma, just to get started.

Sign them up for 4-H or scouting. They always had sewing projects.

Everyone has to have a need or desire to do or to get anything done.

So bye for now. Hugs and God bless.

— Aunt Norie, P.O. Box 265, Tonganoxie 66086; auntnorie@att.net.