Valentine’s Day has come and gone. Completion of projects in all my classes have been slow and steady. I really stress to my kids that they are right where they are supposed to be in terms of their progress with the projects. Sewing is a learned skill and each sewer will progress at their own pace. Learning to sew takes time, patience and lots of practice. The payoff for my young sewers are practical skills that they will have for a lifetime! Continuing our quest to master curves in both our hand and machine sewing let’s talk about the projects…

My younger kids will be finishing up projects from the past few weeks before they start any new projects. When they catch up they will be stitching a shamrock pin looking onward to St Paddy’s Day.

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We’ll be learning how to sew sequins on their pins as an embellishment. Then we’ll stitch them almost closed, add some stuffing, and then sew them up and add a pin closure to the back. They’ll have the luck of the Irish in March as they proudly wear their shamrock pins and tell everyone that they made them!

My older kids will be working on sewing heart pillows. More experience sewers will stitch a heart that has a 2-piece curved front. This is almost like sewing a dart that give a flat piece of fabric some curves and depth. We’ll be learning how to stitch these curves so that they will turn easily. My beginner kids will be stitching hearts made from fleece. We’ll be fringing these pillows which really makes them cute! Add a bow and I bet they’ll want to make more than one! Check out Ms. Bobbi’s Kits on my website for more information.

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Until next time, Ms. Bobbi

Hope everyone had a wonderful and happy Valentine’s Day! This week we will be continuing to stitch projects with a Valentine theme. Let’s talk about the projects…

By now my younger kids are getting the knack of basic stitches. We will be finishing our bracelets and starting some bookmarks. Short simple projects give them able time to practice basic hand sewing skills. I encourage the younger kids to take their time and keep on trying to master basic hand sewing skills. Easily frustrated at times, they need to understand that sewing is a learned skill that takes time to master. It’s not how many projects they finish but do they understand what they are doing? Beginning something is always a challenge.

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My older kids will be working on embellishment skills as they complete their Embellished Heart. We are starting to learn embellishment techniques that the kids can use to personalize all their projects. We’ll practice the techniques on a doodle cloth (a piece of felt) and then the kids will design a heart for a special person on Valentine’s Day.

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Until next time, Ms. Bobbi

Hello Friends!

The end of January is here and I’m finally starting sewing classes with my students!  I am thrilled to be back so let the sewing begin!

This week is usually geared toward a review of basic sewing skills.  The review also helps new students get started on their sewing journey.

For the next 3 weeks our projects will have a Valentine theme.  Hearts are perfect for teaching how to sew curves by hand or machine.  Decorating our hearts teaches elementary beading and sewing on sequins.  My older classes will be decorating their hearts on the machine to learn techniques like couching or attaching lace.  Everyone will love stitching projects to give that special person for Valentines Day or just for themselves!  Just go to my website if you need more kits to stitch for gifts!

This week it’s Valentine Handwarmers.  Hearts are filled with rice.  Place them in the microwave for 20-30 seconds and drop them in a coat pocket or between the covers to warm up those fingers and/or toes! Enjoy!!

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