Dear Sewing Friends,

As I’ve told you before I spend hours each week choosing fabrics, trims, and notions so that each of my students can choose the perfect kit to stitch in class. Often many of you find it hard to choose just one kit to make and would love to sew more but there isn’t enough time in class.

I got to thinking, why don’t I make extra kits and put them on my website? You get to sew more projects and it’s easy peasy for your parents (no trip to the fabric store needed).

Whether it’s hand sewing or machine sewing everything would be included and ready for you to stitch. If it’s a project from Pinterest or the Internet I’ll send you to their site for directions. If it’s from a book, I’ll let you know the title to look for on my site. My designs can include both materials and directions. Yes, this will be so much fun!

I could make some kits with a variety of fabric, some zippers, several spools of thread, some buttons and trims and you could create your own creations! I could even put together kits personalized by you! Homeschoolers could use the kits to learn how to sew. Oh, the possibilities are endless!!!!

So, my first kits will be up at the end of this week and we’ll see how it goes. Here’s to another fun year of sewing!

See you soon,

Ms Bobbi

Hello Sewing Friends!

I’ve been really busy planning, organizing, and making kits for my classes this year! Whew, it’s a big job but totally worth it. I want all my sewing friends to have a wonderful and creative year with me stitching great projects and having fun doing it.

Our first lessons together will be a lesson on basic hand and machine sewing. For some of my friends this will be a review but for others it will be the first time they are learning about sewing. We’ll be using 2 books to help us learn these skills and I wanted to show them to you before our first class.

For hand sewing we will be using “The Amazing Stitching Handbook for Kids” by Kristin Nicholas (C&T Publishing $16.95). Lots of pictures and some great projects which we will stitch several from the book as class projects during the coming year.

 

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For machine sewing we will be using the Second Edition of “The Best Sewing Machine Fun for Kids” by Lynda Milligan and Nancy Smith (C&T Publishing $16.95). I have used this book in my classes for the past 12 years. The new edition has been updated with newer pictures and graphics, 37 projects and activities, and a great reference book for my students to learn how to sew.

 

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These books are on my website if you want your own copy of “The Amazing Stitching Handbook for Kids” and/or “The Best of Sewing Machine Fun for Kids” along with lots of other kid friendly Fun Stitch Studio Books. Just go to www.fascinationinfabrics.com. Click on “Shop” and scroll down to either “Children’s Sewing Books” or click the Banner “Cool Stuff for Kids”.

See you soon!

Ms Bobbi

Hello Sewing Friends!

It’s just about time to start sewing classes with Ms Bobbi and I am just sew excited!

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This year I have 3 different classes for you:

“Sewing on the Go” is my class for my students in grades 2 through 6. I’ll have some beginners mixed in with my returning sewers. I have lots of great hand and machine projects for the coming year so be prepared to have lots of sewing fun!

My “Junior Sewing on the Go” is my class for my Kindergarten and First Graders. We’ll have sewing fun mixing a lot of different types of hand sewing projects with a bit of machine sewing here and there to get you interested in the sewing machine.

And finally, my “Sewing Sampler Class” for my 4 and 5 year olds. These students are soooo excited to learn how to sew by hand and they are so proud of everything that they sew. And you never know when a sewing machine lesson might happen in a class or two…We’ll see how goes!

Click Here for Tower Hill Class Schedules and Information

Click Here for Tatnall Class Schedules and Information

If you can’t come to my classes in the extended day programs of Tower Hill or Tatnall, just give me a call and we’ll sign you up for private or semi-private lessons in my home or yours! Everyone can join in the fun of sewing!

Learning to sew and loving it!

Ms Bobbi

My goodness 2015 went fast! It’s January and time to think about Spring Sewing sessions and Summer Sewing Camps. The Camp Fairs are right around the corner…..

This year I am excited to again be at Tower Hill School for most of the summer. I will be offering 4 camps and your sewer can join me for either a half day or a full day. Many of my working parents let me know that they needed a full day of camp so now your wish is my command!

I will also be running 2 sewing camps in August at Tatnall and they will also have the option to join me for a half day or a full day. And, finally I am running 2 camps at Cab Calloway Summer School of the Performing Arts for campers that are in Kindergarten through Second Grade. It’s gonna be a busy summer but sew exciting!!!!

Here’s the link to click to my summer camps. Register early for best selection!

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Summer is often the best way for your kids to experience the joys of sewing. Classes are small and the atmosphere is more laid back than during the busy school year. Kids can choose a variety of sewing disciplines based on their interests. During the week they will be gain confidence in their ability to finish each project and use their creativity to personalize their projects based on their individual personalities. Wherever you may live be sure to investigate your local sewing shops or schools for sewing camps in your area.

Until next time,

Ms Bobbi

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I love the Pattern “Flower Pouches” by Valori Wells. My students loved them too! How can stitching a simple square and turning each corner back and gathering it look so cool and really look like the petals of a flower? It’s amazing and another great container for putting in a special gift for someone you love (actually makes it more special because you’ve made the pouch)!

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Start with the sewing card “Petal Pouches” by Valori Wells. Choose the size of your square from the pattern (there are 3 sizes using a 10” for a small bag, 15” for the medium bag, and 18” for the big bag). You might also like to experiment with the size to fit your gift. You’ll need 2 fabrics and ribbon for your gathers that fit through your casings. Note: I preferred to cut a larger piece of ribbon for the bags to have longer pieces to tie)

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The directions are easy to follow and the finished project so adorable. Make in a variety of prints and solids including some Christmas prints for the holidays! You can find the Sewing Card “Petal Pouches” by Valori Wells on my website in the Marketplace under Cool Stuff for Kids! Happy Stitching… Bobbi

Kids just love making pillows! For some of my students I think the best part of making the pillow is stuffing it! So I thought let’s make some Christmas pillows and ornaments and have fun stitching and stuffing them!

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Because I again wanted super easy projects I cut squares from felt and fleece. These fabrics don’t ravel and seams don’t have to be inside! Cut squares to the desired size. Add any appliques with simple hand stitches. Add embellishments like sequins, buttons, and ribbons. Pin the front of the pillow to the back and be sure to leave a hole in the middle of one of the sides to stuff. You could use the machine to sew the sides if you would prefer, but I love these pillow projects from felt to practice hand sewing. Stuff the pillow lightly and stitch up the opening you left for stuffing. Your pillow is done! If you are making an ornament, just slip in a piece of folded ribbon at the top of the ornament and stitch all 3 layers at once (top felt, ribbon in between, and bottom felt).

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For more ideas and creative stitches for your projects check out “The Amazing Stitching Handbook for Kids” by Kristin Nicholas available on my website under Fun Stitch Studio Books by C&T Publishing. Until next time… Bobbi

Now that Thanksgiving has come and gone, it’s time for my young students to spend the next few weeks leading up to Christmas and Hanukkah making gifts for family and friends. I decided to share a few of these on my blog.   The Fleece Pouch is a project that I use in all my beginning classes. It is simple enough for my kindergarten crowd and all the kids get to practice a straight stitch, running stitch, and sewing on a button. As an extra I add on an applique’ when time permits. The kids love this little cutie!  

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  The pouch was inspired by the Sewing Card from Valori Wells called “Little Wallets”. The pattern was a little too hard for my younger kids so I traced the shape of the pouch and then folded the bottom of the pouch back up on itself about 3 and ¾” and continued to trace the pouch. I now had a simple pattern to cut out for the kids.   While most of the pouches have been from fleece I thought that for Christmas these would be perfect fashioned from Christmas colored felt. I also gathered some embellishments for my pouch like sequins, Christmas buttons, floss, and ribbon.   The first step was cutting out my pouch. Next I decided on an applique for my flap. I pinned the holly in place, stitched around the leaves, and then added beads for holly berries and a ribbon. (You could add any embellishments of your choice). Next I added my button about 2” down from the top and centered in the middle of the pouch.   After sewing on the button I folded up bottom of the pouch about 3 and ¾” and pinned it in place. Using an overcast stitch I sewed each side of the pouch. I added a running stitch to the edges of the flap and finally slit the fabric where the button will go through to close the pouch. Now I could add a gift card or gift, button the flap, and one gift is finished and ready for giving!   Look for the sewing card “Little Wallets” by Valori Wells in my marketplace in the Sew Kool for Kids Shop!   Happy Holidays…

Teaching your young child to hand sew can really be a fun and rewarding experience. Gather some simple supplies and you are ready to get started! Most of the supplies that you’ll need can be purchased at a Michael’s Craft Stores or Joann Fabric Stores.

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You will need:

Needle with a large eye (I use a Chenille Size 18 which can be gripped by little fingers)

Yarn or floss (use all 6 strands together)

Felt

Plastic canvas

Heavier paper such as poster board

Paper plates with holes punched around the edges, or a styrofoam plate used for food (I get Persian Cucumbers from Trader Joe’s)

Scotch tape to secure the yarn if you are using paper plates or styrofoam

Scissors Paper Punch if using a paper plate or paper

Optional: Pony beads or other large beads for the needle

Begin the sewing lesson by showing your young sewer the needle that you will use for stitching. Be sure to show them the point of the needle and tell them that it is sharp so it can pierce the fabric. If they want, let them feel the point although most are curious and will do this on their own! Show them the eye of the needle and tell them that this is where the thread is added so we can stitch. Thread the needle while they are watching and show them how the thread is knotted. If your child is interested in trying to thread the needle and make the knot let them try. Otherwise, show them how it’s done and wait until your child has stitched for awhile. If you are using poster board or a paper plate, take your hole punch and make holes around the outside rim of the plate or shape. Before you begin to stitch show them how to hold the yarn or floss at the base of the eye while stitching so that the yarn does not pull out after each stitch.

Running stitch:

My students, young and old, begin their stitching journey with learning the running stitch. This basic stitch is made by bringing the needle up from the back or underside of the fabric, moving over about a quarter to half an inch and sending the needle back down to the underside of the fabric. The stitches can be all even or can vary in length depending on what your child is using to practice stitching (styrofoam, felt etc.) Show your child how to hold the eye of the needle and the thread each time they begin to stitch. Keeping the yarn or the floss in the eye of the needle is by far the hardest part of the lesson. Have your child bring the needle from the underside or back of the fabric. Pull the yarn or floss all the way up to the front. Now, reinsert the needle back down into the fabric to the underside and pull all the thread through again. One stitch completed! Make rows of running stitches like railroad tracks back and forth until you have filled your empty space or stitched around the edges of your paper plate. At the end of each row either knot the yarn or cut and tape the yarn to the backside of your work. Change colors for each line of stitching or try making big or little stitches. Let your child be creative! Optional: When your sewer brings the needle to the right side of the felt, plate, or needlepoint canvas, have them add a pony bead or beads before they insert the needle back down into the fabric to the underside. Have fun and let them be free to be creative!

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Overcast or Whip Stitch:

Once your sewer has somewhat mastered the running stitch let them move on to the overcast or whip stitch. Have them bring the needle up through the underside about a quarter to a half inch in from the edge of the plate or fabric. Now, instead of going back down to the underside from the front, take the needle over the edge and go back to the underside and bring the needle back up through the fabric or other medium to the front about a quarter to a half inch from the first stitch. Remember your stitches will be going over the edge each time instead of being stitched in an up and down motion. Be patient as your sewer tries to master these two basic stitches. Often my students will start with a running stitch and end up stitching several overcast stitches. It’s at this point where I remind them that they are new to sewing and it will take time to master a new skill. I take the misguided stitches out and encourage them to continue reminding them that sewing is a “learned skill” and “practice makes perfect!”

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Have fun stitching with your children.

Until next time……

Ms. Bobbi