sewing

 

From st misc october 09 pumpkins etc

 

  We often have the kids do “real” sewing at camp.  Today was a little different, we did a group project.  With real “pointy” needles the kids sewed a face for our scarecrow, stuffed a shirt, coveralls then put everything together to create the body then plopped the head on top.  During the process some kids were stuffing, some were sewing the face and at one point everyone was sewing colorful patches on the scarecrow’s shirt and coveralls.  The group aspect made this really fun.  There were a few pokes with the needles but no tears and everyone learned what sharp means.

 

From scarecrow collage

 

From chickens at camp

We’ve had a chicken inspired time at camp. In anticipation of our neighborhood chickens coming for a visit we had a few projects for grown ups and for the kids.  The moms cut out felt chickens and spent a few minutes each week sewing as I “worked” with the kids.  We worked in the garden digging compost and  looking for worms.  We planted Swiss chard seeds and painted cardboard chickens .  While the kids and I explored and created the moms chatted and stitched.  One mom said her family would be impressed that she “made” something.  I think even if you’re not particularly crafty or creative just having a little time to “play” with creative materials can be relaxing and inspiring for adults.  We topped off our chicken series with a visit from our neighborhood hens, Rosalita and Mamacita.  Everyone had a chance to hand feed these gentle birds and all the moms who started a felt chicken, finished it!!!   

 

 

From st misc + worms

 

I’m happily doing some more nanny/doula “work”.  The family I’m helping has a charming and bright 3 1/2 year old girl and a sweet new 3-4month old baby boy.  I brought our prayer flag project to do with Emma.  We put a little spin on the project though.  Instead of using koolaide to dye the flags we used beet juice.  The beet juice was great because it gave Emma an opportunity to taste fresh cooked beets.  I boiled, peeled and sliced the beets then had Emma use a small cookie cutter to cut the beets into Teddy bear shapes.  That was all well and good, she cut the beets and arranged the little beet bears on the plate but was quite sure she didn’t want to eat them……we’ll try again another time!  The other thing that was different about the project was that Emma stitched the flags on the cord.  At camp we stapled the flags on but with plenty of time Emma stitched the flags herself.  The way we did the sewing was I poked the needle in and she pulled it through until she got the hang of it and then did it all herself.  I helped by holding the work for her. 

I explained to Emma that the idea was that when you hang your flags and the wind catches them it takes good wishes all ’round the world.  She asked if good wishes would go to her Uncle Jeff and I said yes…so sweet!

 

From st button flowers, scarf hunt

Todays main project was a sewing project for the kids and moms to work on together.  I got the idea for this project online at Chasing Cheerios. I got everything set up in advance by using an iron- on fusible webbing to attach green gingham stems and floral leaves to the blue and white background.  The children chose their buttons and with the help of their grown up sewed them onto the background.  My suggestion was that the moms start by pushing the needle from the bottom up through the button.  The kids pulled the needle and thread through then poked it back down through the button.  Mom and child worked together to sew the buttons on.  Once the buttons were sewn on the kids chose felt and fabric to create their flowers.  Moms cut a slit in each fabric piece so they could practice buttoning while they create their flowers.  This was a sweet project because it wasn’t too much for the kids, it caused them to work closely with their parent and the moms were free to add their own personal touch.  I had intended to mount the finished piece on a piece of foam core board so the kids could take their button flower board with them and “play” with it as they practice their buttoning.  One of the moms had the idea of making the piece into a pillow.  The idea was a hit so most everyone took their project home to complete.

 
 

 

 

 

From Drop Box

I made these little cotton hankies for the kids who are coming to my last FUN School class before Christmas.  I’m not sure if they’re hankies (wipe your nose) or napkins (wipe your mouth).  Either way I think they’re pretty cute and I hope they’ll be used and reused over and over again.

How to:  cut a 12″ square of cotton fabric, press a double 1/4″ hem, stitch the hem, embroider the initial (monogram)

From Collages

We took a recipe for cloverleaf rolls and made Snowmen “people” rolls.  Here’s the recipe for individual portions:

Cloverleaf Rolls makes 2 rolls

1/2 tsp dry yeast

1/2 TBL warm water

1/2 tsp veggie oil

2 TBL butter milk

3TBL unbleach flour

beat vigorously

1/2 tsp sugar mix

(Sugar Mix : 1TBL sugar, 1/4 tsp salt ,1/8 tsp baking powder, 1/8 tsp baking soda)

2TBL + 1tsp whole wheat flour

stir vigorously

Knead dough until smooth

Form 6 balls, place 3balls each buttered muffin tin.  Cover, rise 20minutes, bake 400 7minutes

 

From Drop Box

 The kids stitched their felt starts with some help from their moms.  Some of the moms made their own stars……sometimes we want to do our own thing!