My little sister is getting a sewing machine for her 10th birthday in a couple weeks (she has been begging for months). She has never sewn on a machine before and I have very limited experience, so I'm going to also be learning how as I help teach her.
Do you have any suggestions on what should be her first "learning" project? Something very very simple.
I'd like to include enough fabric with the machine when she opens it for at least a couple projects to get her started, and then of course a gift card to JoAnn's or something so she can pick out some of her own fabrics.
Please tell me how much fabric I would need with your project idea! :)
Thanks for any help!!
2007-09-20 03:37:30 · 5 answers · asked by Melissa M 2 in Games & Recreation ➔ Hobbies & Crafts
I would start out with making a pillow. These are very simple and you can practically make your own pattern.
All you need to do for the pillow is have two square pieces of fabric as big as you want the pillow to be plus 1/4 inch on each side for sewing. Sew the opposite sides (or wrong sides) of the fabric together leaving a hole big enough to turn the thing right-side-out. Then stuff it with stuffing and hand sew up the hole.
I would make a pillow that is 12 inches long and wide. So, you will need fabric that is 12 1/2 inches wide and 25 inches long. Cut that into two pieces and you should have two pieces that are 12 1/2 inches long and wide. Use a cotton fabric and wash, dry, and iron before sewing.
2007-09-20 05:02:41 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Looking through the pattern books in the fabric store is something you will enjoy doing together. It's a good way to daydream and exercise your imagination. Patterns are labelled with the difficulty, so make sure you pay attention to that. If you want to give material with the machine, pick up a pattern for a skirt or something else that's simple, and then buy the amount on the back of the pattern.
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2007-09-20 04:25:47 · answer #2 · answered by Kacky 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Another easy idea is to make a sleep mask. These make great gifts. It will give her practice turning the fabric as the machine is sewing to make curved stitching lines. A link to the project instructions, as well as a pattern, appears below.
2007-09-20 05:20:26 · answer #3 · answered by Karen H 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You sound like a cool sister. You can get any number of books on sewing. Look for one that is written for young people as an extra gift or suggest it to another family member, check out this link for simple projects. My first sewing experience was making a gathered apron for home ec class in 1958!
2007-09-20 06:24:26 · answer #4 · answered by Donna 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i would give her a pattern - like one of these - http://www.simplicity.com/index.cfm?all=Y&cat=5&type=23&sec=63&browTypeId=&startrow=1
http://www.simplicity.com/dv1_v4.cfm?design=3755
the instructions are very clear (mostly - if your mom or you know how to sew, it would be a good start) - and the back of the pattern tells you how much fabric you need -
what i would do - go to the fabric store, tell the ladies at the cutting counter that you are looking for a pattern for your sister's 1st sewing project (and need the fabric too) - they will help you get the fabric, thread, and pattern (they will show you the pattern books and help you out)
good luck!
2007-09-20 04:04:32 · answer #5 · answered by marajadejen 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋