Table Of Content21 Sewing Projects Kids Will Love to Make
Amie Petronis Plumley & Andria Lisle
photography by Justin Fox Burks
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Storey Publishing
The mission of Storey Publishing is to serve our customers by
publishing practical information that encourages
personal independence in harmony with the environment.
Edited by Deborah Balmuth and Cindy A. Littlefield
Art direction and book design by Jessica Armstrong
Text production by Liseann Karandisecky
Photography by © Justin Fox Burks
Pattern diagrams by Missy Shepler
Indexed by Catherine Goddard
© 2010 by Andria Lisle and Amie Petronis Plumley
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Storey Publishing
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Printed in China by Dai Nippon Printing
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Lisle, Andria.
Sewing school / by Andria Lisle and Amie Petronis
Plumley ; photography by Justin Fox Burks.
p. cm.
Includes index.
ISBN 978-1-60342-578-0 (paper w/concealed wire-o and flaps : alk. paper)
1. Sewing—Juvenile literature. I. Plumley, Amie Petronis. II. Title.
TT705.L56 2010
646.2—dc22
2010022154
Dedicated to our mothers, Suzanne, Betty, and Debby,
who taught us our love of sewing firsthand.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Without the talent and enthusiasm of We are deeply grateful to the following Katie Donald and Libby Shannon, who
the Sewing School campers at Memphis’ people: Kevin Barré, who made us look allowed us to test patterns and offered a
Grace-St. Luke’s Episcopal School, this good in our author photos; Millett Vance multitude of ideas during Sewing Club.
book would not have been possible. and Gene Rossetti at Flashback; Dr. We’d also like to thank Deborah
These campers — and all of the kids who Karnes and the staff at Central Animal Balmuth and Alethea Morrison and
sewed, laughed, and shared their ideas Hospital; Lickety Split ice cream man Joe everyone else at Storey Publishing for
with us — gave this book life. Patty; and Bill York, who happily provided believing in us and helping guide our
Most of all, we thank our own families locations and props. Headmaster Tom vision to fruition; the readers of our
(Amy Lawrence, Cassius Lisle, and Eric, Beazley, the administration, staff, Sewing School blog, who share our
Phoebe, and Frank Plumley) for their families, and students at Grace-St. passion for sewing with kids; and Robert
love and patience, especially during the Luke’s Episcopal School for the use Gordon, Tim Duggan, and Doug Halijan
months that we talked about Sewing of their campus and for their support for offering their expert advice as we
School nonstop! and wonderful inspiration. Especially navigated our publishing contract.
CONTENTS
A Note to You from the Authors ........................................... 6
ABOUT THIS BOOK: An Introduction for Adults............................... 7
WELCOME TO SEWING SCHOOL!
LESSON ONE: How to Use This Book........................................ 13
LESSON TWO: In Your Sewing Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
LESSON THREE: Finding Out about Fabric .................................. 16
LESSON FOUR: Sewing School Rules........................................ 19
LESSON FIVE: Ready, Set, Thread ......................................... 20
LESSON SIX: Get Your Stitch On............................................ 24
LESSON SEVEN: Patterns Down Pat........................................ 30
LESSON EIGHT: Button Up.................................................. 31
LESSON NINE: Bring Your Project to Life .................................. 33
LESSON TEN: Stuff It!..................................................... 36
LESSON ELEVEN: Making Casings........................................... 37
LESSON TWELVE: Pop Quiz ................................................ 38
HUG
So Soft Pillow ............................................................ 47
Stuffies ................................................................. 49
Your Little Friend........................................................ 53
Take-It-with-You Blanket ................................................ 55
HOLD IT!
Hold-My-Stuff Bag ...................................................... 65
Wonder Wallet........................................................... 67
Draw-It-Up Tote......................................................... 70
Just-Right Pouch......................................................... 74
Get-to-Work Apron ...................................................... 79
GIVE
Cute Coasters........................................................... 86
Quiet Mouse ............................................................ 88
Eye-See-You Case ....................................................... 90
Too-Hot Holder.......................................................... 92
WEAR
Sweet Dreams Mask ..................................................... 98
Hat Attack!.............................................................. 101
Superhero Cuff......................................................... 103
My Doll’s Very Own Skirt................................................. 107
My Very Own Skirt....................................................... 110
My Very Own Apron ..................................................... 116
RECYCLE & REPAIR
Save-My-T-Shirt Pillow ................................................. 120
Scrappy Art Pin.......................................................... 123
Felt Patch ............................................................... 126
Iron-On Patch........................................................... 128
Where Oh Where Is My Button?......................................... 129
My Hem Is Falling! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Repair That Rip......................................................... 130
Close Those Holes....................................................... 131
VET CLINIC
Holey Moley! ............................................................ 134
Have You Seen My Leg?.................................................. 135
I Can’t See!............................................................. 136
LOOK IT UP: Sewing School Dictionary................................... 138
FIND IT YOURSELF: Sewing School Resource Guide ........................ 141
Index....................................................................143
A NOTE TO YOU FROM THE AUTHORS
Hi! We’re so glad you’re excited about Sewing School. In our spare time, we like to teach children how to
When we were young like you, we couldn’t wait to learn sew. Every summer, we hold a Sewing School day camp
how to sew and make things all by ourselves. at Amie’s school. These campers, ages 5 to 13, tested all
When Amie was a girl, she was lucky because her of the projects in Sewing School. They also modeled for
mom taught her how to sew. Amie especially liked to our friend Justin, who took the photos in this book.
make her own outfits. She learned how to sew buttons We love sewing with kids. You already know that it’s
and add patches to vintage clothes that she bought at easy to sew — you just want to learn how to use a needle
the thrift store. One day, Amie wore a skirt she made by and thread so you can create stuffed animals, make pres-
wrapping a piece of fabric around herself and fastening it ents for your families, and play veterinarian by mending
with safety pins! your own toys. The patterns in this book are very basic,
Andria’s mom also sewed. At Christmas, Andria could because we know that you have the imagination to
always find homemade stuffed animals and dolls under “make it yours” as you go.
the tree. Every spring, she would help pick out a pat- Writing this book was very important to both of us
tern for the dress her mom would magically whip up by because we want kids everywhere to be able to learn
the time the Easter Bunny came around. After Andria how to sew. Now, you don’t have to attend Amie’s school,
learned how to hand-sew using her mother’s scraps, she or wait until next summer rolls around to enroll in our
started making blankets and pillows for her teddy bears. camp. You can learn how to sew whenever you want,
Now that we’re all grown up, we sew even more. After right inside your own home.
college, Amie started sewing again because she couldn’t We hope that you will love sewing as much as we do.
find cute clothes. Today, she sews skirts for herself; paja- And we hope that someday — maybe soon or perhaps
mas for her husband, Eric; clothes for her kids, Phoebe later on — you’ll help teach other kids how to sew, too!
and Frank; and toys for her two cats. Amie also teaches
kindergarten and runs an after-school sewing club for
her students.
Andria loves to sew new pillows for her home and
blankets for her dog, Cassius. Last Christmas, she prac-
ticed sewing with her niece, Maclin. Andria works at an
art museum and often looks for unusual fabrics from
around the world.
Amie Petronis Plumley & Andria Lisle
6
ABOUT THIS BOOK
An Introduction for Adults
Sewing School inspires and teaches children how to sew, using step-by-step directions, simple
language, and child-created examples of contemporary sewing projects suited for a modern home.
Once kids learn a few basic skills, holding the fabric pieces taut and then make the needle go. Demonstrate
they’ll be eager to try their hand at lifting them up to chest level so kids how to raise and lower the presser
all kinds of sewing projects. This can see both sides of the fabrics as they foot and how to gently guide the
book builds on prior knowledge guide the needle and thread. We’ve fabric while you remain in control.
using “step-up projects” that employ done this successfully with four-year- You’ll find more basic sewing
developmental cues established by olds who desperately want to sew like machine guidelines in Lesson Six:
the Montessori and Waldorf schools. their parents or older siblings. Get Your Stitch On (see page 24).
For each project, we’ve included A Almost all of the projects in this If you’re looking for a kid-friendly
Note for Grown-Ups to identify steps book are hand sewn. Still, children are sewing machine, we recommend
that require adult assistance. The often fascinated by sewing machines. buying a basic adult model rather than
directions themselves are written at a If this is the case with your child, try a toy. We like the sturdy and practical
second-grade comprehension level, moving the pedal to a tabletop so he Janome Sew Mini Sewing Machine
with projects designed for sewers or she can press it with one hand to (see Resource Guide, page 141).
ages five and up.
Sewing School isn’t as rigorous
as a home-economics class. During
our hands-on sewing sessions with
younger children, we’ve discovered
that, for the most part, young sewers
don’t care about pressed seams
and neat hems. So we decided to
focus on easy, fun projects that don’t
require extra work. That said, most
intermediate sewers will naturally take
these projects to the next level by
initiating additional steps on their own.
For kids who aren’t quite ready
to handle a needle and craft thread,
start out by showing them how to lace
sewing cards. Or help them sew an easy
shape (try the So Soft Pillow on page
47 or the Cute Coasters on page 86) by
7
Getting Started Encourage Creativity
form of outgrown clothing and cast-
Regardless of your own ability, your off sheets and pillowcases. Kids will Whether on purpose or by accident,
child can sew. All you need to do probably need help initially threading kids often go off on a tangent during
is provide a few inexpensive tools, needles and making knots, but other the crafting process. When sewing,
such as kid-friendly needles and than that, they can sew with minimal encourage your kids to add their own
thread and a pair of scissors. Refer supervision. personal touches if they like. We’ve
to the Resource Guide (see page 141) As children learn to sew, they included a list of ideas entitled Make
for a full list of our tried-and-true improve their fine motor skills It Yours for each of the projects in
recommendations. and learn how to focus and follow this book. By learning that they can
Of course, you’ll need fabric, too. directions. In fact, during our summer complete a project in different ways,
While you can easily purchase fabric camp sessions, we’ve been astonished kids will gain more confidence in their
at retail stores and online, you can to discover that children who were abilities and take their imaginations to
also find it around the house in the previously bouncing off the walls were new levels.
more than willing to sit down in a quiet One way to promote creativity is
place so they could focus on their to encourage young sewers to use
projects. recycled materials. See what your kids
Before your child starts sewing, can make from a discarded pillowcase
please discuss sewing safety (see or the buttons cut off a too-small
Lesson Four: Sewing School Rules on shirt. Ask them to help with mending,
page 19) with your young sewer, and or let them update their old clothes
invest in the tools we recommend in with fabric embellishments.
Lesson Two: In Your Sewing Kit (see Finally, remind young sewers of
page 14), which are sized just right for this rule for sewing: nothing has to
kids’ hands. Also be sure to stress the be perfect. Flaws are more than okay,
importance of asking for adult help they’re endearing. Imperfections
when needed. And provide a quiet give each project a unique flair that
place to sit and sew, as well as a few cannot be found in mass-produced
plastic bags with zipper-type closures merchandise. It’s also important to
to store works in progress. remember that sewing projects don’t
Once they start sewing, some have to be finished in one sitting. The
children will repeatedly ask most important thing is just to have fun!
midproject, “What’s next?” Refer your
sewer back to the book, which has
detailed written and photographed
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Thread (see page 20) to help teach
self-sufficiency.
8 AN INTRODUCTION FOR ADULTS
Sewing with a Group
When we initially decided to teach
Sewing School as a summer day
camp activity, our friends thought we
were crazy. We wondered, too, as we
faced the roomful of 30-plus first- to
fifth-grade students, many of whom
had never sewn a single stitch. Yes, it
was daunting — but we learned that
sewing can be a fun group activity,
viable for classrooms, birthday
parties, or after-school sessions.
As with any successful project,
you need to plan ahead. Make sure
you have the right supplies and tools
on hand. Prethread some needles.
You’ll need to provide flat surfaces
for cutting and sewing, too. During
summer camp, most of our kids sewed
at group tables, while a few others
preferred to flop on a beanbag or into
a comfortable chair.
Don’t feel dismayed if some kids Remember, it’s okay if they go off track.
* Put up detailed step-by-
don’t maintain interest in the chosen Sewing is about what they want to step project directions on
project. Some might be perfectly make, a celebration of their creativity. the chalkboard or bulletin
happy draping themselves, toga style, Oftentimes, the results are amazing. board, and have a sample of
with pieces of fabric, while others Here are some tips for staying the final project on hand.
will race to the finish with oversized organized when sewing with a group.
* Make multiple copies of the
stitches. We’ve taught kids who, once
* Set up different stations around pattern using poster board and
they made their first So Soft Pillow the room: one area for needles a marker. Keep them near the
(see page 47), stayed on that trajectory and thread, another area for fabric, project directions, preferably
for the full week, making dozens of and yet another for stuffing. Place at the front of the room.
pillows in every color and size. We’ve bowls of notions on each table.
seen young sewers who start out with * Offer simpler activities for
a basic pattern like the Hold-My-Stuff * Stock plastic bags with nonsewers, if possible. You
zipper-type closures in a big might provide weaving tools
Bag (see page 65), then deviate from bin. Kids can use them to store and supplies, for example, or
our design to add their own pockets, their works in progress. a bowl of beads to string.
flaps, and handles. We’ve also had
kids make completely adorable Your * Discuss sewing safety, at * Have blank paper and
the beginning of each day. drawing materials available
Little Friend dolls (see page 53) and
(See Lesson Four: Sewing so kids can create their own
then render them unrecognizable
School Rules on page 19.) patterns and sketch ideas.
with fabric markers and crayons.
AN INTRODUCTION FOR ADULTS 9
