All it took is One Day of my Sewing Greatness, and N drug out her little old fashioned chain-stitch kids’ Singer machine. The excitement was palpable:
“Will you teach me now, Mom? Will you teach me now, Mom? Will you teach me now, Mom? How about now, Mom?”
“N, honey, it’s bedtime.” “It’s too early. I haven’t even brushed my teeth.” “I’m making dinner.” “We’re getting ready to walk out the door.”
Undaunted and (amazingly, still) smiling, she approached The Meanest Mom in the World again today, machine in hand. Finally, the result she was waiting for, “Sure.”
She got to know her machine by sewing stitches into rags.
N's First Sewing Lesson
And sewing, and sewing, and sewing:
A Proverbs 31 Woman in Training
Then I cut her loose and she was on her own. Left unchecked by my creatively-challenged self, she knew no bounds. She made herself an emboidered vest.
N's Vest
The B
Ok, yes, this started out as a T-Shirt rag and first was envisioned as a vest for our dog, Belle. (Which explains the bold letter “B” on the back.) Belle was none-too-pleased with her new wardrobe, so N decided to keep her first creation for herself. I told her the B should stand for Bold and Brave (thinking to myself that I never would have dared to create something with just a rag, some thread, a machine, and an idea).
Her new career as a designer in full swing, N kept creating…
Behold, our cat, Cuddles, modeling her new vest (note the “C” emblazoned on the back):
Cuddles in her new vest
Today at our house, we discovered that kids are amazingly creative and bold when adults can keep their instruction-reading, pattern-addicted, perfectionist-laden hands and minds at a safe distance.
We also discovered that cats have more patience than dogs.
Good Kitty.
It’s definitely love.
Must Be Love
Well, maybe not all cats.
Pearl struggles to escape N's grip and her new outfit.
On that note: I hear the sewing machine running at the other end of the house. Shhh….designer at work. 🙂
6 comments
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September 7, 2008 at 1:03 am
goffcouture
Oh that’s fabulous! What a great start, and a really worthwhile skill for a young lady to learn. 🙂
September 7, 2008 at 1:56 am
shannonsays
Thanks so much for visiting and for your encouragement. I showed my daughter your comment and she’s now grinning from ear to ear! You made her day! 🙂
September 8, 2008 at 3:04 am
Karen
How wonderful! Very creative and very impressive for a first project! I am teaching my 6 yr old son on a vintage Singer 66 I converted to hand crank. He now has his own Singer 99. With my help, he has sewn a blanket for his bear (at age 5!). We also learned how to sew a toy pouch and he helped me design purses for a friend’s daughters. He constantly badgers me to sew. We have a BIG project started. We are making a teepee! I turn him loose without a needle in the machine to get him used to sewing. I have also had him help me thread and clean the machine. I want him to know, not only how to sew, but care for the machine as well. Even my 2 yr old is getting in on the act…only he oils with chocolate milk, but in all the right spots!
In fact, I am having a gathering in October for people powered sewing machine enthusiasts in Northern IL. He insisted on doing a demo of how to make a toy pouch! How cool is that! If you are in the area, e-mail me for details. Maybe the kids can encourage each other. I am sure I have an extra machine she can use while she is here!
September 8, 2008 at 3:18 am
Patty
**How wonderful!!**
Great beginning!!
My daughter started out with a creative desire like this… and she designed and sewed her clothes through high school!! She’s now an artist, and still designs and sews all her own clothes!… just finished the bridesmaid dress she designed and sewed, and will wear in a friend’s wedding!!
September 8, 2008 at 4:39 am
shannonsays
Karen and Patty, Thanks so much for stopping by! What a thrill to have so much encouragement.
Patty, N is at that age where she thrives on cool youthful role models–I can’t wait to share the great report about your daughter with her! (But I will wait–she’s sleeping right now!)
Karen, I will email you to see if we can connect regarding your event. It would be a great encouragement to N (and to me too!).
I am just a freckle ahead of N as far as what she is able to accomplish with the sewing machine, so I may need more help and support from you ladies than she does!
Hope you can come back and visit again! What a treat!
~Shannon
January 1, 2009 at 1:11 am
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