So, I can Sew? Preschool sewing project

Over the past few weeks we have been doing  a sewing unit with my 4 and 5 year olds.  They were so excited about the unit.  There was quite a bit of talk about what they could make and for whom.  There was a lot of talk about who can sew and how it is done.  When we first started, they were all pretty sure that it was too hard for them or that they could just make anything right away.

We started slow with practice cards and shoe laces.  Then we progressed to making our own sewing cards, punching holes, making needles out of pipe cleaners, and sewing the card they made them selves.

 

you can see one home-made needle (orange) hanging down from the multiple-legged dog sewing card.  We made them by twisting a pipe cleaner into a needle shape, being careful to leave a hole for an eye to thread the yarn.  This  project was a huge success boosting the children's confidence in their own abilities to do something they thought was too hard at first.

Our next project was a sewing bag or project bag.  I brought in a ton of fabric a lady had given me when she chose not to sew any longer.  Much of the fabric was pretty groovy!  The kids chose the fabric they wanted, cut it to size using a pattern, and helped me sew it with the machine.  

 

cutting the pattern

Sewing the bag

"Hey!  I made this my own self!"  with a giant smile.

  

These were a few of the finished projects.  The child got to push the petal as I directed the fabric and told the child when to stop.  I only almost had my fingers sewn through 3 times. One friend said, " Let's try this baby out!"  They were so excited about this project too.  My goal was to have them work on some hand sewing projects, but I needed somewhere for them to keep works in progress.  So I came up with the  project bag.  They are all the size of a piece of construction paper (our pattern), and have a pocket on the front for needles and thread.  They open and close with a draw string ribbon.  

Our next project was only attempted by a few brave kiddos.  Although many were interested in the tools, not as many were interested in committing the time on the project.  I brought in broadcloth and sewing hoops for some more hand work.  I told the friends they could draw a picture and then use yarn to sew the picture by following the lines.  For this project I brought out real needles (crewel work needles with blunt tips and big eyes) in addition to the plastic needles we had been using.  They were quite impressed to be "REAAAALLY SEWING NOW MISS JENNY"  I write in all caps here because the volume went up with the level of satisfaction in the needles and the project.

There were several aliens and robots in the mix as well as a few hearts.  Lots of good work here.

Our biggest project (and my favorite) was a group project.  We made a tapestry from a piece of burlap fabric stapled to a wooden frame. The whole class really got into this project by learning to thread their own needle, selecting a color of yarn, and making all kinds of stitches.  We had to try hard to remember to put the knot in the back and come up through the back and down through the front instead of looping around the sides.  As the days of working on the tapestry progressed, they began to make stitches that crossed over previous stitches and tied them down.  They began to think of stitch placement and were going for a look with the color and size of yarn.  I introduced buttons and beads to the tapestry on the last days.  It is a true work of art and I love it.  They worked really hard on it and really made a lot of comments telling me how proud they were of the work they accomplished.

 

 

hard at work

We will be keeping our sewing stuff out as a center for the rest of the year and I know there are a few friends in class who will visit the sewing station time after time.  I am so happy we got to do this project. I loved it and the whole class really showed high levels of interest  for our whole 2 weeks.  Much of the amazing imspiration for my unit came from the Sewing School blog.  She has wonderful tips and lots of fun pictures of real kids doing real projects.  I think she even has a book coming out soon.  I am so grateful for all the wonderful blogs out there made by such creative people.  I am inspired daily. 

Snow Cute

The snow is finally melting around here.  I was looking outside today and I had forgotten how wide our sidewalks really are.  Since Christmas we have had a snow shovel sized walkway only.  But now we can walk on the muddy sidewalks again.  A few days ago Lylah and our babysitter built a snowman and decorated him with all of the goodies Lylah picked up on their walk.  He has "pokey balls" for hair, which I think are from the sweetgum tree.  I love the way it looked!  Lylah was very proud of it.  She showed me as soon as I came home from work.  We had done a project at school spraying the snow with colored water and it was a big hit.  I brought the bottles home for Lylah to give it another go.
Here is a little video of Lylah spraying her snowman.



You may not be able to hear her say it, but when she sprays the snowman blue she says, "Now Blue, Mama, Now Blue Mouth...perfect."  Everything is perfect.  It's so funny. I hear myself saying things are perfect all the time.  Hmm doesn't Martha say "perfect" an awful lot too?  Maybe we are becoming one.  *snapping my fingers and coming back to reality* Where was I?  Oh yes...Lylah has also started to say "of course" instead of yes.  Do you want to get up?  "oh, of course."  How about carrot sticks and peanut butter?  "oh, of course"  Do you need to go potty? " of course"  She also has been saying she wants to " have a go," which in The Queen's English, means "have a turn".  I think she is secretly British.  Or maybe it's too much Kipper the Dog.  I also find myself speaking a little British after a crafting session and another viewing of P&P.   "Shelves in the closet.  Happy thought, indeed!"  I just can't craft without Mr Darcy and Miss Elizabeth Bennet and, my favorite, Mr Collins.  I can work under other conditions, mind you, I just don't want to.

 

Oh No!!!!  I was going to post a clip of Kipper here.  I tried to get one off YouTube where she has seen all the videos.   All the videos are GONE because of copyright laws.  I am afraid the smiling face you see here  will be a bit upset when she finds out.    Me too!  You should see her little smile as she enjoys the dogs and their fun.  I love Kipper!  Oh, the sadness!  ( I am over-using exclamation marks here to display my deep sadness over the loss of my dear friend, Kipper. I am usually opposed to the over-use, feeling that a period often conveys the proper feeling and emotion. But sometimes the frenzy of the moment calls for exclamation.)  Oh my, I should stop now.  I seem to be getting a little silly.  Who needs to hear my rambelings about punctuation or Mr Darcy or Martha Stewart.  I am simply too sleepy.  This is the post you get when I need to rest.  If you were here with me I would be a laughing mess.  Slap-Happy, if you will.  I'll try again tomorrow when I might be more sane!!! ( notice my use of the exclamation mark---laughing hard to myself)
Click here to see the only Kipper I could find.    It has all the favorites:  Kipper, Tiger, Pig, and Arnold.  Not Lylah's favorite episode, but still a good one.