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.