Guys, I did it. I broke out the sewing machine to make something for Clara’s third birthday. It’s a little tradition of ours to make her something instead of buying it since she gets a ton of store-bought presents from family and friends. I even used her big ol’ stash of monthly photo fabrics, which have also come in handy for making her a quilt, a table runner, a beanbag, and even a birthday banner (remember that epic battle of woman vs. sewing machine?).
It all started when I saw these fabric tea bags on Pinterest and thought they’d be really fun for Clara’s play kitchen since she’s so into making food and pretending to eat it and have tea parties with her stuffed animals. And really, what’s a tea party without tea? So even though there weren’t any directions to be found, I thought I’d just wing it. What’s the worst that could happen? Wait, don’t answer that. You’ve seen my previous work…
First I cut a few little squares from ten of my favorite fabrics.
Then I grabbed some twine that I had in the gift closet for the string part (it’s leftover from a gift someone gave me a while back). I also brought in a few cotton balls from the bathroom because I figured the tea bags had to be stuffed with something. And then I just cut two tea bag shaped pieces of fabric from each swatch (so although you see 10 tea-bag-shaped swatches below, there are two in each stack, right on top of each other for a total of 20). I also cut a long rectangle from each fabric to make the tag on the top of the tea bag.
Then I sat down at the sewing machine, said a small please-don’t-make-me-throw-you-out-the-window prayer, and got sewing. Within about five minutes I had this mess, and had completely ruined my first tea bag. There might have been a few whispered obscenities. Nothing gets me heated like my sewing machine, guys. Nothing.
But I resisted the urge to Hulk Smash it and started in on my second attempt. This time I came up with the idea of putting both of the right sides of the tea bags together (with the bad ones facing out) while tucking the string between it like you see in the photo below. Then I sewed up all of the sides of it except for the bottom where the string sticks out. You can see how bad I am about following the edges of the tea-bag shape here. Better work on that.
Then I turned it right-side out. The good news? The string was securely sewn to the top of the bag. The bad news? It looked like a feminine hygiene product. I allllmost gave up for the second time. There were more mumbled obscenities.
But before I threw in the towel, I figured it might look better if I could tuck half a cotton ball in there, fold the bottom part up to seal it, and add a little stitching to hold it closed, thereby finishing the bag part. Thankfully things started to turn around at this point, because it actually got cute-ish (and less tampon-esque in shape). Hallelujah!
To attach the tag part at the top I just folded that piece of fabric in half and put a few stitches into it so it caught the string and stayed folded.
Then I put my head down, said a few more “please don’t make me pound you with a hammer” prayers to my sewing machine, and in about ten more minutes I had three more of these guys knocked out. Wahoo!
About half an hour later I was left with nine tea bag babies. They’re definitely not perfect, but that first attempt was my only casualty. And my sewing machine is still alive and well. So…. success!
Clara especially loves them because I have tea every night and most mornings. So she sees me with it and now has her own tea bags so she can sip with me.
So this is the project that almost wasn’t, but is! And I think we all learned a lesson today, guys. No matter how much something looks like a feminine hygiene product when it’s half done, at least try finishing it before flushing it down the toilet. Both literally or figuratively.
Anyone else sewing stuff? How’s your relationship with your sewing machine? I hear that so many people love to sew (and even that it calms them?!) but my experiences can best be described as tumultuous with a side of anxiety. So far in the end it has always been worth it though. And seeing Clara and her stuffed giraffe sitting down for a little tea party is pretty much the cutest thing ever.
Psst- Wanna know where we got something in our house or what paint color we used? Just click on this button:
Mari says
Pretty cute. I don’t sew but I did buy a machine recently at Ikea. Good job! I like them!
Robin says
I swear by my Kenmore sewing machine. My mother has a sewing work room for custome draperies and has used them for years rather than buying the incredably expensive machines. Also, I love the little tea bags. She will have the best pinterest tea parties in town.
Terresa says
I’m dying here!! I never laugh as hard when reading your blog as when you talk about sewing:) I love sewing, I wish I could come by and give you some quick sewing lessons – but alas, I live in Oklahoma. I’ve always had a great relationship with my sewing machine. Except that one time in junior high that I sewed right thru my finger!! no kidding – got going too fast. so don’t do that
Marissa says
I LOVE my sewing machine and am still using the same one I learned on when I was eight! I also find it calming.
Alex says
Those tea bags are adorable! What a cute idea. I love sewing and have been doing it for many years. I am newly married and actually made my own wedding dress. It wasn’t fancy or over the top but I was able to incorporate my grandma and moms dress that they wore for their weddings.
Cindy_FearlessDIY says
Oh, Sherry, I do so love your sewing adventures! Kudos to you for your bravery – I have a brand new (very inexpensive) sewing machine still in the box and I have to admit I’m a big scaredy-cat and I haven’t even tried to sew a single thing on it yet. :-0
Also, once again, my husband thinks I am a complete and total loon and it’s due (in part, at least) to me literally LOLing at one of your posts!
This time, I’m calmly reading along and then I see the pic…the, um, feminine-hygiene-esque pic. Then I read on and see your reference to the unavoidable comparison and I just burst out laughing! I mean tears streaming and air gulping laughter here!
So, of course, the hubster wants to know what the heck is so funny. Just imagine the completely confuzzled look on his face as I gasp out “Sherry is sewing tampons for her daughter! Bwahahaha!”
Ah, the romance isn’t dead here, folks. LOL
Thanks for sharing your sewing challenges with us. I may just have to break out my nifty new machine to see what awesome projects I can make as well. Great inspiration here! :-)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha!
xo,
s
Nicole says
I am just awed at how you get such a huge ball of thread outta your projects!! Seriously, you need some type of award for that! Do you hold on to the ends of your thread and put the needle down into your fabric when you begin a seam? Is your thread tension right? There must be a reason!! I’m a seamstress {tho not professional by any means} so my instinct tells me one of those two things might be the problem.
All the best! Hope to see more sewing projects in the future! =)
Bailey says
What an adorable idea for a homemade toy!
xox
Bailey
http://akabailey.blogspot.com
Samantha says
Ok so before you said it Sherry..I thought it looked like a feminine hygiene product. I seriously laughed out loud!! thank you!!
Elizabeth says
Those turned out really cute! My last sewing project was eight 12 piece felt memory games. I made one for my daughter and the rest were my contribution to a toddler busy bag swap. It was a lot of fun but definitely ate up several hours of my time. I crochet more often than I sew, but lately I’m itching to try a pillowcase dress for my daughter, something like this: http://lanattlk.blogspot.com/2012/07/aesthetic-nest-sewing-patriotic.html
Pam says
You did good! I made a few little tea bags for my kids awhile ago, and stuffed them with a few cloves, lavender, mint etc. so they smell nice :) I’ve been working on clothes for my little girl who has suddenly begun to grow (she’s just a few weeks younger than Clara, I think) and today I made her a bunting for her bedroom.
I loooove sewing, love my machine, too. It’s from the early 1950s and was my Grandma’s. It isn’t fancy, it tangles up, but it gets the job done and it’s fabulously vintagey.
Anyway! Keep practicing, it gets easier!
Sarah says
1) I laughed out loud. A lot. At work. During night shift in the hospital. Gonna have to save your sewing posts for home apparently…
2) I really love that you post things that weren’t a breeze for you. You show both the behind the scenes and the highlight reel, major kudos.
3) My sewing machine is in its original box in my closet. I take it out and lovingly pet it. Sometimes I talk to it a bit, then with great guilt and regret I return it to its hiding place. Someday I’ll tackle that monster… Someday…
Crystal says
I have a hate/hate relationship with sewing. I only do it when I have to. The best advice my mother and grandmother (who both make it look effortless) gave me was to find yourself a quality sewing machine repair person who is willing to show you how to do more than basic maintenance on your machine. Pay the $100 for the lesson and then never have to pay anyone to do your repairs again. I always start my sewing out by using canned air to blow any loose threads and dust out of my machine. I open all the compartments up and wipe them out. Well hope this helps. I love your projects you do for Clara. They always end up gorgeous!
Mikael says
Great little project! One of my most special childhoood memories is waking up one morning and my mom had made my Pooh bear a few simple vests. I’m not sure why it is so vivid, but I guess I just felt special that she took the time to make something for me. Keep it up…Clara will always cherish these things.
Kathy says
Very cute! But you usually share what Clara got for her birthday gifts! One year it was a sandbox. Hopefully you will “over share” with us her birthday gifts. Good luck with the move and the hardwood floors!
Ruth Thomas says
Congratulations Sherry, they’re super cute and worth the effort! Sounds like Clara loved them. I have made a bunch of felt food for my daughters play kitchen and I had an argument with my machine over some carrots which included breaking the needle, oops! Also broke several chopsticks in the process of turning them out so we had a few choice words! They did look great in the end but most of the remaining food was done by hand! Would love to try teabags though if I’m brave enough….
Also, your post made me giggle so much. I am reading it during a night feed of my 8week old daughter and laughed so much I woke my husband-even though the baby crying had not!
Enjoy your tea and well done.
Molly says
My mom was always great about helping me through that kind of frustration. She gave me her excellent sewing machine, but sometimes it still does that…sewing machines are just quirky sometimes. She always had me run through a few simple steps to see what the problem was. (When I am running throu this list, i can almost gear her very calm voice reciting it to me.) Some of them have been mentioned previously, but i love a good list.
1. Just re-thread the machine…simple, easy and it almost always works.
2. Check the tension and stitch length. These are determined by your fabric and thread.
3. Make sure your fabric is not throwing any frayed threads down into the machine.
** this one I have not seen on other posts:
4. Think about changing the needle. If you can’t remember the last time you changed it, it’s probably dull and that can make the machine get clogged like that. She says you should change every time you start a new project…I don’t do that for little ones, but sometimes the rat’s nest is the result!
I find #1 and/or #4 usually does the trick.
Hope that helps anyone out there who’s frustrated! Not eberyone gets to learn from a woman with the patience of a saint.
Molly
Adeline says
As someone who doesn’t know how to sew, I say: well done!
And I think it’s totally normal if you want to throw your sewing machine out the window sometimes, I have the same feeling towards computers some days (when the error message occurs after 2 hours of exporting a project for instance…)
Lynda says
If you ever want private lessons etc for free, let me know. I have taught people the basics of sewing etc in a short period of time. Also, you can make different “foods” sewing them. Knowing how to sew will make some of your home projects less expensive.
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Lynda!
xo,
s
kate says
Luuuuu-huv it!
kami says
The teacher in me wants to give you a few pointers. To help you sew straight, line up the edge of the presser foot with the edge of the fabric. A project like this doesn’t have a specific seam allowance. When you get to a corner, leave the needle in the down position (many newer machines do this automatically) lift the presser foot and then with the needle still down in the fabric, pivot the fabric so that the new edge aligns with the presser foot. It looks like you are trying to turn the corner without stopping. You will probably want to reinforce the corners with another line of stiching exactly on top of the first stitching. I would probably back stitch at the corners but that can be tricky for beginners. Then trim the fabric at the corners very close to the stitching and flip. Poke out the corners with something like a pencil or knitting needle very gently.
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks for all the tips guys!
xo,
s
Ian says
Ho, I have an old treadle Singer from 1900 which still works like a dream. They are perfect for beginners as you can literally go as slow as a stitch at a time with a manual.
I am teaching the kids how to use it and because it’s so simple they are getting it pretty good.I love mine and would never be tempted by one with a power lead.
Eliza_Do_Lots says
I have the same love/hate relationship with my sewing machine that you have – and I was told to get it serviced and have them tweak your tension (ooh er) and that stopped mine getting that bundle of thread underneath – ARGH I hate that! I started a quilt for my neice to give her when she was born – she’s one now and I still haven’t got it finished – stupid sewing machine
Amanda says
#1-Those are crazy cute and I’m totally inspired to make some for my kiddo’s kitchen!
#2-I have been there with the machine thing and as much as you think you should love your machine because it had great reviews, you may not have the patience to fuss with the settings each time in order for it to be so lovely. I realized I dreaded sewing because of all the extra work and set up…and I usually still ended up with tension issues.
My Mom introduced me to the world of Baby Lock machines and helped me get one for my last birthday…AMAZING I will never look back! Their basic machines are not as expensive as you might think but it’s hard to stay base model once you learn a little more about all the features. I ended up matching what Mom invested in me so I could get the base embroidery machine…they explained it as a great sewing machine that did embroidery too. What sold me was the automatic tension feature! I seriously just sit down and sew awesome things now without all the fuss and frustration!!!
Anyway, I could go on and on, but All Brands in the Westland Shoppung Center on W Broad is a Baby Lock dealer and they are WONDERFUL! They will demo machines with you and have knowledge out the wazoo to help you figure out what work for you and they won’t try to sell you something you aren’t ready for. You also get FREE one on one training with your machine any time you need it and they have cool classes too. You totally need to at least go pay them a visit…you have nothing to lose by just looking :) Gayla is the owner and Meg is really fun too…ask for one of them if you go in! (I swear I’m not on their payroll…they are just that great!)
Jenny says
I’m a novice on the sewing machine too — it’s so much fun to play around and I’ve had a ball making little projects for my girls. There are a million tutorials for felt play food out there and I wanted to pass along a super easy one to you that has a great payoff: felt raviolis. Basically just stitch 3 sides of two squares together fill the pocket with stuffing and stitch closed. Then take pinking shears to cut around entire square. You can use all different shades of tan/cream for different raviolis. Anyway – thought something like that might be up your alley. Have fun!
suzy says
They are so cute! Homemade gifts are the best.
I have been meaning to make some tea bags for my little girl’s play kitchen… must get on that.
I saw this project which looks not-too-swear-inducing
http://probablyactually.wordpress.com/2012/02/12/another-installment-of-tiny-tea-time/
– I thought she was very clever to dismantle a real teabag to work out how to do it, I would never have thought of that but it seemed to work.
Oh – and I agree with what someone said above about getting a Janome. I have a base model and it is nice and uncomplicated and reliable. I’ve sewn lots of clothes on it (including layers of denim etc) and it’s only ever given me trouble when I’ve abused it by threading it wrong.
Pat says
I’m not familiar with your Brother but I have the CS6000i and it is a sturdy little machine and most Brothers have a good rep. I just went back and read your adventure making Clara’s quilt. You did a wonderful job! The link to your inspiration quilt was no longer available, but I definitely got the idea. You would make a great modern quilter. Just google for the Modern Quilt Guild and go from there. You’ll see what I mean.
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Pat!
xo,
s
Marijeaux says
It’s the machine! I’m very frugal and never buy a new machine. I bought my pre-owned Bernina 1090 over 15 years ago and it sews like a dream. In addition start every project with a new needle and good quality thread. JoAnn Fabrics has great sales on thread and notions from time to time.
Melissa says
I HATED tea for years & years, then hubby (finally) got me a Keurig 2 yrs ago for my birthday, in it was a Celestrial Seasonings English Breakfast black tea K cup, my love for tea was born that day. Drink it @ least twice a day now. My BFF still hates tea, so we call me a “tea douche”, in fact if you were to check out my Pinterest, I have a “I’m a tea douche” board. Anywhoo, I also cannot sew. Putting buttons on something, the buttons look all crooked. True story. For some strange reason, I keep thinking, oh! I can get a cheap sewing machine (in case I break it, I won’t have spent much $$ on it), I can make my youngest, curtains, a quilt/comforter, sheets! Yeah, I can’t sew, I have no idea how to use a sewing machine, that little needle is SHARP & moves awfully fast!! I should probably just stick to what I know, which is crochet! Just wanted to let you know that I feel your sewing pain & I think your tea bags & your 1st birthday bunting turned out awesome!! I bet if you keep practicing you’ll get really great @ it!! I started crocheting back in 2009, took me two years before I could make a hat. I mean I could do blankets, pot holders & wash clothes just fine, but not hats. It’ll take some practice, but I know you can do it! Don’t give up!!
Kim says
So cute. I’m sure Clara loves them. When your thread starts bunching, sometimes it can be as simple as rethreading the machine. Check for blobs of lint especially in the bobbin area. It’s amazing the little things that can throw your stitching off. Sometimes a new needle will make it run smoothly.
Also a little practice run on a scrap of fabric will give you a chance to get the tension right. And all the advice on needle down pivoting at the corners will make your life so much easier.
Way to go. Clara is lucky to have a crafty mom.
Linda says
Thanks for the laugh, I needed it! I limit myself to paste, tape, and staple projects due to my relationship with a sewing machine.
gail says
Find a store or someone who has a Brother like yours and ask them to tell you how to avoid your problem. Or take it to a store where they repair sewing machines. They will tell you if something is wrong with it, or what you are doing wrong. Sometimes tiny little differences in the way you do something can make a big difference in the way it runs. For ex., pull both threads to the back of the machine when you are starting and sew a folded scrap through the machine. Don’t cut it off. Just leave it and cut it later. It keeps the machine from eating your fabric and tangling the threads. I also think your tension may be messed up.
I am a quilter–piecing my blocks by machine. Nothing is more frustrating than a machine that has a mind of its own, but sewing on one that is working right–and I am using it right–is a joy! By the way, some mentioned Singers. They don’t have the reputation they used to.
danielle says
i like to sew, but i think my sewing machine hates me. it regularly does evil things like chew up big balls of bobbin thread and spit them out onto the bottom of my sewing like birds nests. whenever i’ve taken it in to be repaired, it always acts like a good little sewing machine and even SOUNDS better in the shop. it’s a love-hate relationship (i love it, it hates me).
Brenda says
Yes, indeed, you could spend Clara’s birthright on a new machine and it would make tea and play the 1812 Overture while it monogrammed all of your linens without you even touching it! Or… you could take the nice old rinky dink machine (I’ve got one, too) to the sewing-machine-and-vacuum-cleaner place on West Broad Street and ask them to tune it up. They don’t charge a whole lot, they don’t sneer at your old machine, and they adjust the thread and bobbin tension and clean out its innards and make it run the best it can – which is probably quite well enough to make a pillow cover or a play teabag every now and then. As someone else has already suggested, cut things big so you can make a full 5/8 inch seam (fabric doesn’t get caught in the feed dogs that way), trim the seams afterwards, and use that pivot technique to turn corners. Then use your scissors to poke out the corners from the inside to make nice sharp points without pulling the seams loose. Teaching yourself to sew is like figuring out what the F keys do on your computer. You aren’t born knowing it, but it’s not rocket science, either. Hang in there, and just keep your fingers out of the way of the needle. I remember learning some very useful vocabulary while I was playing under the table where my mom was sewing! :)
Margaret says
Thanks for the laugh!I needed that.
Cute idea!
Jessica says
I’ve been starting to do enough quilting that I’m not always tempted to Hulk smash my machine, but I do still have my moments when I just have to walk away before the seam ripper starts to look like a weapon :-)
This post made me literally laugh out loud. I’m glad in the end Clara enjoyed her tea bags and you got a successful sewing project completed.
Jaime says
All of us have been there :) Keep at it. I have a doll that my aunt sewed for me when I was 4. She cut it out wrong so the head is on sideways and looks like it’s neck is broken. I screamed and said I didn’t want that monster near me, now I love that doll so much because I know how hard she worked on it.
There is one more thing (I know) when you sew a curve, you have to clip the curves – which means take scissors and make perpendicular cuts through the fabric on the curves right up to the line you’ve sewn being careful not to cut the line of thread you’ve sewn. This allows you to get a good curved shape when you turn it right side out again without lots of lumpy extra fabric. Whew. that is a lot of work for a little faux tea bag, but they sure are cute and I bet she loves them.
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks for all the tips everyone!
xo,
s
Sarah Ewald says
Oh my goodness, I’m so glad to read your posts about your fights with your sewing machine. It helps me to know I’m not the only one. Every time I break mine out, I end up with a giant tangled knotted mess of thread and an overwhelming urge to climb on top of my roof and drop my sewing machine on to the driveway while I laugh. (A little too much crazy detail, perhaps?)
Anyway, it’s encouraging to know that someone as fantastic and creative as you has sewing machine battles as well. Makes me think there may be hope for me yet!
Amy says
I will admit to being lazy and not reading all the comments to see if anyone posted this, but there is a tutorial for the tea bags on the website you linked, just had to have Google translate it to find it. http://lapouletteapois.canalblog.com/archives/2009/11/11/15667785.html
And now for my two cents concerning sewing machines, not that you need it since there are plenty of comments on that subject. I just started working for a Bernina/Brother dealer, and I have sewn most of my life. I’ve spent the past week sewing on a variety of Brother machines, pretty much eight hours a day, and I have never been so frustrated with sewing. They are just difficult to work with, easy to mess up and I wouldn’t recommend them to anyone. To echo what others have said, go to a dealer and test drive a few. I love Berninas and wouldn’t sew on anything else if I had the choice.
Most dealerships will offer layaway, or monthly payments, if you aren’t too keen on dropping that much cash all at once. They also tend to have used machines, so you can get a good deal on a great machine. And I’m pretty sure they will offer free classes to teach you how to use your machine. Our dealership lets you take the beginning classes as many times as you want for free, for as long as you own the machine. :)
KatieQ says
I think your sewing machine is fine. I have 2 expensive top of the line machines, but still keep my Walmart Brother to use for odds and ends. One important thing to avoid the dreaded strings of death ruining your projects is to hold the 2 threads (top and bobbin) toward the back left of the machine as you start to sew. That way they don’t get sucked in and pull your thread and fabric as you sew and create a bird’s nest.
The tea bags are great fun in all of the lovely fabrics.
Eileen Y says
Good luck! I gave up after many tangled bobbins and wrong tension. And sewing THROUGH my right thumb nail! ( and then reaching over my machine with my left hand to back the needle out of my finger. Not my finest hour!). Then followed with a fresh tetanus shot.
Now I miss my machine!
Just go slow.
Vicki says
These are so cute- you are so creative! I got so frustrated with my sewing machine that I gave it away. I found that sewing takes patience I don’t have!
Cinda says
I think the issue with the extra thread is that you need to use some scrap fabric and sew onto it first before you start on your project fabric (here in the south we call this extra fabric a “spider” because it will soon have lots of thread “legs.” My kids thought this was a riot when they were little). Every time you start sewing after cutting your thread, the spider should be the first thing through the machine. You can use the spider lots of times and just start a new one when it gets too messy (on a large project like a quilt you will likely need multiple spiders).
Be sure that you have both the top and the bottom threads out of the sewing machine before you start sewing. Leaving the bobbin thread in the machine is an easy mistake (one I still sometimes make and I’ve been sewing for over 30 years!) and will leave you with a mess every time!
Sew a dozen or so stitches onto the spider and then start with your project without cutting your thread.
Also, especially when you are making multiples of the same item, you can sew one right after another and not restart (with the spider). It is fine to have a few stitches of thread between each item. When you finish, your pieces will be stitched together like a pennant. Then you can just cut each piece apart. This is a huge time and thread saver when you are sewing multiples (quilts, blocks, these tea bags), but usually won’t work for sewing garments or doll clothes.
Finally, you might want to check the inside of your sewing machine near the bobbin. When I have this extra thread issue it is often because I have a very small (sometimes 1/4 inch of so) piece of thread that has gotten stuck around the bobbin casing. I spray some canned air in the bobbin area and can’t believe all the junk that comes out (lint, thread, dog hair)!
We love your blog!
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks for all the tips guys!
xo,
s
Kelly says
I, too, have a love/hate relationship with my sewing machine. I break it out once every 10 years, so I forget a lot. I think practice helps too. Even though it frustrates (you/us), maybe if we did it more often, we could get better at it? I don’t know. Some days I wish I never bought the thing, but I thought I could be one of those lovely people that made their own clothes, curtains and stuff. So far, I’ve only made pillows. I’m thinking of getting some clothes from the thrift store to practice hemming and tailoring. If I ruin them, so what? It was only a few bucks.
These teabags are a wonderful idea and addition to Clara’s kitchen. You rock, Green Tea Girl!
Heather Beals says
So incredibly cute! Another no sew idea would be to use craft felt and hot glue next time! Or you could use double sided interfacing or hem tape and iron them together just like you do your curtains :)
Kim says
Hi Sherry,
What a cute idea! I’m not sure if anyone else has already given this tip but here’s my tip for corners when sewing:
1. Stop at the corner with your needle still down and in the fabric.
2. Lift up your pressure foot (the needle is still in the fabric so try not to move your fabric when you do this)
3. Turn your fabric
4. Put the pressure foot back down
5. Continue sewing.
You’ll get perfect corners if you do this. This little trick doesn’t work on curves though. If it’s a rounded corner you have to just pray and go for it!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, I love it! Thanks again to everyone who shared all the tips here in the comment section!
xo
s
Bridgett says
hahaha! they came out great. oddly enough, i spent my son’s nap time sewing with my 5yr old daughter. we were working on a dress for her barbie. ug. i let her choose the fabrics and just did my best to accept them. i have to get better about what fabrics are around before letting her make choices. half way done. she was supposed to be doing all the sewing, but somehow it turned into i do most of the sewing, she does a few stitches (all hand sewing at this point). hopefully tomorrow if she will do the sewing, then i can work on the birthday banner for her brother that i started a few weeks ago….
Felie Hempfling says
Lately I’ve been sewing paper, yup paper! (paper’s not so forgiving too) I’ve been incorporating more stich work in my greeting cards. But I really need to get on making some curtains for the living room. I love my sewing machine but lately I haven’t been giving it much love! Super cute tea bags I think this project will be on the list of to do!!
gaga says
hahahaha!!!
You make my day…keep triying, it´s get better…and yes, it calm me down…
If you loove to use a nail gun, you will love to sew…eventually ;P
Love your tenacity…you will conquer over the sewing machine!!
Lily says
Hi,Petersik,I love your interest in sewing.I also like do something with thread and needle. Now ,I am doing cross stiching.