Teaching the Basics

I wish someone had taught me to sew when I was a kid.
I would have been the best (or worst) dressed girl in town.
I had quite the rockin' 80's style and topped it off with a hairsprayed mat on my head but non the less my clothes still were not too imaginative.

K has quite the fashion sense, like most young ladies I am sure, and she loves to create new looks and change her style.
I thought it would be a great time to teach her how to create her own style and be able to sew it herself.

I had my old sewing machine spruced up last month and now it is a perfect starter for the girls.

I am showing them how to make their own patterns and to come up with simple ideas to start with.
This little purse/bag is a knock off of Martha Stewart's one in this months mag.

K traced out a pattern onto to newspaper and cut it out.
Because it is felt that we were working with, it was very easy and forgiving and it requires no edge seams she was free to cut without pins and such.

They know the basics on the machine, but each project always helps them expand their scope of sewing skills.

This project was great for the pattern making and a bit of stitch ripping as well.

E was thrilled, and concentrated, as she worked away on her bag.

I couldn't resist a picture of her little foot sewing away.

They are getting really good at knowing what all the buttons and such do and why they need to and when they need to use them.

Now turn it right side out to examine the finished project.

Success and smiles.

And a few giggles.

Both of the bags are already full of treasures and now we are starting to make wallets.

I have to allow myself to think that homeschooling isn't just about the worksheets and structure.

I think this is an example of homeschooling at it's best.