HejKatt Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 I took Home Ec. a long time ago, in a class with 20 other girls, where we strained to hear and see what the teacher was doing. Suffice it to say that very little stuck with me. Now, I want to learn sewing again. I pulled out my sewing machine, and my DS was immediately by my side, with a barrage of questions: Why do you need a bobbin below the panel? Why is this here (button to adjust tension)? I would like to answer his questions with more than "I don't know" :tongue_smilie: while re-learning to sew. I searched for "sewing" on these boards and came up with the following book recommendations. Does anyone want to weigh in on these books? Bonus points if they would help me answer my dc's questions. :D Thank you in advance! 1) For children My First Sewing Machine Book: Learn To Sew: Kids http://www.amazon.com/My-First-Sewing-Machine-Book/dp/1453858687/ Sewing School: 21 Sewing Projects Kids Will Love to Make http://www.amazon.com/Sewing-School-Projects-Kids-Will/dp/1603425780 The Best of Sewing Machine Fun For Kids http://www.amazon.com/Best-Sewing-Machine-Kids-The/dp/1571202544/ 2) For adults Reader's Digest Complete Guide to Sewing http://www.amazon.com/Readers-Digest-Complete-Guide-Sewing/dp/0895770261 The Complete Book of Sewing: A practical step-by-step guide to sewing techniques http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Book-Sewing-step---step/dp/0789404192 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommy22alyns Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 Rebecca got Sewing School for Christmas and has made a couple of projects - she just now finished a stuffed friend for Sylvia. It's almost exclusively hand sewing though. I got a sewing machine from MIL for Christmas (I don't really sew? :confused:) so I guess I should learn it and teach it to Rebecca. I might check out the other books you listed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WeeBeaks Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 (edited) My First Sewing Machine Book: Learn To Sew: Kidshttp://www.amazon.com/My-First-Sewing-Machine-Book/dp/1453858687/ Reader's Digest Complete Guide to Sewing http://www.amazon.com/Readers-Digest-Complete-Guide-Sewing/dp/0895770261 These would be my recommendations. The top one does explain in basic terms how a machine makes a loop via the top and bottom thread and the needle to answer your child's questions. Then it has beginner projects. The bottom one is what I used to start sewing when I had learned the basics 20 years prior from my grandma and hadn't sewn since. It covers reading a pattern right up to multiple ways to insert a zipper. I still reference it for things I do only infrequently. It is an invaluable resource that you won't likely outgrow as you gain confidence. Your child will outgrow the first one though; thankfully it is inexpensive. Editing to add that once your son outgrows the really simple one above, this one is nice for boys: http://www.amazon.com/Buckles-Bobbins-Beginning-Sewing-Book/dp/097149441X/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1337640366&sr=8-7 This is what my 9yo son went to. It has the patterns inside for them, and it is not completely simple projects at all. My son was put off by some of the books for kids that had pillows and girly pictures even if the projects could be made gender neutral by fabric choice. This book is completely geared towards boys. Edited May 21, 2012 by WeeBeaks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angelmama1209 Posted May 22, 2012 Share Posted May 22, 2012 The Best of Sewing Machine Fun For Kids http://www.amazon.com/Best-Sewing-Ma...dp/1571202544/ My DD got this one for Christmas and it. is. fabulous! Starts VERY basic with sewing on notebook paper lines with no thread to learn how to feed it straight, then turns and mazes. There are games, word searches, and crossword puzzles sprinkled throughout also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sagira Posted May 22, 2012 Share Posted May 22, 2012 Sewing School: 21 Sewing Projects Kids Will Love to Make http://www.amazon.com/Sewing-School-Projects-Kids-Will/dp/1603425780 We're all going to use this come this fall. I do not know how to sew but would like to learn alongside children. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slackermom Posted May 22, 2012 Share Posted May 22, 2012 (edited) DD has been asking to learn to sew for a while. I taught her how to do some sewing by hand, and I've been telling her she could use a machine when she turns 8, which is getting close now. I will be giving her "Me and My Sewing Machine" for her birthday: http://www.amazon.com/Me-Sewing-Machine-Kate-Haxell/dp/1607050781 I think it will be a good fit for her. DD always wants pretty in-depth information, and I do have a bit of experience to guide her. Why do you need a bobbin below the panel? Why is this here (button to adjust tension)? If you look inside the book on Amazon, you will see a bunch of info on tension. Edited May 22, 2012 by slackermom more info Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HejKatt Posted May 22, 2012 Author Share Posted May 22, 2012 Thank you all for your suggestions, especially when you highlight what aspect of the book you liked! That makes it so much easier to distinguish within the sea of books out there - I'm looking forward to trying out the book recs. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lailasmum Posted May 22, 2012 Share Posted May 22, 2012 How about one of these books there are several books to cover different aspects of sewing. We haven't used them but I have been thinking about buying them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MamaBear Posted May 22, 2012 Share Posted May 22, 2012 So glad you started this post - we are sewing as of last year too. There are a few sewing camps this summer that I want to take advantage of. Joann's is one of the places that offers classes. You might check that out if you have one in your town. Have Fun:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Classical Katharine Posted May 22, 2012 Share Posted May 22, 2012 (edited) This isn't a book but as far as a project, for girls a scrunchie is a great first project. Cut fabric 5" by 25", seam along the long edge, turn using a huge safety pin, run elastic through (1/4" or 1/2" wide), tie in a loose knot, check fit, tighten knot to right diameter for elastic, overlap ends, hand-stitch closed. Either fold under one raw edge before overlapping, or, before you stitch the long seam, fold back one edge. Stretch velvet is great, and you can get it cheap from fashionfabricsonline.com--it looks elegant and stays in the hair--but quilting cotton works too. Wearing two at once looks nice: gather some of the hair into a high upper ponytail, then all the hair into a lower ponytail. For boys, here's a blog with some ideas: http://southernseven.blogspot.com/2009/06/sewing-projects-for-boys.html Boys can also do elastic-waist shorts or pants early on; make them interesting w/ great fabric or with a wide stripe down the side or across the top out of different fabric. For all children, here's a list of links to some good ideas. Love the crazy doodle monster for hand sewing!: http://www.freeneedle.com/directory.php?directory=Children%20Learn%20to%20Sew! For girls, how to sew a skirt when you're five years old (from the above set of links at freeneedle) :http://www.ikatbag.com/2010/04/how-to-sew-skirt-when-you-are-5-years.html This lady has great projects and is a wonderful writer. I googled sewing projects for boys and came up with these and more leads. I LOVE books but sometimes blogs have wonderful big photos etc . . . Have fun! Also--if gutsy fabrics appeal to your son--of course there's denim etc. but also there are outerwear fabrics online at places like Seattle Fabrics (or some such name--a big outerwear place, definitely Seattle). He could make a storage sack out of ripstop nylon to take things to the beach or camping, etc. They have neat cords, cord locks, heavy zippers, grommets etc.--everything to make gutsy looking stuff. (You could put grommets in the bag to hang it on a hook--just because . . .) Enjoy! Edited May 22, 2012 by Classical Katharine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kesmom Posted May 22, 2012 Share Posted May 22, 2012 http://www.kids-sewing-projects.com/kids-sewing-projects.html - I found this a while back on Pinterest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HejKatt Posted May 22, 2012 Author Share Posted May 22, 2012 Thank you for the great blog links and suggestions! I'm already thinking how to work this into our art/craft for next school year. http://www.kids-sewing-projects.com/kids-sewing-projects.html - I found this a while back on Pinterest. I checked their link, they have an eBook too: http://www.kids-sewing-projects.com/kids-sewing-curriculum.html How about one of these books there are several books to cover different aspects of sewing. We haven't used them but I have been thinking about buying them. These look good! I recall seeing a couple of threads mentioning the Winky Cherry books. Here are some: http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=192467 http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35589 For all children, here's a list of links to some good ideas. Love the crazy doodle monster for hand sewing!: http://www.freeneedle.com/directory.php?directory=Children%20Learn%20to%20Sew! Katharine, you have lots of great links! I checked the Doodle Monster project off the freeneedle site, and had to link it directly here because it's too cute not to share. :) http://holloughby.blogspot.com/2012/03/sewing-tuesday-crazy-doodle-monster.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Classical Katharine Posted May 23, 2012 Share Posted May 23, 2012 Yes!--I think I see monster-making in my future, too. They're great. Same lady has Blue Thing she makes costumes for--like Blue Thing dressed as a cupcake--how anyone thinks of these things amazes me--they are hysterical. And not too hard to make. Have fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitten18 Posted May 23, 2012 Share Posted May 23, 2012 I was a home ec teacher. I bought DD "Sewing School" (your 2nd link) for Christmas. It is BY FAR the best beginning sewing book I have ever seen. I haven't really looked at any machine sewing books yet so I don't have any recommendations for those. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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