Sew Together, Grow Together

Ever since my Sewing With Kids series yeeeaaars ago, I’m always on the lookout for sewing projects I can do along with my children.  They went to Montessori school as little ones, so scenes like this are not uncommon at our house:

I stretch a piece of unbleached muslin in an embroidery hoop and we draw a shape using felt tip pen.  Then they “trace” it with floss and an embroidery needle.  It’s “sewing work,” and they love it.

Each of them, though, would gleefully move beyond this simple project to make something a little more substantial.  They regularly go through my scrap basket–to which they know they have unfettered access–and I discover that our boy has made scarves or vests for his dinosaurs, or that our girls have made clothes for their dolls.  I’m always on the lookout for the kind of project that we can make together–and there’s a new e-book out that does just that.

Sew Together, Grow Together is a sweet e-book self-published by Trixi Symonds, a talented Australian sewing teacher who specializes in teaching children to sew.  What I really am drawn to about this book is the way the projects are designed: they’re intended to be sewn by parents and children TOGETHER, such a wonderful way of visualizing the sewing process for kids.

The projects are so, so sweet–but also chic and well-designed.  I was impressed that these aren’t “baby” projects.  They’re the kind of things that children will be drawn to and want to sew, and they have just a brush of Waldorf influence that makes them the kind of objects parents are not just happy to offer their kids, but that we don’t feel burdened in working on.  How many icky crafts have we all been dragged through?  My daughter currently has a book with puffy paint crafts for girls and moms–PUFFY PAINT.  None of that here!  Just sweet soft toys and totes and even key fobs to sew.

That bunny above?  That’s a NOTEPAD.  How sweet is that?

Each project has a great photo and a story behind it.  While the instructions lack step-by-step images, they’re clearly written and easy to follow.  Of the dozen projects, I can spot at least five right off the top that our kids would love, love, love to make–and most of them can be sewn up right from that same scrap basket.  Because they’re at varying skill levels, you can make these with children at lots of ages, and get ideas for projects to do over time as their interests grow and change.

Bonus?  If you have Kindle Unlimited, you can get this book for free!  Even if you don’t, it’s a $5 investment that is well worth the price tag.

Later this week, I’ll be looking at another great book title for older girls to sew from for themselves–stay tuned!