The Girls' Special Project

Before I started this school year, I decided that I wanted to incorporate a HomeEc-type course for the girls. They already love to help out with cooking, and Alyx and Larissa have already started crocheting. My idea was to start teaching them some quilting and other basic patternless sewing projects. After thinking it through, I decided to also use my mom to teach the kids how to sew using patterns. I could do it, but Mom is so much better than I am and it gives me an "excuse" to make a trip up there for a week at a time every now and then. =)

Before we started school, Alyx had made the comment that she needed an apron to wear while she was cooking, so I decided to make that the first project. She was thrilled at the idea, and Mom was very excited to be able to teach them. As I said in the post about our Labor Day holiday, I took A LOT of pictures, so please forgive me for the abundance of photos. =) (In case you don't already know this, you can click on any picture to get a larger view, if you so desire.)

Mom gave each of the girls some special notebooks to take notes in during "class time."

She explained all the details of how to get the pattern, choose the fabric, get the notions, choose the size, decide how much fabric you need, etc...

After all the measurements were taken, Mom brought out the fabric choices. She had planned to make the aprons reversible, so she had bought 3 sets of coordinating prints. The girls are usually pretty good about sharing and doing things fairly, so we decided to let them choose their favorites. If there was a duplicate "favorite," then we would have to draw names or something, but they chose them without any trouble. I was so glad! =)

Mom pulled out the directions and pattern pieces and explained it all to the girls.

They each got to take a turn at cutting out the pattern pieces. And yes, Larissa concentrates so much better if she sticks out her tongue. =)

Before going any further, Mom sat the girls down and reviewed with them so that they could take notes in their notebooks.

They each took turns ironing pattern pieces.

Alyx ironed her fabric.

They all enjoyed using Granny's cool rotary cutter! =)

Alyx was so excited, she could not contain herself. She kept jumping up and down and giggling with delight. She would say, "Oh, I can't wait to see it done!" and "Thank you, Granny for teaching me!" She's so sweet! =)

Time to sew...Mom begins by showing Alyx how to thread the machine.

Mom used a scrap piece of fabric to let them practice sewing. Alyx thought it was a lot of fun. =)

Alyx started by sewing the first pocket.

She clipped the excess fabric outside of the stitches...

Pressed it...

And Voila! Her first pocket was complete!

Here she's sewing the pockets to one side of the apron and then shows the completed side.

She pins on the pockets for the other side....

Trims the excess fabric after having sewn it all together...

Turns it right side out...

And is all done!

Thank you, Granny!

Alyx immediately put her apron to work in the kitchen. She's putting some olive oil on some buns to be toasted under the broiler, measuring raisins, oats and walnuts for some oatmeal raisin cookies and has the cookie scoop ready to form the cookies. =)

Larissa was next. She ironed her fabric...

Loved cutting with the rotary cutter.... (and was quite the wild woman with that tool. Granny had to try to keep her under control.) =)

And was just as excited as Alyx was.

She had a chance to practice as well.

She began with her first pocket.

She learned to backstitch.

Here she was clipping the excess fabric and turning the pocket right side out. She is left-handed, but refuses to cut with her left hand. She's an interesting little girl. =) Note the tongue again aiding in her concentration.

She worked on sewing one of the straps.

Here she was showing the pockets she had pinned on.

She sewed on some pockets.

She put it all together to sew up.

It's all done!

Thank you, Granny!

Sydney was so patient to wait for her sisters to finish. Here she is ironing some of her fabric.

Here she was helping Granny with some measurements for a pattern piece.

She wasn't quite strong enough to cut by herself, so Granny helped out. She loved seeing that it actually cut the fabric, though.

Time to sew! Isn't she cute? =)

She got to practice, too, and she really enjoyed operating the presser foot lever.

She was the only one of the three that couldn't reach the pedal on the ground, so we had to set it on top of a dictionary. The pedal kept slipping off, so we had to wrap a towel around it to keep it steady. =)

Here she is working on her first pocket and trimming the excess fabric.

She helped sew on the pockets to one side.

Here she is sewing it all together. She really enjoyed pulling out the pins as they neared the presser foot. =)

All done!

Thank you, Granny!

Mom said that they did a fantastic job, and she's looking forward to teaching them another project. =) All I have to say is, I fear for the day that they each turn 16, because they have lead feet! They all had a "need for speed." =) No, really, they did very good after they got the hang of how much pressure to apply to the pedal and got more comfortable with the machine. I'm very proud of them! =)