Their Gift

Kian and Felicity made Logan a treasure map for his birthday!  I got the idea to help them make him a treasure map because the kids will often scribble something on scraps of paper and call it their "map."  These maps get carried around for quite a while.

 

First Felicity picked out a red fabric scrap, and I cut out an X.

Next, Kian and Felicity took turns sewing straight lines on top of the X to adhere it to a large fabric square.  This process goes a bit like this;

Me, "Ok, press the pedal....a little harder....GOOD!....keep going....keep going...keep, STOP STOP STOP STOP STOP!....GOOD JOB!"

Ok, so I need to read up on how to teach children how to sew.  But at least we're attempting it.  This was Kian's first time operating the pedal by himself and he was pretty excited.

 

After the X was on the map, we took turns sewing zig zagged stitches from a starting point, to the X.  We each chose a different color thread.  Next, I explained that treasure maps often times warned of dangerous places.  So, with a permanent marker, we drew some warnings on our map.

 

 Kian drew snakes and I labeled the area as "Snake Canyon".

 

 Felicity drew a monster in a cave and I labeled it "Monster Cave".

I drew trees and labeled it "Black Forest".

 

Lastly, Felicity sewed a back piece on, to cover up all our stitches.  We just left the edges raw and did not turn and top stitch.  This left it looking a bit ragged on the edges, which is what we were going for.

 

And there you have it.

 

Our kids love to gift to each other and we like to encourage them to make gifts when possible.  Sometimes I have lofty goals for them and we start projects that soon loose their interest.  This project was GREAT for Kian and Felicity.  It was fast, simple, and a quick result.  We had it done in a half hour tops.  They didn't really have time to loose interest, and they were very proud of their finished product.

Logan's Mama made gifts were a man apron (since all the others in the house, kid sized, are pink), a birthday crown, and a pair of hammer head shark sleep shorts.  You can see them in the last picture of his birthday post.

She Sews

She chose the fabrics, thinking of her friends and their likes (and she nailed it).

She ironed the fabric (on the ironing board she bought for herself with her birthday money).

She counted popcorn seeds while I squared up the fabric with the rotary cutter (I thought it was too cute to not include).

And then, she sewed!  Felicity is the fourth generation to sew on this machine.  Though she has sewn with me before, helping me operate the machine while sitting on my lap, this was the first time she did it all by herself!  She was very proud.  And so was I!

And after lots of work, and a bit of help at the end with that dang binding, she had two lovey sleeping "pockets" to give to her two best friends on their birthdays.

I am hoping this is the beginning of a wonderful passion.