by Roberta Lee Small

Created on: October 24, 2008   Last Updated: March 19, 2012

I like to sew and I learned how at a very early age. My mother was a wonderful seamstress and made clothes for my siblings and myself when we were children. I remember standing beside the sewing machine fascinated as she turned pieces if cloth into beautiful outfits. She used to give me all the scrap pieces of materials and I was delighted when she finally taught me how to make clothes for my doll.

Sewing not only led to many enjoyavle hours for me as a child, but in later life supplemented my income as I had a small business of making dolls clothes for antique dolls and sold my French Fashion creations at doll shows. When my children were young I also made clothes for them and of course made gowns for their Barbie dolls.

My little grand daugher watched me sew with the same fascination that I had watching my mother,How could I refuse her when she asked me to teach her to sew?

I found that the easiest way to teach a young child to sew is using plastic canvas, a plastic needle and yarn. You can buy these in all sizes and shapes at craft stores i. I bought some small round plastic canvas for my little granddaughter and she had hours of entertainment sewing up and down through the holes. I did not have to worry about her sticking herself with the needle as it has a blunt end.

Threading the needle with the yarn was a bit hard for her until I showed her an easy way. I will share it with you so you will not have to spend time helping with needle threading and also the child can learn to sew independently.

Cut a small paper about one inch square. Fold it in half. Lay the end of the yarn inside the folded paper. Trim the paper edges to fit through the eye of the needle. With the yarn sandwiched in the folded paper, slide the paper and yarn through the hole of the needle.

When these little plastic pieces were filled completely, she proudly used them as scatter rugs for her Barbie doll house.

When she became a little more skilled I gave her two fabric pieces about 4x6 inches. I showed her how to do a running, or small basting stitch using a needle and thread, and she sewed these two pieces together on three sides. She then turned it right side out and stuffed it with polyfiller. She sewed the end closed and had a pillow for her doll.

Soon, she and her little friend used this same method of sewing fabric together on three sides then added a narrow strip of fabric sewed on to each side and made themselves purses.

Sewing is a delightful way for little girls to spend an afternoon.

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