My 2 youngest boys have a career class at school. While in the class, they have a sewing unit. They sew a pillowcase. My youngest son had the class last semester and my second youngest is off today to make his. His fabric is ready for stitching.
I really thought they would cover the ironing/pressing portion of sewing -- but they did not. So I sent my youngest to school (a couple of months ago) with wrinkled fabric and he did his best to "sew around the wrinkles."His pillow case is off...but he will keep it as he accomplished something grand and he did it without me. That is the best part.
Now, he wants to make a stuffed animal so he can give something he made to someone that "needs" a new stuffed animal.
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What a sweet boy!!! It is so good hearing this. I learned a few months ago that schools are not teaching sewing or cooking. What a mistake.
Kathy
1 comment
by rescuer
18 Feb 2016
I think some areas do not teach some of the classes. In my area many of the wood and metal shop classes are discontinued in the suburban areas. The machines and tools are expensive so many districts opt to use the money elsewhere once the teachers retire. Thankfully, some schools in my area still have sewing classes/rooms and with the younger children there are still some shop classes. I am told it is hard to find qualified teachers.
6257My son learnt to sew in the first year in high school. One day at our local Lindcraft store a lovely customer told him that he had no right to look at patterns as he was taking up space. Little did she know that he was making and selling shirts to the staff at his high school.
1 comment
by rescuer
18 Feb 2016
People never cease to amaze me. Your son amazes me in a very good way. Some of the people, like the lady telling him to move, amaze me but in negative way. I just don't understand "pattern drawer hogs" as my sons have been pushed aside while getting patterns for me.
I hope we all encourage the young ones to be involved in the world. We all need to learn and grow each day.
4443What a sweet child! Love that he is so giving. And who cares if the pillow is off...it'll sleep just fine! Tell him a bunch of women are proud of him!
1 comment
by rescuer
17 Feb 2016
He often reads over my shoulder. He will see the comments and I am so glad to have friends all over the world that support me and my children too. You all rock!
35675No mention of boys and sewing to my husband. He thinks they should all love drag racing and hot rods. My grandson loved cars as a young boy and still up on them but his niche is computers--at 16 he is building web pages and making money cleaning snow off driveways--he did make a small dog print pillow when very young and I have it up in the spare bedroom. Shame on the program for not teaching how to prepare fabric for a good outcome. Teacher should have prepared the kit herself to have them ready. A friend and I volunteer teach a short day class or short evening class in the spring through our extension office and we prepare the kits to save time. We do discuss first the proper preparation with demonstration on cutting. If they are to bring their own fabric, washing, drying and pressing is in the prerequisite. Hurray for your sons--you have taught them well.
1 comment
by rescuer
17 Feb 2016
My boys love "boy things" too. I can tell you that my older boys have better lives because they can cook, clean and do more for themselves.
Thank you -- I do try to teach them well
18491Absolutely adorable! Good for him. I am so glad he does not have the thought that girls sews not boys.
4 comments
by rescuer
17 Feb 2016
He knows that most boys do not sew, but my father raised us to do all the chores and work of life. We could not drive a car unless we knew how to change a tire, change the oil, and other major things about a car. We all learned to cook and sew. It really helps when buying clothes.
by gerryb
17 Feb 2016
I had to know how to chg. a tire too!!! However, now I REALLY know how....you stand on the side of the road looking at it and I can assure you some nice person will stop & chg. it!! That's a Southern gal's way!
173693What a pity that whoever was running the class didn't ask for the fabric that was to be used ,to be ironed at home & neatly folded flat,if they couldn't iron it at school ,so a good out come could be achieved.Your son probably wasn't the only child to have this problem.Experiences like this often put children wanting to learn certain things
1 comment
by rescuer
17 Feb 2016
Thankfully he is quite a determined child and is excited to do another pillow case after he does the stuffed animal.
25212It says something about the parenting that he wants to do something for someone else. Congratulations!!
1 comment
by rescuer
16 Feb 2016
He was born wonderful! I do think he sees me giving...as his reason for wanting to make it was to show how much he really cares.
Thank you!
2753He has the sweetest heart. I hope you post it so we can encourage him further!
That's discouraging that he wasn't taught the pressing part. Tut tut at the teacher.
You however can correct that now and he will see what a joy and how much easier it is when finished neatly.
2 comments
by rescuer
16 Feb 2016
He really does have the sweetest heart.
I didn't think they would have those rules but you might be right.
158716Congratulations on passing on this wonderful craft to your boys. Sewing is so much fun! I've only got 2 grand-daughters who are interested in it - Aqualina who is 6 today and Ophelie who will be 6 in April. They love coming into Nanna's sewing room and finding all the pretty little things to play with. It's great that you have instilled this love of craft into them rescuer. I know you will treasure the pillowcase and anything that your sons make by themselves. Love Chris
1 comment
by rescuer
16 Feb 2016
My eldest boys know how to hem pants and repair clothes. Even if they just learn that much -- it is worth it.
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743293That is fantastic that they have this opportunity at school, but too bad about the pressing...it seems it should have been a part of the curriculum...
1 comment
by rescuer
16 Feb 2016
I am glad they include this in school. It is very brief but I love it when my children learn from other people.
318455What a wonderful idea for your boys to learn to sew. Shame about not being taught to press. For me that is the most important thing about getting a good finish.
1 comment
by rescuer
16 Feb 2016
I was stunned but the boys know better from watching me. I think that is why the youngest one tried to stitch around the wrinkles.
255050Kudos to him and to want to continue to learn. We learn from our mistakes so they are never wasted time. I hope we get to see his finished projects in Sewing so we can cheer him on in his efforts.
1 comment
169064What a pity the teaching was a bit lacking - it must be disappointing for him not to have the best result possible.
Are you going to let him make a stuffed animal at home - in the hoop?
1 comment
by rescuer
16 Feb 2016
Yes! It is the size he wants. He hopes to make one pocket sized. Then, after he has watched it stitch out, I will let him have a go at a large one using a pattern that has only 2 pieces. He has been practicing curves and turns on the machine of and on since he made the pillow case.
140717You got to love him for the thought. Wrinkled or not I am always glad to have youngsters introduced to the craft.
1 comment
by rescuer
16 Feb 2016
His wrinkled pillowcase is a treasure to me. He did his best and tried to make it "work" He plans to use it and it really does look OK. I am very glad they both want to learn and they both find ways to work around obstacles.
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