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Articles by Kristi Borchardt

Browse published articles attributed to Kristi Borchardt, with full-archive search.

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By Kristi BorchardtJul 3, 20071 topic

Sewing Class: The Difference Between Pressing and Ironing

Next to your sewing machine, your iron is your most important piece of equipment for sewing.nnFor the best results with your sewing projects you should start every project by pressing the pieces of fabric to be cut, and then pressing in between every line sewn. This allows you to have good crisp edges, corners, and seam lines. It sets your stitches (this means the thread is blended in with the fabric instead of sitting on top of the fabric), flattens and smoothes any puckers,

Primary topic: Creativity

3,214 views

By Kristi BorchardtApr 5, 20071 topic

Teaching Children How to Sew

In the "9 Secrets to Successfully Teach Your Child to Sew", I discussed knowing your child's personality. The 4 questions were:n1. Is your child a perfectionist?n2. Do they get frustrated easily?n3. Do they like following specific directions, or do they like to invent things on their own?n4. Are they able to stay on task for a block of time, or do they learn in spurts?nnBefore we delve into the answers to these questions, it is important to remind you of the crucial point of

Primary topic: Creativity

3,023 views

By Kristi BorchardtMay 15, 20071 topic

Learn to Sew: Benefits from Sewing

As I continue to sew with my girls I am made aware of the benefits that can only come from working with your hands; from learning to take flat pieces of material and work with them until they come together to make a 3-dimensional object that not only has purpose but is full of love and care.nnThese benefits come from all crafts, not just sewing: woodwork, crocheting, knitting, candle making, painting, cooking... nWhat has surprised me the most are the changes in their charact

Primary topic: Creativity

2,187 views

By Kristi BorchardtJun 28, 20071 topic

Teaching Your Child To Sew

I upgraded my Serger to one that can handle more work. I got one with a computer screen. This required us to take some classes on how to use the machine. When I signed up for the classes (from the same place I bought the machine) I told them that I wanted my oldest daughter to take the class with me, since she would be using the machine as much as me. n nI was amazed at the response, "we do not allow for a parent and a child to be in class together. We believe that children d

Primary topic: Creativity

1,852 views

By Kristi BorchardtJun 30, 20071 topic

Children Sewing: The Hidden Benefits of Repeating Projects

As I mentioned in one of the earlier articles, you should encourage your kids to repeat projects. Just by changing fabrics you are giving: variety, an opportunity to master skills, and the chance to practice visualizing the construction of the project. nnRepeating projects is also a great way to teach your kids to see things differently. Ask them, "what can we change this time/or add, to give this project a special touch"? nnMy youngest automatically repeated every project sh

Primary topic: Creativity

1,845 views

By Kristi BorchardtJun 11, 20071 topic

Teaching Children to Sew: Portfolios

As your child starts learning to sew, take the time to make these two Sewing Notebooks. Your child will be inspired and encouraged by them, and you will find one of them priceless!nnYour Assignment:n1. Let your child choose 2 special 3 ring binders. Buy the kind with a clear pocket on the front.n2. Have them decorate 2 pieces of paper with the following labelsnA. PortfolionB. Sewing Ideasnn*Let them decorate it any way they want - with crayons, paint, stickers, cutting out pi

Primary topic: Creativity

1,774 views

By Kristi BorchardtJun 7, 20071 topic

Teaching Children to Sew: Which Sewing Machine To Use

Even if your child is 3 years old, the only question you must ask yourself to determine if a person is ready to learn to sew is: Will they obey the MOST important rule in sewing? nnWhat is this rule? - Keep your fingers out from under the needle!!!!! When our daughter was 3, I knew that she could understand the dangers and would obey that rule. We bought her an inexpensive sewing machine and three months later she was sewing pillows, and by 6 months she had sewn her first lap

Primary topic: Creativity

1,472 views

By Kristi BorchardtMay 1, 20071 topic

Learn to Sew: Choosing and Preparing Fabrics

You will read or have many people tell you to stick with cotton or cotton polyester blends for your beginning projects. I do agree that these are some of the easiest fabrics to work with. However, my girls thankfully removed my fear of working with other materials. nnWhen I first started sewing, I tried to understand all of the differences between the fabrics: the fibers (natural vs. manmade), the fabrications (woven, knit, non woven)... After being overwhelmed, I stuck with

Primary topic: Creativity

1,356 views

By Kristi BorchardtJun 20, 20071 topic

Sew: Key to a Good Sewing Experience

The key to a good sewing experience is Organization! nnWhen you sit down to sew you don't want to have to spend time searching for the stuff you need to complete a project. It can also be frustrating to have some spare time and be out of what you need.nnThere are some great ways to organize your space. I will share with you what we have done.nnWe are plastic container crazy!! We use all sizes from small to extra large. I have also chosen clear boxes so that we can easily see

Primary topic: Creativity

1,269 views

By Kristi BorchardtJul 26, 20071 topic

Sewing Lessons: More Tips for Teaching Children to Sew

The tips presented here are for those who are working with one or more children, and/or teaching someone else's child. I have learned these things through experience, and they have helped tremendously.nn1. Kids are very good at knowing whether you are telling the truth or not. Don't praise for the sake of praising, only praise for a job truly well done. But don't forget to praise the little steps i.e., having a good eye for threading the needle easily, good pedal control...nn

Primary topic: Creativity

1,234 views

By Kristi BorchardtJul 12, 20071 topic

Sewing Class â Learning to Sew Through Quilting

Quilting is a fabulous way to learn some of the basic skills in sewing. Although there are some very intricate and complicated quilts, there are also a huge amount of very simple patterns. Not only are they full of straight lines, the finished products are magnificent, and plentiful. nnWhat we love the most is, despite the simplicity of some patterns, the finished products look quite difficult. When my daughter started sewing, at the age of 3, she completed several quilting p

Primary topic: Creativity

1,096 views

By Kristi BorchardtJun 22, 20071 topic

Sewing Class: Important Step in Learning to Sew

SEWING MACHINE MAINTENANCEnIf your sewing machine isn't taken care of, your frustrations will lead to quitting. There is nothing worse than sitting down to sew and your machine won't work properly! nHere are two things you need to do to keep your machine in shape and ready.nn1. All threads produce lint. Thankfully the kind we are all going to use, now, doesn't produce as much as the inexpensive kind! However, you still MUST clean the lint out of your machine. Lint builds up i

Primary topic: Creativity

1,039 views

By Kristi BorchardtSep 7, 20071 topic

Sewing Class: Sew Unique

One of the greatest things about sewing is the opportunity to express yourself, be creative, and show your unique style.nnI read a great quote (unfortunately I didn't write down the author in my journal) part of which stated, "the problem with many human systems and organizations is that they... promote unity to the extent that the individual becomes a member of the herd and loses himself".nnAny of us who have gone to school as a child, can understand this statement. How sad

Primary topic: Creativity

1,020 views

By Kristi BorchardtJun 13, 20071 topic

Learn to Sew: The Effects of Cheap Thread

I am all about saving money when I can. There are so many ways to save money when sewing: from making your own patterns, to shopping sales for your fabric, notions, and patterns. nnWhen we first started sewing I would hear people talk about the differences in threads, only to go to the store and find four spools for a $1.00, and buy them.nnNot until we were sewing weekly were the effects of cheap thread on our machine understood.nnFirst, all threads throw off lint in the mach

Primary topic: Creativity

959 views

By Kristi BorchardtMay 19, 20071 topic

Teaching Children to Sew: Your Sewing Space

WHERE?nAlthough we would all love to have our own sewing /craft room, most of us have to find a small corner in the house where we can sew. Through experience I have learned, that if you want to learn something, or more importantly you want your kids to learn something, the source needs to be readily available. Otherwise, "out of sight, out of mind". nI started very early having "centers" around the house (primarily in the areas where we "lived" the most) for my girls. Some y

Primary topic: Creativity

914 views

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