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.
Repeating 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"?
My youngest automatically repeated every project she came up with. In order to help persuade my older daughter, I encouraged my girls from the beginning of our sewing journey to give some of their projects away.
Although the initial purpose was for the reasons above, over time it uncovered an INCREDIBLE BENEFIT!
The girls now have a desire to make all of their gifts, whether sewing or another craft. It is amazing the joy that comes from making your own gift by hand. The preparation is exciting - thinking about the person that will receive it, the care that goes into making it, and then "the excitement of watching them open it" (my girls' own words)!
Through repeating projects we have gone beyond just creating for special occasions. The girls are using their skills as a ministry, to give gifts to others "just because"; to brighten a persons day when they weren't expecting anything.
As your working with your kids have them repeat projects. One, to master skills, but more importantly to encourage them to give. When you start this early, they learn the joys of blessing others, and the barrier of "what I make may not be good enough to give away" is also broken.
Start with friends and family. Move to neighbors, and people you come into contact within your community. This year my girls gave gifts to the ladies at the post office, the librarian, and a precious lady who works at the convenient store we go to regularly. The expressions on the people's faces of shock and surprise were worth every second of their work. Then venture out and search for those in need.
Just today my oldest daughter found an organization that combines four of her loves: sewing, knitting, babies, and animals. The organization donates blankets, hats, and booties to hospitals for preemies, and toys for the animal shelters.
So encourage your kids to master the skills and experience the greater gift of giving.
Kristi learned to sew right along with her daughters. The girls were age 3 and 6, at the time! Because it was such an enjoyable experience she wants to encourage others to pursue this endeavor.
Kristi experienced the woes of feeling very ignorant just trying to read a pattern and was discouraged from trying to teach her girls on her own. After receiving a new sewing machine from her husband for her birthday, she became bound and determined to fulfill her desire to learn to sew.
Kristi's plan was to learn everything before she tried to teach her kids. But as she was learning, her girls caught her enthusiasm and in amazement she watched them flourish in learning to sew right along with her. Kristi says that, "quite honestly, because we knew nothing I experienced a real freedom in my own education".
At age 8 yrs. old, her younger daughter was sewing her own dresses, and by 11 yrs. old, her older daughter had a passion for sewing, and was a better seamstress than her.
What Kristi wants to do, is share her journey in sewing; to help others know (with hindsight being 20/20) that the best way to learn is by doing. She shared with friends and family their way of learning to sew, as well as, the projects and patterns that built their skills. She has seen it not only work for others, but truly bring a delight into the sewing experience.
To learn MORE, from the “9 Secrets to Successfully Teach Your Child to Sew”, through free articles full of tips, encouragement, suggestions, and projects with step by step directions with lots of photographs, go to http://www.sewingwithkids.com