The market on Saturday was a quiet one, with fewer stalls and fewer visitors than usual. But I sold six bath puppets and had a pleasant morning, so I was happy. Sarah sold some soap, not a sellout, but definitely enough to cover the cost of the table, so she's happy too.
I've been involved with a craft group in a retirement home for a couple of years, as assistant. The lady who was running the group has moved house and decided she can't do it any more, so I'm it. The challenge is to come up with a different project each week! A project that is easy enough for everyone to do, but not childish. I'd love to teach them all to tat, but I don't think that's feasible.
The small boy who modeled my towels was hoping to learn sewing at school this year. But it turns out that we're still in the Dark Ages here, or the school is anyway, and only girls can attend sewing classes. Right. So I've agreed to give him sewing lessons once a week. This afternoon he's coming for his first lesson. I thought we'd start by making a pin cushion in felt, decorated with different stitches and his initials. I have a feeling he's going to want to use my sewing machine, but I think we must start with hand sewing. I've been trying out some stitches in preparation:
The kids I've taught all were more interested in machine sewing than hand sewing, but they had to hand sew in a straight line with fairly even stitches before moving on to the machine. I used gingham so that they'd have lines to follow. I wonder if any of them still sew?
ReplyDeleteOh that’s a good idea. I’ll see if I can find some gingham before he gets here.
DeleteThat’s going to be a huge challenge to find something every week for the craft group. How lovely to teach a youngster to sew. Good for him wanting to learn.
ReplyDeleteHi Jane
ReplyDeleteI’m not a textiles teacher but when kids were learning to use sewing machines in the school where I worked, they used to ‘trace’ over lines and patterns without any thread in the needle.
Bev
Thanks Bev. I’m not a textiles teacher either, so I need all the help I can get!
DeleteYou do wear a number of hats, and all befitting! Wishing you success in your new ventures ๐๐๐๐๐
ReplyDeleteSo glad you got some sales!! :)
ReplyDeleteSounds like you will be super busy with crafts and teaching both!! :)
Teaching sewing when the students drools after machinery is a challenge. I think I would take a page from the weaving teachers I know: Teach a small bit of vocabulary; get the student familiar with needle, thread, cloth somehow; then sit them down at the machine and let them play. The kid might be more willing to do the tedious with hand sewing if there's always the reward of working that machine.
ReplyDelete