How To Teach Your Child to Sew A Bag: Lesson 3

Uggh, I am having loads of problems with this site, please report any you have to me so I can iron them out.

Anyway, to brighter things, this is the third lesson in this series. I am assuming in this lesson that you have already worked through the two previous lessons. If not, please do. I won’t be repeating the basics in this lesson and am assuming that you will do the groundwork like making sure your child remembers where to place her hands and her feet.

This lesson was great. Amelia (Milly as we call her) loved it because she finally has something very spectacular to show for it.

Ta Da – Her First Bag!

Remember to bring along a large dose of patience and some sticky tape (if you need to tape your mouth together from the sheer frustrations and imperfection of it all). Milly is still game enough to sew and doesn’t seem to be too traumatised, so this is a good sign. Note that this lesson may require more help from you, depending on the age of the child. Littlies (5-8 year olds) will need more help than older ones.

Right, let’s get to it…

You will need:

Two felt squares

Fabric Glue

A ruler

Tailor’s chalk or felt-tipped pen

Floral Trim (or lace, rick rack)
Felt Ribbon

Thread

Sewing Machine

Step 1 – Attaching the Decorative Trim
Take the two felt squares. Ask your child to draw a line across both squares about 5cm from the top. Ask her to measure the floral trim and cut two pieces to cover each line. Ask her to then cover the line with a line of fabric glue, then stick the floral trim to each line. You made need to demonstrate on the first one, and let her complete the second one herself (remember ladies, don’t take over… resist the urge). Hold the trim down for a minute until it sticks. Then demonstrate how to sew the trim to the felt with a straight stitch. Let her start to do this when she feels confident. Milly had no troubles with this.

Step 2 – Sewing the Letter onto the Bag

Help your child to draw the first letter of her name on one of the felt squares. For little children there is nothing better than a monogram. Ask them to trace the lines and cut the amount of floral trim needed. Then ask her to glue the lines and to stick the trim to the lines. I sewed this part for Amelia, but talked to her the whole time (particularly when pivoting). If your child is older, she will probably be able to do this herself.

Step 3 – Ruling a line around the edge

Take this piece of felt and turn it over. On the underside, get your child to draw lines along the three edges that will be sewn (missing the top of course). Make sure that this line is drawn leaving at least two cms from the edge of the felt. If the lines are really crooked, send your child to check on the cat, dog, bird, weather (whatever) and subtly redirect them with the pen (good luck with this one).
Step 4 – Gluing the felt pieces together

Take both pieces of felt. Put the right sides together, makiing sure that the trimmed lines are matching each other. Ask your child to put a line of fabric glue along the inner edge of one of the felt squares (as shown below) and then ask her to stick the two pieces of felt together. She should press the two layers together for a minute or so until the glue begins to dry.

Step 5 – Sewing the felt pieces together

Sit your child down at the machine and ask her to sew around the line on the felt, sewing the two pieces of felt together. Help her to pivot at the corners. I told Miily when to slow down and when to pivot at the corners. She did a great job. It should look something like the photo below at this point. When this is done take the pinking shearings and have your child trim the edges of the bag.

Then have your child turn the bag inside-out. She will be amazed at what she has sewn.

Step 6 – Sewing the straps onto the bag

I did this part as it is a little fiddly. Take the felt ribbon and cut two lengths as long as you want the straps to be. Then sew these on the outside of the bag. The trick to getting them to stay is to sew a square first and then cross through the middle of it – yeah told you it was a little fiddly.

Then let her bathe in the glory, ask her to model it for you etc. Basically make a great big fuss over it.

I asked Milly, “Are you happy with it?”, and her first comment was, “Yeah but when can I sew with real fabric I am sick of this ferelt (yes, that is seven-year-old for felt). Well, soon. Maybe.

Enjoy! Tell your friends to come visit this new site. And please let me know if you make one, I want photos.
Mia

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