Thread Filled Thursdays: Learning to Sew a Pillowcase

For about a year, the ladybug, my oldest daughter, has been asking me to teach her how to sew. She’s been persistent (I wonder where she gets that from) about learning before she turns ten years old. DRAMA CITY. She still has a full year and seven months before THAT happens. As a part of her Christmas present, we gifted her the kids introduction to sewing class at JoAnn Fabrics. I snagged the class for 50% off (those coupons really come in handy!) and picked the JoAnn’s that we wanted her to take the class. 

In sewing mom fashion, I was going to let her pick from my fabric stash, but her taste is just as expensive as mine, and while I know that the pillow would have come out fabulously, I didn’t want my future dress material being used. We talked about it, she’s forgiven me. We settled on some ladybug fabric with polkadot accents. She loved the pairing, and I’m glad that I did well enough with my fabric matching skills. I’ve still got it. 

When she got home from the class, her excitement was palpable! She got to use a VIKING and she loved being able to use all of the tools that she sees me use at home often. She did have some concerns with her stitching being straight. I blinked for a moment as I weighed whether or not to share the fact that the first cloth diapers that I made for her twin siblings looked more like high end pantyliners and not cute poop catchers. All because I couldn’t sew a straight line, and had no idea what a seam allowance was. She politely giggled, yet gave me an incredulous look that only an eight year old can give. She was trying to figure out if this was a moment in which mommy was trying to make her feel better by sharing a “me too” story, or if I was really that bad at sewing when I was 30 years of age, that she has me beat. My kids have too much brain power going on in those noggins of theirs. 

It makes me so proud to see something that she’s proud of making. She’s also big into jewelry too, and I have the beads embedded into the soles of my feet to prove it. We’re already scheduled for her second level sewing class, where she will make a pair of Cozy Pants, and then we’ll enroll her in the class for an elastic waist skirt with color-blocked hem. SHE’LL LEARN ALL OF THE SEWING LANGUAGE! 

If you’re interested in enrolling a child of yours in this course, they can sign up in store or on the web. Classes are geared towards children 8 years old and up. If you don’t have a JoAnn Fabrics near you, you can always learn to sew online – and stop and start the video when you need to – via Craftsy! This particular class is for a pencil skirt, so it only has two seams that you’re working with, instead of the three of the pillow case, but a similar class of sorts, and not geared just towards kids. It’s never too late! 

Stay tuned for the sharing of Lil Miss’ venture into knitting (these kids are going to totally eat away at my crafting stash) and the scarf that she’s making for herself. 

Until then, make it a fantastic day!