Welcome to a place where we can share ideas about grandparenting, especially ways to pass spiritual values and family stories to the next generation.

Mary is the co-author of The Grandparent Connection: 365 Ways to Connect With Your Grandchild's Heart.
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Co-author of The Grandparent Connection: 365 Ways to Connect With Your Grandchild's Heart

Friday, January 3, 2014

Sewing made easy


About three years ago, Pops and I started a new tradition: having each grandchild spend a special weekend with us by him/herself. We got the idea from a friend who told me that she did this. 

When my friend suggested this, I couldn't imagine not including all of the grandkids in whatever grandparent fun Pops and I had planned. But now, with seven grandkids, I sure see the wisdom of her words!

Of course it's wonderful to have all of the grands over together, but you just don't get that special one-on-one time. Time when you can really get to know your grandchild's heart.

Not too long ago, our oldest granddaughter came over for one of her special weekends with Nana and Pops.  Knowing that she wanted to sew, and that my sewing skills are limited, I was prepared. I had purchased a couple of dresses that had been marked down ... and marked down again, until they were almost at give-away prices. When selecting them, I didn't look at what the item looked like, but instead wondered what the fabric could become.
When my granddaughter came over, we began with one of the bargain buys, a smocked tube dress. My granddaughter turned it into the cutest apron. Snip here ... snip there, a couple of seams on the side, a ribbon for ties ...  Presto—the apron that you see pictured to your left. 
It was fun to watch my granddaughter sew the seams on the same sewing machine I used when I was a 13-year-old girl. And when her mom saw the apron, she said that she remembered sitting by her own grandmother's side, learning to sew.

Do you have any special sewing memories with your grandchild or with your grandmother?

Have a wonderful weekend,
Mary 
www.marymaywrites.com

Post and Photo Copyright © 2012, 2014 Mary May Larmoyeux. All rights reserved.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

What memories. My mother taught all five of us to embroider after a busy day of romping in the fields and wading streams. We had our afternoon baths, put on fresh clothes, sipped lemonade on the porch and embroidered while waiting for our dad to return home from work. It felt as though we were living in the Victorian age.

We later learned to use the sewing machine. Two summers ago, I had 6 granddaughters come for a sewing session. I purchased a simple summer pattern with no sleeves or zippers and laid plain cotton fabric on the dining room table for each. They learned to read the pattern, pin, cut out and baste. Only one of the granddaughters now sews. She is a good seamstress and uses French seams for everything. I did teach the others to hem and sew buttons. I like your idea of purchasing a ready made and remaking it into a simple apron. Good memories. -- Rita

Mary May Larmoyeux said...

You are a brave grandmother to have 6 granddaughters come for a sewing session. What a wonderful memory--for you and your granddaughters!

Anonymous said...

What a clever idea. The photos are so unique. Does your granddaughter sew now? About two years ago I purchased inexpensive fabric for four of my grandchildren. One a boy. He was in Boy Scouts and wanted to make some kind of pouch. I placed the fabric on the dining room table and showed them how to lay out a pattern and pin it to the fabric. I used pinking shears and let each one trim around the pattern. I also purchased 4 sewing kits just like mine with all of the supplies needed, straight pins, needles thread, measuring tape, buttons and chalk. They learned to baste and to hem by hand. Each took the fabric home to sew a simple drawstring sun dress with no sleeves. My grandson took his pouch home. Now, three years later, one of the granddaughters designs and makes he own clothes with neatly closed inner seams. She sometimes makes her skirts without patterns. All of my sisters and I learned to sew at an early age and will be forever grateful to our mother for teaching us. Blessings, Rita

Mary May Larmoyeux said...

How fun to read about the special things that you did with your grandkids, Rita! Getting individual sewing kits for the grands and having a "group lesson" is a great idea! Our granddaughter sews by hand a little. She doesn't have a sewing machine ... yet.