Monday, July 31, 2006

It's Never Too Early ...

... to learn to sew. My five and a half year old grandaughter, Shay, spent the day with me today. I promised her that after lunch we would do some sewing and she could use one of my machines.
We had bought her a toy electric sewing machine for her birthday earlier this year but she has since graduated to using her mother's expensive machine. As
ShellyC began using my machine at the age of seven I had no qualms about allowing Shay to do the same.

Lunch over, I set up a low table on top of 4 old Encyclopedia Britannica (first time they've been used in years) and Shay had brought a low chair with her just for the occasion. Now, what will we make? How about we make Mummy a new oven mitt since her's is wearing out? Good idea.

Sometimes having too much material to choose from creates its own problems, nevertheless Shay made her choice and I cut out the mitt. I did any curved sewing on a different machine - I wasn't getting down to use one on a table only 18 inches from the floor - but Shay did all the quilting of the fabrics. Her mastery and control of a machine is quite amazing for one so young.

Alas, I cut the first mitt too small and by the time it was finished and turned right side out, it was a good size for Shay herself. It will certainly come in handy as she loves cooking even more than sewing. I then found that an apron pattern also included one for an oven mitt, so the whole process was repeated, and one pretty mitt was finished and gift wrapped before Shelly came with Zoe and Luca to have dinner before they all went back to their place.


We had pork spareribs for dinner, and as I was putting them in to marinate, Shay asked what we were going to have for dinner. I told her "Bones." She wasn't very impressed


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19 comments:

Carole Burant said...

A seamstress in the making:-) Such lovely pictures of Shay using the sewing machine...very impressive!! My mom also taught me at a very young age how to sew by hand and also using her sewing machine...she used to make all my clothes while growing up. I never got as good as her but at least I can hem pants/skirts and fix holes! lol Very well done Shay!!!

Motherkitty said...

Such a lovely little girl with her pigtail showing out. She looks so happy being in grandma's kitchen and sewing on a big machine. She is so lucky that you have the patience to teach her.

Hope the spareribs were good.

Tanya said...

Aunty Tanya needs oven mitts too....

Susie said...

What a sweet smile! She looks so proud of her sewing skills! Spending time with grandchildren is one of life's greatest rewards, isn't it?

Val said...

Lovely photos, and lucky girl to have to teach her. My daughters were creative but preferred hand sewing ...until recently. Hmmm I lost my cheap sewing machine to my elder daughter now aged 29! I'm sure it has a more interesting life with her!

Anonymous said...

Precious girl!!! Lovely story. And she looks like she really enjoyed not only being with grandma, but learning how to sew. Wonderful post today Alice.

Jellyhead said...

I can't believe a 5-year-old would have the concentration, let alone the motor skills, to machine sew! What a clever thing Shay is!

Calidore said...

What a clever girl Shay is and how clever is Grandma to foster such an interest in sewing. Well done both of you.

Marlene Depler said...

I am teaching my oldest granddaughter to sew. It is great fun to pass various skills to another generation.

Marcel said...

What a lovely girl, she must have a good looking father!

Alice said...

Nup, she looks like her grandma - either one!

Kerri said...

Oh Alice, I'm laughing at Marcel's comment, and then yours :)
Ross immediately said, "Doesn't she look like her Grandma?"
What a precious little girl and such a lovely smile. I too am very impressed that she has such skills already. Good for you Alice, to take the time, and have the patience to teach her. You're a wonderful grandma, and Shay is a lucky little girl :)
Shay, don't forget Aunty Tanya!

Shawna said...

Precious! What a memory to share!

Sandy Hatcher-Wallace said...

She is so adorable and how wonderful that she wants to sew and can actually handle the machine. I bet the apron & oven mit were precious and that her mum loved them, especially since they were made by this little seamstress in the making.

Meow (aka Connie) said...

What a wonderful thing to do. Grandparents are such special people ... *sigh* I really miss mine. Fortunately, Chicky still has one set - my parents (hubby's parents left us back in 1999, within 3 months of each other) - so she can enjoy them.
Thanks for sharing, take care, Meow

Kali said...

Just brilliant! This post makes me smile from ear to ear...
What a lucky girl Shay is to have spent time with her Gran, making something special for Mummy!

chuckling and Marcel's & your comments..heh heh

Reflection Through The Seasons said...

Well done Shay!
These are special times for you Alice, spending time with your Granddaughter and passing on these skills, something she’ll always remember and thank you for.
What an incredibly pretty girl Shay is, you are certainly well blessed. Love Marion

Sandy said...

That made my day! Adorable. There is a little girl in the neighborhood who comes and visits me so she can garden. Girls are so different than boys so it is nice to have her around. But does she like to talk...and talk...and talk:).

R said...

You are quite right... It never is too early to learn to sew! I just love it when little girls learn.