Summer Sewing 1-2-3

There are lots of fun projects planned for the Summer Sewing 1-2-3 at CAM. These classes are perfect for a child/adult pair. Sew together with your little one, make some memories and a project together! What better way to spend a summer morning?

The great thing about this summer session - you can take one class or take them all! Some projects might not tickle your fancy, and others might be just what you are looking for. Like the Cape Class. Make a cape for your little fairy, super hero, flying nymph or butterfly. The Cape Class is perfect for the guys.  What little guy doesn’t want a cape?  Get him interested at a young age, and he’ll be able to sew a button, hem his pants or fix a knee tear.  Then ther is the Doll Quilt Class. This one will be 2 sessions, but tons of fun.  Each class we’ll learn something new about sewing, on the machine or by hand, and get to practice what we learn, class after class.
The thing to remember: Let the kids make all the creative choices. Let them learn about color and patterns and shapes. Share with them as they discover how to make a pattern and sew it together! They’ll be learning about math, color, pattern and sew much more.

Here’s the schedule (see below). Be sure to check the CAM website for items that you’ll need to bring. I’ll be updating the CAM website over the next week with more details about each class. So check back. Your sewing kit, your sewing machine are staples, you’ll need to bring them to every class.

All classes are $18 (for parent/child pair) with an occasional materials fee. Come for one or come for all, but you must register. This is not a drop-in class.

Classes are from 9:30am-11:30am, starting sharply at 9:30.

• June 5 - Tote Bag
• June 12 - Zipper Pouch
• June 19 -Applique
• June 26 - Cape
• July 10 - Doll Quilt 1
• July 17 - Doll Quilt 2
• July 24 - Bucket Hat
• July 31 - Belt
• August 7 - Apron
• August 14 - Sock Critter
• August 21 - Lunch Bag

You can see some photos from classes here

To register for any or all of the classes, please contact The Children’s Art Museum 413.625.6826

Posted by ZanneStar

Sewing 1-2-3 Vests

Sewing 1-2-3 Vests

Originally uploaded by zannestar.

Back in February (oh! I know it’s been a while, things have been very very busy! I have tons to catch you up on, one post at a time), we made our own vests! I knew that everyone liked green and blue, so I found some really wonderful fleece, a solid green, a solid blue and a “dip dyed” blue/green fleece. I made a quick pattern based on each individual measurements and they cut the pieces out! Using a needle and thread, they stitched the side seams and shoulder seams together. The gang was really creative with their panels, and each used a different color for each piece.

posted by ZanneStar

Sewing 1-2-3 until next week…

I’m a bit under the weather so we won’t be having class tonight! So our project for this week to make covers for our sewing journals will move to next week. And the week after that…we are making sock critters! So remember to bring in your pair of socks!

posted by ZanneStar

Sewing1-2-3 Making Wallets

I’m a little behind in posting about our projects, so here’s a little catch-up!

Remember this post about the wallets? Well…it was a great success!

After cutting out the wallet pattern pieces out of felt, we sketched our image for applique and used it as a pattern piece.

Then we embellished our applique, in this case, we added eyes, nose, mouth and whiskers!.

The applique was then sewn to the front of the wallet. Then the wallet was sewn following this tutorial.

posted by ZanneStar

voila! BEAUTIFUL pincushions!

During our most recent Sewing 1-2-3 session, we made pin cushions! We started by cutting out the shapes of our cushions out of felt using pinking shears. Then some sketched their ideas in their notebook for a pattern, while others cut felt freely to use for an applique.

We then decorated our cushion pieces with embroidery and applique.

Once that was done, we stitched three sides of the cushion together and left the last side open so we could stuff the cushions.



After the cushions were firmly filled, we stitched 1/2 of the last open side closed, then stuffed the cushion even further, and stitched the last bit closed.

Posted by ZanneStar

Classes that Still have Spaces

Sew 1-2-3 w/Zanne Blair
Mondays 4-6pm (7+ Younger children welcome with caregiver)

A 14 part workshop, Sewing 1-2-3. It’s a series of workshops focusing on sewing, learning about needle, thread, fabrics and pattern making. All materials will be included unless specified. Reservations must be made in advance. $140 for 14 classes. $15 for individual classes. There is a one time materials fee of $25 and it inlcudes a basic sewing kit with basic supplies needed for class.

Little Brushes Kids Art Playshop
Mondays 9:30-11:30 am Ages 3-6

Get messy with our paint and create class. We allow the freedom to explore with many different mediums, materials and techniques. We will also guide our little artists imagination’s with fun and creative art activity ideas. We encourage our little artists to have fun with art, to have fun with friends while gaining confidence through their artistic explorations

and for our younger friends

Parent Child Class
Fridays 9:30-11:30am (0-3 1/2 years) $100 (10 sessions)

The Parent/Child classes will meet once a week for parents and their children . Age appropriate activities such as simple crafts, seasonal activities, circle time and puppet shows alternate with free play while parents share insights about life with a toddler and offer support for parents seeking to create a home life conducive to healthy and joyful growth.

Sew 1-2-3 - Pirate Purse and Star Bi-Fold Wallet

To prepare for our next class that meets Monday, January 29 4pm-5:30pm, I’ve put together 2 items.

The first is this darling Pirate Purse. Since February is Treasure Chest month at CAM, I thought a sweet Skull and Cross Flowers were in order. This is made from felt and completely hand sewn. I’ve created a small tutorial for this project if you’d like to try it on your own. If you have a chance to make it, be sure to bring it to the CAM by February 25, where all the pirate paraphernalia will be on display.

This is a bi-fold wallet with a place for bills, cards and change. Click here to downlowd the pattern for the wallet, create your own applique and follow the tutorial I’ve created and make your own. If you have questions post them here!

posted by Zannestar

Sewing 1-2-3 doll pattern

Our first class started as counted cross stitch, and turned into doll making. Both included pattern making. Here, a drawing was made, then traced for a pattern.

The pattern was then cut apart and the pieces used to cut different fabrics for different parts of the doll. We were unable to finish during class, but the doll was taken home to be worked on. Maybe next week we can post pictures of the finished doll!

posted by ZanneStars

Wooden Hoops and Sewing123 Kits

sewing123hoops

Materials for the Basic Sewing Kits arrived today. 4″ wooden hoops for needlework (our first class Jan22 is Counted Cross Stitch).

In the same lovely box were the bulk of the goodies for the Basic Sewing Kits. Scissors, needles, thread, pins, markers, seam rippers, pins, pin cushion, ruler, and a few more items.

This Basic Sewing Kit is for each attendee that pays the 1 time materials charge. What’s left? I need to find a boxes to hold it all!

posted by Zannestar

Sewing with Your Kids

One Hour Craft has great tutorials on teaching your child to sew with a sewing machine. Here is the first lesson and the second lesson was just posted. And here is lesson 3 How to Sew a Bag.

I learned to sew at a young age and found it something I have relied on continuously. It’s a wonderful skill to teach at a young age, it promotes a great feeling of accomplishment, teaches a ton of math (I didn’t figure that out until I got to college and studied patternmaking), and opens the door to a whole new set of creative skills. There are lots of resources for helping your kids learn to sew, there are even classes you can take together so you can learn side by side. Not only are the skills learned invaluable, the memories are priceless.

The workshops planned for Sewing 1-2-3 don’t use a sewing machine, we will be creating all sorts of different stitches with hand needle and thread. We’ll measure and make patterns. We’ll cut fabric and sew marvelous creations. We’ll keep track of it here.

posted by Zannestar