Teaching Kids to Sew

Can your kids sew?

My kids have shown an interest on and off for years and I've helped them make things here and there.

But this year I decided it was time to add a bit of structure to their sewing learning - while still trying to keep it fun.

So I created a series of tutorials to help kids learn to sew using a pair of jeans.  

My girls used a pair each of coloured jeans they'd grown out of.

By sewing with an old pair of jeans, the kids also learn about upcycling and making use of materials you have, as well as learning a series of sewing techniques that are gradually built upon so that by the end of the course they should have enough knowledge and competency to tackle most free sewing tutorials you find online!

One of my daughters' friends has also been testing out the tutorials in my book. Here are some of the first things she made.

A fabric basket and tissue pocket.

And a cute pencil case!

Apparently, she enjoyed the sewing so much that her mum had to take her to the charity shop a few weeks later to buy her another pair of jeans to sew with! 

So if you'd like to get your kids sewing, in a fun (and cheap) way - just using materials and fabrics you have on hand. Then do take a look at my e-book - there are more details here.

Or alternatively you can just click on the 'BUY NOW' button just below this picture. 

The book costs just  AU$9.99 . And if you live in the US, with the US exchange rate as it is now - it's only just over $7!!

It would make a great gift for someone for Christmas - perhaps packaged up with an old pair of jeans to get them started!

Happy Sewing!

Christmas Fabric Reusable Christmas Cards

This week I made some more of my 

Upcycled Reusable Christmas Cards.

This time I used some scraps of Christmas fabric that had some mini picture panels on. So I simple cut out some panels and stitched them onto the front of the cards!

I did one in white, one in blue and one in grey denim from jeans scraps I have left over from other projects.

For the tutorial showing how to make these eco- and budget friendly cards, that can be reused and sent on to someone new every year, go here.

And for lots more Handmade Christmas inspiration, please do check out our group Pinterest board

Christmas Shouldn't Cost the Earth

I'll be linking this post to many of the fabulous linky parties whose pretty buttons can be found on the bottom of this page and direct links on my linky party page.

Button Tree Reusable Christmas Card

As part of my Christmas Shouldn't Cost the Earth series this year, I've been making some Reusable Upcycled Denim Christmas Cards.  

I created them because I feel that Christmas Cards are quite wasteful in that they are 'single use' then thrown out.

These cards are more eco-friendly, first of all because they are made from upcycled materials, denim from jeans, card from cereal boxes and fabric scraps, buttons and ribbon; but also because they have a clear pocket on the inside where you can insert your personal greeting. This can then be removed and replaced and the card resent to someone else the following year!

This card was made white denim from a pair of old jeans, fabric scraps and buttons for the tree.

The other upcycled reusable cards I've made so far are:

If you're interested in making your own - you can find the tutorial here.

To see more ideas for eco- and budget friendly Christmas Crafts - take a look at my

Christmas Shouldn't Cost the Earth page.

And keep coming back as I'm adding more projects and ideas all the time - like yesterday's round up of

100 Handmade Advent Calendar Ideas

I'll be linking this post to many of the fabulous linky parties whose pretty buttons and direct links can be found on my linky party page.

Witchy Messenger Bag

One of the last clothes upcycles I did for my daughter's carnival stall was this cute Witchy Messenger Bag.

I made it from a pair of jeans and an old shirt and used my own messenger bag from jeans tutorial here.

I was really happy that I found a great use for the collar of the shirt - as a skirt for the witch.

 I think this collar-skirt works well and will definitely be using that idea again in the future!

 I also love that I found another use for the green and black socks. I made a sock monkey from the main part, 

but there was still some of the socks left over as they were quite long - that's what I used for the witches socks appliqué!

And the purple shirt fabric works really well for the lining of this bag. And the rustic look of the worn jeans pocket is another feature I really like!

Well that's my final Halloween project for this year!

I shall share a final few Halloween features from the Round Tuit party tomorrow - in case you want any last minute spooky inspiration!

Personalised Needle Book - A Tutorial

I made these needle books for my girls as part of a sewing kit gift I made to say thank you for pattern testing the tutorials in 

my new e-book.

They are super simple to make. I used denim scraps from old jeans (white and blue) which makes the needle cases nice and sturdy.

To make this needle book you will need,

1 piece main outer fabric 16 x 10 cm (6.25 x 4")

1 piece inner fabric 20 x 14 cm (8 x 5.5")

Scrap inner fabric and fusible webbing for initial

2 pieces felt for pages 12 x 8 cm (4.75 x 3.25")

1 piece stitch in velcro 2.5 cm (1") long

First iron your fusible webbing to your fabric scrap, draw the mirror image of your initial letter, cut out and place on your main outer fabric piece. 

Fold this piece in half to find the centre of the front cover. Iron then appliqué stitch into place.

Now place this outer rectangle face up on top of your main inner piece which should be facing down. In this case your fabrics should be wrong sides together.

Double fold the inner fabric over the edges of your outer fabric like this. Pin into place.

Continue this all the way around. At the corners, fold one side in as shown in this photo, then continue to double turn the edges on the next side.

Pin then stitch this 'binding' in place close to the inner edges.

Add your velcro

First cut your velcro in half lengthways. 

Then lay one side each on the inner edges of your needle book cover. Pin then stitch into place.

Stitch around each velcro rectangle twice to make sure it's secure. The stitching will get tugged every time the book is opened.

The pages

Fold your main book cover in half and place a pin in the centre.

Then take your two felt rectangles and fold them in half both together and place a pin in the middle.

Now place your felt pages inside your needle book cover, matching up your centre pins.

Stitch into place along the pin lines.

That is your needle case finished and ready to add pins to.

I used the same fabrics as the girls sewing kit bags for these needle cases, so that everything matches.

My girls love their sewing kids and needle cases - I'm looking forward to doing lots more sewing with them!

This tutorial is also available as a free PDF download here.

If you want to see how to make the sewing kit bag shown in the picture above, you will find that tutorial here.

If you liked this tutorial - there are over 100 sewing tutorials for all kinds of things and all levels of sewing ability. Do take a look at 

My Free Tutorials Page

I shall be linking this post to many of the fabulous linky parties whose links and buttons can be found on my linky party page.

Resuable Denim Rudolf Christmas Card

This week I made another new Upcycled Denim Reusable Christmas Card.

This time I used a simple Rudolf face applique - adapted from the free printable template that I made for this Mug Rug 

And this Christmas Handibag.

The card has the usual clear plastic vinyl pocket on the inside to add and change your greeting, and a message on the back explaining that the card is reusable and resendable!

To see the other Reusable Upcycled Denim Christmas Cards I've made so far and the tutorials showing how to make your own - go here.

And to see what other eco and budget friendly things I've made so far - see my

Christmas Shouldn't Cost the Earth page.

I shall be linking this project to many of the fabulous linky parties whose pretty buttons can be found on the bottom of this page and direct links on my linky party page.

Another Reusable Upcycled Denim Christmas Card

Last week I made some upcycled denim Christmas Cards that are designed to be reused again and again making them more eco and budget friendly than the usual single-use Christmas cards we send each year!

I'm really pleased with how they turned out - so I've decided to keep on making them.

This week I made a snow globe card.

The card is covered with some grey denim from an old pair of jeans. The snowman is fabric scrap appliqué and the snow globe is some clear vinyl I cut from bed sheet packaging!  The snow in the globe is simply some sequins - mostly white and silver, but one stray red one got in there too!! You just shake the card to make it snow over the snowman!

The card has the design on the front, a clear vinyl pocket on the inside to insert your greeting in (and replace with another greeting to resend) and a printed explanation on the back as to the card being resuable and resendable!

What do you think? Would you send reusable cards like this?

They are easy to make - go here for the tutorial.

If you didn't see them, these are the two other cards I made last week.

To see what other eco and budget friendly things that I've made for Christmas so far - see my Christmas Shouldn't Cost the Earth page. There are ideas for Christmas Crafts, stocking fillers and more being added every week.

I shall be linking this post to many of the fabulous linky parties whose pretty buttons can be found on the bottom of this page and direct links on my linky party page.