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1. My neice is 6 and shows a slight interest in sewing. Is it too soon to start teaching her to sew? How would I start, what should I start with, any other advice on teaching a six year old?
2. Any advice on looking for fabric in Vietnam? I hear they specialize in silk, but any thing else to look for?
Thanks for any info!
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I can only offer information on your first question. Six is
not too young if she has shown interest. My daughter did her
first sewing project when she was three. (pillows for her
Barbie doll). Both my older kids have enjoyed sewing when it
appears to solve a problem they care about. My son sewed a
bag for his marbles the summer before last (he also has
considerable difficulties with fine motor skill activities)
Early projects should be easy to complete - answer a real
need, and made in high quality materials.
I have made handsewing a seam easier by placing dots on both
sides of the fabric so kids know where the needle should go
in and out. All of our sewing projects have come about
because my kids have said they have wanted something -
a boster for a bed, a blanket for a doll,a fancy cape for a
doll the marble bag, a backpack for school...
I use good materials because kids are so tactile. ( I also
learned early on in my sewing that beautiful materials can
help make up for less than expert sewing)
Keep the projects simple. They don't have to learn the finer
points of everything the first time around. For early
projects the joy of making and creating is enough. They will
learn why it makes sense to do tidy work later on. But
teaching them the power of creating and problem solving is
the most important thing at this point.
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