I went home from work last Friday. Second son planted a quick kiss on my check and returned to his seat. He had a thimble on his finger and he was doing some running stitches. I saw his work and it didn’t look so good at all. He told me he wanted to finish his H.E.L.E. assignment that night so he could do other things on weekend.
How to teach kids to sew a running stitch?
1. I asked my nine-year-old boy the definition of a running stitch. He told me it is made by passing the needle under and over the fabric to create a straight line. The goal is to mend the torn through repeated running stitches.
2. He knew how to sew a running stitch but he just can’t straighten the cloth after the stitches. His work looked like a cramped cloth.
3. I made a pattern for him to follow. I told him to follow the lines. I used paper instead.
4. Trick for a nice looking running stitch: do not pull the needle through the fabric at once, but instead, push it back and through the fabric and out again then slowly pull the needle until the end of the thread.
His finished product after three tries.
Now equipped with the basic knowledge in sewing, second son may redo his bag stitches 🙂
Ang pagiging maparaan (resourcefulness) is surely one trait in my list for teenagers. At times it may look not as neat and it even seem to be a cheat but resourcefulness is deeper than this. It stretches ones spirit further, instill confidence and self trust and it can even save time, resources, and opportunity. I am an entrepreneur and I believe this trait is surely a part of our tools. Hope your second will make it well in life; I can see he will, he has the positive attitude and he is making small steps towards a happy life.
Sewing has always been a trick I’m proudest of to learn as a tween. I learned around 5th grade and it stayed with me. Even as I moved out, my sewing kit is always with me. Comes in handy as an adult!
i agree. one way to survive decently 🙂
This is cute! I think very helpful yung gagawan sila ng pattern to follow. It’s hard to do the straight lines but his effort is great! I remember learning to sew my barbie’s clothes dati and I failed haha
hahaha. such fun memories. yes, he was able to follow the pattern. hope he be able to use this (how to sew) in the future.
cool! This actually reminds me of my “Edukasyong Pantahanan” subject way back in elementary.. we were taught how to sew as well and it was so much fun… As an adult, I’m happy that I somehow learned how to sew my clothes.. I made my own costume every time I attend cosplay events so teaching kids on how to do this on their own would be very useful
That is coolness. When I was in highschool and we were taught to sew. I just dont understand the need to learn. And then fast forward and I am a mother now. Everything has a reason.. And learning to sew in school is to prepare us for today.
I can’t see the lesson in stitching as in stitching alone. What I see here is diskarte. Congratulations, you have honed second son’s analytical thinking once again. Everything is a lesson in itself, but has a bigger implication on others. 🙂
It’s nice that you have taught your son how to sew. It’s a sign of good parenting. Most of the parents I know wouldn’t really bother or they are too busy to teach. Some would even say that it’s for the females to do it. 🙁
This article made me smile. 🙂 I had a tough time finishing my sewing projects way back in gradeschool. Not that my mother did not help me, but I really try to do my projects and homework on my own. These sewing skills are really helpful in the latter years. I’m in my 20’s now, and have recently became fond with knitting and crocheting. Then, I realized that it would have been best if I paid lots of attention during my sewing classes in my grade school years. 😀 Your son is lucky to have you!
Haha. Those years as well. I was so clueless and felt had no talent in sewing. But yes, it was one lesson in school that I was able to use now that Im old enough.
This reminds me when I was little and we had to sew as part of our school activities. I remember how hard it seemed, even if using a pattern. Back then sewing was very popular and you would get lots of patterns in the shops 🙂
Haha. Me, too. My mom, who might have thought her daughter was a hopeless case, enrolled me in a sewing class outside the achool. She had a modista friend then. Learned a few techniques from that class
Oh this is the part of my Elementary life that I hate. Sewing for others is as easy as one two three but for me no.. no… no… For some odd reasons I find difficulty in it. Honestly, my Mom did this project for me hehehehe.
Hahahaha. Unfortunately for me, my mom was busy with her work that I have to learn it myself. I cant remember my grades anymore but I know I got low a score for that activity. Ehehe.
This hobby be could be used to assist children to develop excellent cognitive and concentration skills, good luck with the learning!
Thank you. I like how you take that. Even I was amazed by your interpretation.
I hate sewing, to be honest. It’s not just really my thing. I know how pity it can be not to able to do properly a simple stitch. So hats-off of to you for teaching the kids, especially boy. And of course, good job to your second son! 🙂
Thank you. Haha, i did not appreciate sewing before. But now, it becomes so useful. Hihihi. Good thing I listened to my teacher then.
I liked sewing. It was one of the subjects that I liked in school. 🙂 It’s good that this is still part of the curriculum of kids these days. It’s an important skill, especially for women.
When I was a student then, i really cant understand the why and the need to learn sewing. Fast forward to the now and Understood everything.
I wish I’d been taught to sew. Not only for the small problems you could have with some clothes that end up with hole. But I’d definitely be more effective to cosplay around. I love to cosplay and I wish I could sew and know more about all different material and end up with a great, complex and realistic cosplay Haha. It’s great to teach kids to sew I think
Definitely that skill in sewing will help you with your cosplay. It might not be too late to learn sewing 🙂
I think it’s a great idea to teach kids how to sew, they don’t have to rely on anyone else to fix their things, they can do it themselves : ) I will have to teach my kids, that way they can sew rips and tears on their clothes or backpacks, OR create things… nice post subject.