As we moms (and dads) know, the young ones eventually want to be taught how to do the things that we do, especially the things that we seem to enjoy doing. The divas have all, in their own time, asked me to teach them how to knit or crochet or, big sigh, how to sew. I am going to be blunt here and say that I hate those moments…ooooooo, BAD MOM ALERT!!!!!! Yeah, my stomach sinks, my neck tenses, my right eye begins to twitch…erg.
Why do I hate that moment? Because I now have to gather my strength to try to haul PATIENCE from the chthonic depths of my insanely non-patient soul. I am a bitch. A mega-bitch, and now my sweet child is about to meet the Gorgon.
Don’t get me wrong, I try…I TRRRRRYYYYYYY…but I fail every time. I am so in awe of mothers who can teach their children how to do rather complicated things. I was ecstatic when Oldest Diva learned how to cook and sew in Home Ec in junior high. Middle Diva is learning the same thing now and I am equally thrilled because I am now off the hook. They have all talked me into teaching them to knit and/or crochet at some point, and we all tried, but there comes this point when I hear myself say the SAME freaking thing for the MILLIONTH time and show the SAME thing for the TRILLIONTH time that it occurs to me that I have just illustrated the definition of INSANE! All concerned then just retreat to separate corners of this domicile to salvage our respective dignity.
The Small Diva is the most tenacious of them all. She has been bugging me to teach her to sew for 5 years…she is only 9. We have explored hand sewing, even got a small machine once that did not last long, but she never gives up. And because she is the most sensitive of the Divas, I try REALLY hard not to get snappish.
I bought her a little Singer Pixie for Christmas. I know, I set myself up. I watched her check it out in the fabric store back in October. She loves going to the fabric store with me. Fabric and ribbon and lace and thread really turn her crank. She and I sometimes just wander through the store…she does it because she is fascinated by what she sees, and I do it because I am fascinated by her fascination!
So today we got busy. And we survived. It occurred to me watching her that she is like me…kinesthetic things, activities that take coordination and an awareness of small motor movement control are easy for her. Granted, I cannot handle a videogame control, but she can. In fact, the smaller the game, the better she is. She managed this little machine brilliantly. When she was done, she said, “See, Mama! I’m like you!” I love it.
So here is her first little Barbie pillow. She was so thrilled!
She took a break and then asked if she could make a pillow for herself. I even taught her to iron for this!!!
Here she is learning to pin things together.
Now for the sewing. She is so careful!
Turning the pillow right side out.
Sewing the end closed.
Even though I sew over my pins, I taught her to remove them before she goes over them. Not sure this little machine could withstand an impaled pin through its innards. Again, Small Diva was very precise and careful.
She is so proud!
And then she ran off to find the fusible applique Colleen sent her, and we attached that.
She is in heaven…and there is another seamstress in this house!
Way to go Meave!!!!! You must be very advanced, ’cause that looks JUST like the pillows I make! Stop growing, please.
Love you
I love her concentration. I’ll have to make her a new care package!!
Wow, Katherine! I would probably have boycotted, too…as her mother! I am normally polite, but I think that would have pushed my mama-bear button. Wow, wow.
Wonderful job–for you both. She obviously really wanted to do this and getting her a machine was a great solution–you are probably more patient with her machine than you would be with her using your fancy machines.
When I got my Bernina it came with several classes. I took Grace to the first two and had her learn the basics about threading, bobbins, etc. She was interested and well-behaved. I was SO miffed when the instructor informed us both (not even just me alone) that the class was NO PLACE for children. The other students looked appalled. Grace refused to go back on principal. Way to encourage a kid to sew!
OMG!!!!! Wonderful job, Meave and you have SOO much patience and control!!! Ann, she looks just marvelous sitting there, doesn’t she?? You should be very proud of her:) Nice choice of fabrics too;) Kris
Well done, Maeve! A cute and clever little machine for a cute and clever little girl.
Did you remember that you had sewing classes in Ohio at age 10? Didn’t you make a skirt? I made my first dress (by hand…hand sewn, I mean) when I was eleven. It was a pale green dotted swiss that I wore to my piano recital. I wonder what it REALLY looked like! If it was awful….my Mother never said!
Loved all the photos of Small Diva!!!