Learning How to Sew
Sky and Leaf
By Debra VanDeventer
Spring green Palo Verde leaves sway against the backdrop
of a brilliant blue sky
and a long forgotten memory stirs on the breeze.
A mother’s hands smooth out two pieces of fabric,
sky blue and leaf green.
Not willing to sacrifice one for the other, both are chosen
and a skirt is designed for her child.
Stitch by stitch, mother teaches daughter.
Together they create
a magnificent skirt
born of the mother’s imagination–wraparound, reversible
sky and leaf.
First Steps in learning to sew
My mother taught me to sew.http://seamslikeastory.com/about-debra/ I don’t remember those first steps in learning to sew, but this memory of a blue and green, wrap-around skirt recently came to mind.
One joy of sewing is the ability to pass the skill on to others. One joy of retirement is you have time to do so. A few summers ago, my (then) eight-year-old granddaughter, Lillian, came to visit for a week. As a former teacher and current sewist, I was delighted when she expressed an interest in learning to sew. Here’s how we began…
Using Sewing Practice Sheets to learn to sew
Over the next few days, I taught Lillian how to thread the machine and wind the bobbin. I printed off these sewing practice pages, and we practiced straight stitching, back stitching and pivoting by stitching directly on the paper patterns.
https://cassienicolecreates.com/2018/01/15/beginner-sewing-free-download-sewing-practice-sheets/
Making Fabric Bookmarks
A good project for beginning sewists
After practicing on paper, we did some simple fabric bookmarks. This was a perfect beginner’s project. It was quick and involved the techniques we’d been practicing. Lillian enjoyed searching through my stash of scraps to find just the right fabric. We did little bits each day as patience and attention span allowed. I did the parts that required the use of the iron.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTPlhlV1Ixk
Lillian made three bookmarks that week.
More importantly, we stitched together memories and a love of sewing was passed down from mother, to daughter, to granddaughter.
Threads of Thought
Who taught you how to sew?
What skills do you enjoy passing on to others?
Deb, you are amazing. Sky and Leaf is beautiful. It looks like you’ve been blogging, writing and sewing forever. Bravo to wonderful work.
Thanks David! You will recognize Sky and Leaf from the Oro Valley Writer’s forum second anthology “Desert Muses.” I just seemed to fit here. I took the Palo Verde photo when I was out walking this morning.
I started sewing when I was in junior high and I loved it! My parents bought me a machine and my creativity took over❤️.
I enjoy your blog🤗.
Thank you Debbie! Do you still have your old machine? My in-laws bought me a Kenmore when I graduated from College. I still use it. It’s much sturdier than the new plastic models. What did you sew?
I love following your Blog Debra. I learned how to sew in 4-H Club on an old sewing machine. Even though I’m not a teacher I have had a wonderful opportunity to teach children how to sew and will continue to sew the rest of my life!
Yay Diane! A fellow 4-H er! Old sewing machines are the best! I want to see those bell-bottoms!