Cool autumn days offer the perfect chance to invite a child to share your favorite hobby. We all got started one way or another, but lucky are those who can say, "My mom (or my dad) taught me how!" Remember the thrill of learning to use a sewing machine for the first time or how exciting it was to make something as a child that the whole family took notice of – perhaps even cherished forever. With a little enthusiasm and ingenuity, you can make this craft activity the best ever and spend quality time with your child, too.
When playmates are scarce or the chilly autumn air sends you indoors, get your fabrics out and see what you can whip up together. It doesn’t have to be complicated or difficult – in fact, it’s better if it’s an easy project that allows time for talking, laughing and dreaming. The idea is to have fun together so take the stress out by choosing a project that you will enjoy also. Here are three simple choices right for any age.
Cut a square of fabric and fill it with fragrant lavender buds for a sachet. Draw the edges up and tie it off with ribbon or raffia. Several of these can be made up in an hour; one for grandmother, one for sister, and so on until you have a basket full of sweet gifts.
A 4" strip of fabric cut with pinking shears will fold in half lengthwise for a first effort on the sewing machine. Sew up the side, tack on a fancy button and it becomes a treasured bookmark for back to school.
A half yard of a pretty cotton print makes a no-sew table runner for the kitchen table. Let your child draw some flowers or shapes to cut out of a contrasting fabric backed with iron-on adhesive. Then you can apply them right to the fabric runner. (Certainly consider sewing them on instead if your helper is interested in trying that.) Finish by fringing the edges of the runner and put it on the table for dinner that night. If there is enough fabric and time, you might want to make napkins and use the contrasting fabric for a little decorative design on each corner. Maybe your child will be more interested in using this technique to make a banner for the wall in her room.
Whatever you do will reward you with precious memories of the time spent together, and you never know exactly how important that effort will turn out to be. Look what it did for me.