Sewing with kids: Sewing on hessian

Do you remember sewing with pieces of hessian when you were in primary school? I found some hessian in a cupboard, so I decided to start teaching Mr Sociable some simple sewing.

I bought some thick plastic needles from a sewing shop. I found some scrap wool at home. I traced a picture of a car onto the hessian with a permanent marker. I also drew a tree freehand. Mr Sociable chose the tree (so I made the car). It was really nice to sit together and sew.

I taught him how to stitch in and out along the line. I tied a knot in the end of the wool and I also tied the wool onto the needle (he got frustrated with the wool regularly becoming unthreaded).

We started this project in September last year (a few months before Mr Sociable turned 4). He gave it a good go, but needed quite a bit of help.

Mr Sociable sewing, age 3 years 9 months

Last week, Mr Sociable reminded me about the sewing project and asked if we could finish it. Being a bit older, he found sewing easier this time. He was much quicker, needed less help and his stitches were much more even.

Left: Mr Sociable sewing, age 4 years 5 months
Right: The back (notice the knots and the red marker)

Finally, I cut a frame out of red card to frame the sewing for Nana for Mothers' Day. To make the frame, I cut a rectangle out of an A4 piece of card (leaving a 4 cm border). I used PVA glue to stick the hessian to the border & then stuck a full piece of A4 card on the back - hiding the knots and the red marker.

My Nana loved receiving something that Mr Sociable had made for Mothers' Day. Mr Sociable and I really enjoyed sewing together - I think there will be more of these projects to come! He kept telling me how nice it was to sew together (I think he enjoyed sharing in something that I like to do).