An Interview with my First Sewing Student!

This Summer, I had the opportunity to sit down with my eldest daughter, Iyska, who is currently 11 years old, to finally teach her how to use a sewing machine, and also to teach her several basic sewing techniques. Iyska just started the 6th Grade, and teaching her how to sew, along with my other children, has always been a goal of mine. In the past, I have been  constantly working on sewing projects of my own, for clients,  and I found myself with little free time to teach our children this life skill!
​Until now! 

With my eldest son away for a week at Summer Tech School, I made the commitment to myself to use this time with Iyska, to start a few sewing projects! So we did!

Iyska is a fantastic student, she learns quickly, and has a natural artistic talent and creative mind. Teaching her was a joy! In the past, Iyska has drawn her own Fashion Illustrations, which are adorable! This past year, she participated in her annual school play, and took the time to design her own costume, for her character, "The Historian".  After Iyska completed her illustration, I created this look for her, using fabric I already had on hand.

Here is her Fashion Illustration and the final costume, that I created for her. 

Iyska's Conceptual Illustration of her desired costume for her school play.

The dress I made for her, based on her illustrated concept, and Iyska wearing her new dress for her part in her school play.

Teaching Sewing

I began Iyska's Sewing Lessons by teaching her the basic functions of my sewing machine, how to thread the machine, and how to use the machine to stitch. Iyska was a natural! Soon she was perfecting straight stitching, and using her creativity to create patterns and shapes using thread and machine stitching!  

As Iyska continued to get familiar with the machine functions, she was soon ready to create her first sewing project! For her first task, I recommended creating a simple tote bag or purse. Iyska looked through my fabric bins, and chose a lovely tealish colored stretch taffeta, which she then used her new-found stitching skills, to create a sea-themed motif made with machine stitching. Iyska spent a lot of time on this project, and it really shows! I then taught her how to turn her decorated fabric into a bag, by stitching the side seams, and then adding a strap, hand stitched lining, a zipper, and her own label! Fairly advanced stuff for a beginner! 

Check out her finished Cross-Body Purse: (perfect for Field Trips, or day trips to her Grandparent's House!)

My oldest daughter, Iyska, posing with her first completed sewing project: a lovely Cross-Body Purse, with a machine stitched sea creature motif, hand sewn lining, zipper, strap, and label!

Soon, it was time for Iyska to create her second Sewing Project! 

My family and I, had been invited to a Summer Costume Party, with a Toy Story Theme. Iyska thought it would be fun to make her own Little Bo Peep Costume for the occasion! Ambitious! 

Because we didn't have white fabric with pink Polka Dots on hand, we used what we had, and I showed her that we could create our own Polka-Dot Textile by cutting out pink circles from pink fabric, and then sewing them onto white fabric. Iyska first cut out the pieces for her skirt, she then stitched on the pink circles that she had cut out perfectly, and then she sewed the skirt pieces together. Iyska cut out the lining, the bodice pieces, and I taught her how to sew in a sleeve, the design detail of the bodice, and then sew the bodice onto the skirt. Iyska sewed in the lining, and a back zipper! She even created her own Staff Prop, using a Pool Noodle, and wrapping paper.

​Iyska looked amazing in her custom costume, that she created herself! 

Iyska's second sewing project completed! A custom Little Bo Peep Costume, for a Toy Story Party!

My first ever Sewing Student, my daughter Iyska, sewing!

An Interview with Iyska: 

Iyska, now that you know how to sew, what would you say was your favorite thing that you have learned so far? 

I liked stitching lines with the sewing machine. I liked learning how to use the Serger, because it cut the fabric perfectly and felt cool. 

Did you find anything surprising about the sewing techniques you have learned?

When we were making the dress, and we were putting in the sleeves, you have to connect the two parts of the shirt, the front and the back, then there is a hole where the sleeve should be. I thought that you would put the sleeve in before sewing the front and back together of the shirt. 

What was the hardest thing about sewing that you have done so far? And, what was the easiest?

The sleeves on the dress was hardest, because I had to be careful not to mess up, especially near the shoulder. 

On the bag that I made, the decorative sewing, the squid and the fish that I put on there, was easiest, because I could make anything that I wanted, and couldn't really mess up. 

What did you find different in constructing your two recent projects: the Purse and the Dress?

The dress was so much bigger, with way more fabric. We did more stuff with the sewing machine, because on the bag, I hand sewed, but the dress I used the sewing machine more. I had to sew on each circle to the skirt. Especially the skirt, when we did that weird thing where we pulled the string...

Oh, when we gathered the waist? 

Ya, when we gathered it, it was different then the bag was, a lot more steps. 

What other things, related to Sewing or to Fashion, would you like to learn next?

Making pants. You have to make pants more to the shape of your leg. It can't be too tight, so I think it would need to fit perfect. 

Now that you can sew, are you inspired to create more sewing projects?

Yes, because now that I know how to do that, those were the more basic steps to making other stuff. Like, learning to sew a hem. It isn't only used for dresses, you can hem pants and skirts, and all kinds of stuff. A lot of the things that we did, like the zipper too, you can put it on a lot of stuff, not just only the projects we did. 

What will be your next Sewing Project?

I think either I will make a jacket or another bag... but if I do another bag I would want to add pockets. 

Is there anything you would like to tell other people who are learning how to sew? Perhaps people who have never sewed before?

Well, if you are learning, it is best if you learn from someone else, and not teach yourself. There is a whole bunch of techniques that you might not have even thought of, like... If you just don't know how to sew at all, and you put the fabric together the wrong way, you might not know, and your project will turn out weird. You might not know you did a mistake until you are already done! 

Iyska Drawing! She is an excellent artist!

Wow! That was insightful! I am so happy to have been able to help Iyska learn to create through Sewing! 

I have found through this experience, that I honestly enjoy teaching young ones the craft of sewing, and hope to teach more students in the years to come!

Next, I will show Iyska how to work on a sewing project using a store bought pattern. Perhaps we will try the pants she is inspired to create! 

I hope that this interview, with my First Sewing Student, has inspired you to take the time to teach the young ones in your life the skills, or the trade, that you know! It is a great thing to pass our knowledge on to the next generation! 

Thank you for reading my Blog!

Related Links: 

Dinner with a Brainiac

Guest Speaking at California State University Sacramento- The Summer Fashion Academy 2018

My Sewing Journal: Creating a Minoan Inspired Hand-Painted Skirt