Abbi's Akita

Teaching someone to sew is fun. Teaching a 12 year old to sew is challenging. Teaching MY 12 year old to sew is maddening. Ok, so this is a sewing blog.  BUT, we are 3 generations of sewists living under one roof which means that there is a relational aspect to pretty much everything we do.  So let me talk for a minute about my eldest daughter.  She is creative, enthusiastic and energetic.  But she is also easily distracted and prefers quick results to correct results.  My goal in this project was two-fold:  1) for her to FINISH a project and 2) for her to enjoy it enough to want to do another.  Simple enough, right?

We didn't start from square one, thankfully.   All of my kids know their way around a sewing machine and she's made some doll clothes, a couple of quilts and an elastic waist skirt but this was her first time using a pattern. We chose the Seamwork Akita because it is one pattern piece and very simple construction.  I pulled out a few choices from my stash that were suitable for this pattern and she chose the Robert Kaufman dotted chambray.

Here are the things I think I did RIGHT as mom/teacher:

• I put the pattern around her and talked about how it might look/fit if she cut out the fabric and sewed it up as-is.  Then I talked with her about simple fit adjustments and we made them to the pattern, held it up again and discussed the difference.  I think that from the get-go it's important, especially as a girl, to understand that if it doesn't fit right there's something wrong with the pattern (or RTW garment), not the body.  
• I explained and showed her how to do each step but let her fail if she didn't want my help. If it was a mistake that affected the construction (such as a hole in the seam from going off the fabric) I made her seam rip and re-do it.  But if it was a mistake that affected the fit or look I let her decide whether to re-do or live with it.  FYI, she lived with it... all of it.
• I made her do it herself.  The only part I did for her was pressing the hem.
• I made a HUGE deal over the finished product.  She did well, it's super cute and she already got to wear it out. I even bragged about her to strangers, in front of her.  She beamed with pride.
• The most brilliant thing I did was have her send a picture of what she was making to a few of her close friends while she was still excited about it.  When she got frustrated and put it away for a few weeks, it was their bugging that motivated her to pull it back out and finally finish it.  We all need support and motivation and while my daughter and I have a great relationship, I know that my "support" sounds like instruction and my "motivation" sounds like nagging because I'm mom (or, as I'm known on our Nintendo Switch, Maaahhm).

The pattern was a perfect beginner project.  The whole garment edge, except for the hem, gets encased in bias tape so it's a super clean finish even if your topstitching is LITERALLY all over the place.  The pattern is designed curvy, not boxy so it's surprisingly flattering for a single piece design.

Overall I'd say we were successful.  She finished it and she loves it and can't wait to make something else.  Next up is the Learn to Sew with Bo class by Seamwork.  I think it will be good for her (and for me) to learn from someone who isn't related to her.  Super proud of my oldest little sewist.