Sewing is a life skill that teaches patience, dexterity, fine motor skills, concentration and creativity.
I only wish that every child boy and girl take the time to learn even the most basic of skills. Lets not throw out that shirt because its lost its button or take it to grandmas to get fixed, lets simply sew it on in a few minutes.
Hand Sewing is an essential skill to learn and is a great idea to master before tackling a sewing machine. Children can hand sew anywhere at anytime. It’s a fabulous activity for the school holidays, a cold winters day or just for some down time any day of the week. It is something they can keep going back to with no rush to finish and minimal mess!
Miss Mary offers classes for children from the age of 5 years. With 15 years of teaching children to sew, the program has been structured and levelled for the absolute beginner through to an intermediate sewer.
Each class is created so that essential skills are covered gradually with particular projects so it will allow them to master and perfect their sewing along the way and become legendary little sewists. Children will be able to collect their Miss Mary achievement pins along the way.
TYPES OF CLASSES
HAND SEWING
Start your child’s passion to become a Sewist by introducing them to the world of Hand Sewing! We learn how much thread to cut, thread the needle, practice tying knots, lean running stitch & overstitch. Felt shapes are prepared for your child to stitch & stuff. This class is for ages 5+. It is preferred older children attend before booking sewing machine classes, sewists need hand sewing too!
JNR SEWING CLUB
This class is for young children wanting to try their hand at sewing. The children will have the opportunity to sew on a sewing machine assisted, as well as have a go at some hand stitching. We will have some projects available but this class is also encouraging of children making their own designs of small items. They can draw patterns, cut fabric, add trim, fill with stuffing, whatever takes their fancy. This class is for ages 5+.
EMBROIDERY
Let’s do some Slow Stitching. In our fast paced world and our want for instant gratification there is nothing like working on a project that takes a bit of time. Embroidery is therapy for me and it can be as detailed as you like. There is no need to work from a pattern, children can make their own designs.
Children will receive a kit so they can take home and continue stitching. Kit includes a hoop, fabric, embroidery thread and needle. I’ll teach them several stitches, how to get their pattern on the fabric and how to present their finished work. This class is for ages 5+.
ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS
This is the Miss Mary signature class to get your young ones sewing. We learn how to use the sewing machine, machine safety, how to wind a bobbin, thread the machine, sew straight lines, pivot & reverse stitch. Children then learn step by step how to make their own bunting. This project is brilliant as it is repetitive and something they can continue making at home in their own time. This class is only for children aged 10+ unless they have completed Hand Sewing and have been invited to attend.
QUILTED CUSHION
This class is a follow on from the Absolute Beginners. You must have completed the Absolute Beginners before attending this class. We start to introduce seam allowance in this class, practice sewing straight, pinning, cutting & trimming and includes an introduction to the basic process of quilting. This is another class the children walk away from feeling totally accomplished.
FABRIC BASKETS
This is the class to complete after the Quilted Cushion! We will revisit working with a seam allowance, cut your fabric and lining, pinning, work with batting, sew handles, trim seam allowances and top stitch to finish off. If your seam allowances aren’t spot on with this project, it will not come together! This pattern will also available in the Miss Mary Shop as part of the learn at home series.
SHIRRED SKIRT & SCRUNCHIE
Start working with light weight fabric and learn how to cut/prepare it so it’s perfectly straight! We will learn a technique called shirring and make a skirt at whatever length the children prefer. Finishing off edges of fabric and hemming is taught in this class. We finish off making a Scrunchie using the Miss Mary method.
LOUNGE PANTS OR SHORTS
Another favourite…Lounge Pants/Shorts will include skills such as working with a pattern, pinning, cutting, sewing straight stitch, finishing off edges with zig zag, elastic casings and hems.
OTHER CLASSES…
A range of other classes are often on offer including the overnight bag, t-shirts, tops, dresses, mini quilts and softies.
WANT TO CONTINUE LEARNING AT HOME?
DOWNLOADABLE PATTERNS
These can be purchased through the online shop and you’ll receive the link to download it as soon as you have paid for it. No waiting for me to email it to you!
KITS
A range of kits will be offered. Pre-cut kits and ‘here’s the fabric but you need to cut it out yourself’ kits. Hopefully this will allow for all budgets.
INSTRUCTIONS
Written instructions are included. Step by step, easy to read for children. Notice numbers on the left hand side of each step. These are the timings of the video so you can work along with the written instructions and easily find where you are up to. Any words that are printed in uppercase is highlighting a particular skill. Included, is a Skill sheet explaining how to complete that skill, along with extra info. There may be a QR code linking you to a video. Keep these skill sheets, file them and collate your own resource that you can refer to forever.
VIDEOS
Each project will have a series of videos to go with it. Find the QR code on your pattern sheets. Open up your camera on your phone or iPad, scan the code and you will be directed to the video. Videos are uploaded to the Miss Mary YouTube channel, the videos are private and the public do not have access to it. Projects and skills are video’d by me, of me, talking and explaining how to. What you hear is exactly what you would expect in a class situation. You might hear me say quite a lot “so now”, while I take you through each step haha! You’ll find written prompts on your screen and I’ll speed up at times too, so the children don’t get bored, but can still see what is going on.
ACHIEVEMENT PINS
I am literally jumping with joy to offer these pinned badges which are given to the children once they have completed their projects. Hopefully this will encourage your child to finish what they start. Meanwhile, they have practised their skills, learnt new ones and are on their way to becoming brilliant Sewists. They will work their way up the ladder to achieve different levels, covering different skills. There are several pins to collect. They can pin them to their sewing baskets, wear them or make a banner to display them. Once their project is finished, they/you must photograph, tag on Facebook or Instagram @missmarysews and hashtag #missmarysews. If you prefer not to show their face, just show their project. Then I will send their pin in the mail!
Be sure to subscribe to our newsletter or follow us on Instagram & Facebook.
How to be involved…
Check out the current range of patterns in the MISS MARY SHOP