Question about Christmas Idea

[rantinraven]

My mother in Law is planning to get the girls the "Tinkerbell" sewing machines from Walmart. These machines are about 40.00 a piece and they are geared toward easy use of children. Here's a link if you haven't seen it: http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=10992860

Ok so my question: I thought for Christmas I would put together craft packages. Like all the pieces to make a doll, maybe already drawn out on fabric with yarn in the package for the hair and the stuffing they should need, that way they have their own "kits". Has anyone done this with success for the kids? I'm also thinking of maybe a purse kit, or a fabric organizer kit, and then after that I am kinda stumped and would love to hear other ideas. The girls are 9, 8 and 6. I want them to be able to have a good time using these machines and I figured it would be a good inexpensive way for me to pad the tree with gifts. Also I have seen the pattern blocks at Wal-Mart that have instructions for dolls, barbie furniture etc... has anyone used these?

[Anon001]

Rantinraven,

Did you read the reviews? It seems to me like there were more disatisfied people than satisfied.

I like the idea of the kits, but for you age children, and just starting, I would use patterns for bigger dolls rather than small dolls such as a Barbie. The bigger patterns and bigger pieces of material will be easier to handle until they get past the "fumbling" stage of learning.

When I was about their age, my mother used my G.I. Joe to teach me how to sew. She didn't let me use a machine. I had to do it all by hand. The nice thing about that was that I learned how to stitch and make small stitches by hand. Not only that, I probably would have ran a needle through my hand on the sewing machine at that age and I was not clumsy! LOL

Today, I use a treadle sewing machine.

I would still make up a bunch of "patterns" with some of the pieces cut but still pinned to the pattern (brown paper) and some not pinned and cut out yet. Then you can teach them how to piece it all together right sides facing, etc. to get them started.

[momma_to_seven_chi]

I wanted to suggest you ask your Mom to buy an inexpensive real craft sewing machine for the girls to share. She could get one for $120 easily rather than getting three toys that will be so easily broken. Brother has a couple of little craft machines that run around a hundred dollars. The girls would have to share, but the better machine will last them much longer than the toys. My daughter still has her little brother machine that we bought over ten years ago. It just lasts longer than a toy would. I only paid about $60 from WM way back when she was little. It won't go through denim, but cotton and cotton blends sew very easily. She still makes skirts and blankets from it among other things. She sells "dog clothes" that she makes with that little machine. She had quite a little cottage industry for doggy dresses and coats for a few years in her early teens.
I love your idea of making bags of crafts for them to make. I would start with simple pillows, pillow cases, skirts with elastic waist, then add a bib to the skirts with a pocket, simple pants with elastic waist, bean bags, etc. Small doll clothes are a bit harder to work with than larger pieces of material. They could make their own jumpers to wear over a t-shirt with a simple rectangle skirt and added bib. A heart shaped bib with the point sewn into the skirt is a cute little jumper. Then teach them how to add ruffles to the bib or to the hem. Just add straps for the neck. You can also teach them to make little draw string purses or even make those old placemat purses that were so popular in the 80s. Little rectangle bags with straps and a snap or button please little girls when they can show off what they made by themselves.
If they can sew the little doll clothes without hurting their fingers in the machine then that is great too. But in my kid sewing experiences, I have found bigger is better for them.

[daffodil]

If you are looking for some things other than the sewing how about crochet needles and yarn. I loved crocheting with my grandma(of course I don't remember how to do it now). I also enjoyed rug hooking, packages of wood for building, and drawing and paint stuff. The kit ideas are cute though! But like Paul said, the sewing machine didn't get very good reviews. Could end up being disappointing to have all the sewing stuff and the machine doesn't work(I only read a couple of the reviews and noticed it had some mechanical problems).

[Mom5farmboys]

Heres a Christmas gift idea for the little girls on your list. My cousin did this for her daughter and she loved it. She started collecting silky type dresses and robes, or just silky lacy material, and also jewely (costume jewelry-the gaudier the better) at garage sales and thrift stores. Some high heel type shoes are also good to include. She put all in a box wrapped it up for Christmas morning, and it was very appreciated.

[CastIronCook2]

Is there a Target near your MIL? Have her check out the Hello Kitty sewing machine, good for beginner adults as well as children.
http://www.target.com/Hello-Kitty-Sewing-Machine-Green/dp/B000B8WSJ2
Costs $110 but gets excellent reviews. If the Wal-Mart item is $40 per, and there are three of them to be bought, that's $120 right there.

Personally, I'd rather buy one well-made item for all three girls to share. It will hold up and take them into their teen or even adult years.

I like your idea about the doll kit packages.

[NCLee]

Agree 100% about not buying a toy, instead of the real thing. I remember getting a "toy' sewing machine for Christmas one year. I was excited about having my own. The first time I tried it, I learned that all it did was a chain stitch - no bobbin. I still remember that disappointment after all these years.

Agree to get a good machine and let them learn how to SHARE it. That's a good lesson in it's own right.

Now for gifts to go along with it.
Individual sewing baskets, stocked with pin cushions, tape measures, scissors, tracing paper and tracing wheels, pkgs of straight pins, safety pins, and hand sewing needles, seam ripper.

Start a button jar for each one. Use a quart canning jar and make a pin cushion top for it. (google for directions). If you have them, take buttons off old clothing designated to go to the rag bag. Pick up a few new ones at places that sell sewing supplies. There's a mill outlet near me that sells misc buttons by the pound. Yard sales and flea markets will yield clothing for buttons -- and larger sizes can be cut apart to yield pieces of fabric suitable for a wide range of projects.

Get each one of them a good sewing instruction book. Even the youngest one. If taken care of, these books will last them a life time. Be sure to sign and date a personal message inside the cover. As the years go by that will mean more and more to the girls.

Add a grab bag of trims, ribbons, decals, fabric paints, and such from a place like Michaels, and Jo Ann's Crafts. Include those free how-to leaflets and patterns for simple things downloaded from the net and printed out.

If they have a family dog, get materials and patterns for a doggie jacket. Easy project to do, if you keep the design simple. A real easy get started project are aprons. These can be themed - crafts apron, cooking apron, sewing apron, etc. A few appliques can help carry the theme.

If you know how to knit or crochet, include a gift certificate that they can redeem to learn the craft from you. Include a skein of yard and a set of hooks or needles with your certificate.

Last Christmas I gave my great niece a canvas tote filled with things for crochet after my sister (her grandmother) agreed to teach her how. I don't live close enough to them to teach her, myself.

Lee

[Mom5farmboys]

That is a really good idea Lee, the only thing I can think to add to it would be to use a fishing tackle box as the sewing box. I used one when I first started sewing and half of the fun for me was getting it all orgainized. With all the small compartments and layers that telescope out its perfect for all your small notions.

[CastIronCook2]

Yes to the fishing tackle box. When the elder stepgranddaughter got interested in arrowheads and rocks, her dad gave her one of his tackle boxes. She carries it everywhere.

What about some fat quarters each of the girls can stitch together? If you choose harmonizing colors, they could jointly put together a quilt--just simple squares--each doing her own strip of squares to be joined to her sisters'. Then with some batting and backing, they could sit together or take turns doing the top stitching? This could be especially appropriate if a friend or relative is expecting. They could do a baby quilt from the three of them.

[momma_to_seven_chi]

Now for gifts to go along with it.
Individual sewing baskets, stocked with pin cushions, tape measures, scissors, tracing paper and tracing wheels, pkgs of straight pins, safety pins, and hand sewing needles, seam ripper.

Start a button jar for each one. Use a quart canning jar and make a pin cushion top for it. (google for directions).
If they have a family dog, get materials and patterns for a doggie jacket. Easy project to do, if you keep the design simple. A real easy get started project are aprons. These can be themed - crafts apron, cooking apron, sewing apron, etc. A few appliques can help carry the theme.

Lee

Brilliant ideas! And teach them to make gifts or sell those aprons and dog clothes to family and close friends. Encouraging a child in a cottage business is such a good thing to do. Even simple casings with a piece of elastic through them can make beautiful hair decorations. If Grandma or cousin will give the girls a couple of dollars for something, it will encourage their creativity even more. When my daughter was younger, she made lots of dog clothes and hair decorations for special occasions and to sell.