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Kids Changing the World, one softie at a time

March 23, 2019Leave a Comment

Kids changing the world? Not possible you say. I say they can. And by sewing softies too! 2019 began with a bang. Sew a Softie partnered with the Children's Museum of the Arts NYC to create the world's first ever Global Kids' Sewing Party. The idea: to get kids to sew a softie and gift it to someone in their community. The result: Thousands of kids picked up a needle and thread and sewed to show they care. It was the perfect way not only to teach kids how to sew but to show them they can ...

Sewing with kids and happiness

February 20, 2019Leave a Comment

How sewing with kids, Marie Kondo and conscious consumerism can sometimes collide. A few days ago, I was sitting in my favourite coffee shop reading the paper and Marie Kondo, whose name seems to be just about everywhere, popped up in an article. A few pages on I was wading through talk about conscious consumerism. As far as I could understand, Marie Kondo and conscious consumerism are attempts to tackle some quite specific, modern problems. It seems that Marie Kondo wants us to ask ...

Sew a Softie Interview on Kinderling Radio

January 18, 2019Leave a Comment

I was thrilled when Shevonne at Kinderling radio asked if I wanted to be interviewed about the Sew a Softie Global Kids Sewing Party. She didn't need to ask twice. As you can imagine I'm always happy to talk about Sew a Softie or the Global Kids Sewing Party or anything kids and sewing related really. I was a teeny bit nervous but Shevonne is such a lovely interviewer and she made me feel quite relaxed. So, without further ado here's the interview if you feel like listening... ...

Teaching sewing classes to kids

January 3, 2019Leave a Comment

Running sewing classes for kids: a how-to guide I’m often contacted by mums who are thinking of teaching sewing classes to kids at home, at holiday camps, or in school clubs in their local community. Usually, they are looking for advice and some tips and tricks on how to run these classes. I should give a warning: sewing classes can be hectic, very hectic. My most important rule is "always be over prepared in every possible way". Having said that, sewing classes are also deeply rewarding and ...

Scandinavian style bird ornament

December 12, 20183 Comments

When Gina from Willow Day asked me to join the Scandinavian Christmas countdown I was really excited...still, a bird ornament was the furthest thing from my mind. I'd never designed anything with a Scandanavian look. I thought I should do a bit of research on Scandinavian crafts and motifs and see what I could come up with. I'd barely got started when Inga flew down and rested on my window sill and said she was sure she had a Scandanavian connection somewhere in her family tree. She was ...

Global Kids Sewing Party

December 10, 2018Leave a Comment

I'm so excited to announce that this February, Sew a Softie partners with the Children's Museum of the Arts, New York City as part of their CIVICKIDS campaign to host a Global Kids Sewing Party. Sew a Softie invites everyone, any where in the world with kids, grandkids, nieces or nephews, a school class, a sewing group or club to join in. The campaign’s theme for February is kindness and caring. The children participating will be joining in to sew a softie to give to someone in their ...

Trixi’s Guide to Teaching Kids to Sew Essential Stitches

November 19, 20183 Comments

Teaching Kids to Sew and the Essential Stitches I Use In Part 1 of Teaching Kids to Sew I talked about essential supplies. In Part 2 I want to talk about teaching kids to sew essential stitches. These are the stitches I teach to kids in my workshops. I have to admit that my all time favourite stitch to teach kids is the good old running stitch. Two things make the running stitch a good place to start: firstly, it's easy to master and secondly, it's a fairly quick stitch to sew. It's ...

Trixi’s Guide to Teaching Kids to Sew: Essential Supplies List

November 11, 20182 Comments

A Guide to Teaching Kids to Sew and the Sewing Supplies You Need Recently, Alicia, who is a member of the Sew a Softie facebook group asked me about teaching kids to sew and what essential supplies you might need to get started. The following is a list of what I use in my workshops. These are my personal supply preferences and are based on my own experiences spread over more than 20 years of teaching kids to sew but they are still just personal preferences. Other sewing teachers may have ...

30+ Easy Halloween Sewing Projects

October 25, 20182 Comments

With Sew a Softie for Halloween just finishing up I'm happy to say the sewing project tutorials from our contributors have certainly made a lovely addition to all the Halloween crafts you'll find on the net. Last year when I searched for easy Halloween sewing projects there didn't seem to be too many around that would be easy for beginner sewists or kids, but that has now changed. We've had quite few Sew a Softie tutorial hops over the past 2 years so now you can find easy sewing projects for ...

One mum’s thoughts on teaching her son to sew

October 4, 20181 Comment

By teaching her son to sew one mum overcame her fear of giving him sharp sewing needles Back in March, I asked Rossa @curiouslittlepeople if she wanted to join into Sew a Softie. She wasn't quite sure...she really didn't know how to start teaching her boys to sew and the thought of giving boys sharp sewing needles...well that was just asking for trouble, wasn't it! But never-the-less Rossa decided to throw caution to the wind and to join in and wrote "I guess committing to this is just the ...

A Free Softie Spider Pattern

October 1, 20183 Comments

A Free Softie Spider Pattern for Halloween. A Perfect Beginner Sewing Project. Sew a Softie for Halloween was an idea I had last year when I was looking for Halloween softies to post in our facebook group. There didn't seem to be a huge range of free softie tutorials around so the solution was simple...run a Sew a Softie for Halloween tutorial hop. Starting October 1st, for 3 weeks you'll have a daily dose of Halloween softie tutorials to keep you busy until way past Halloween. Please post ...

Teaching kids to sew a running stitch and thread a needle

September 10, 2018Leave a Comment

Looking to teach your kids how to sew a running stitch? We've got you covered. If you're still struggling with the idea of teaching your kids to sew or can't believe 5 year olds can sew then keep on reading. In my last post, Teaching Kids to Sew, I talked about sewing needles. In this post I want to talk about teaching kids to sew a running stitch. Once you know the 'secrets' of teaching your kids to sew you might just change your mind and try. Deep breath and read on... Firstly, when ...

Make Your Own Bookmark: Long Tall Sally

September 3, 20182 Comments

Have you ever wanted to make your own bookmark? I hope so. I'd like you to meet Long Tall Sally, a really cute bookmark who'd love to join in on your kids' reading adventures. What makes Sally so easy to create with your kids is that she's cut from only one piece of felt and all her sewing is just decorative. So if your kids don't want to sew around her they can sew wherever they want on her body to represent a skirt or blouse or just to make her look pretty...big stitches, little stitches, ...

Teaching Kids to Sew

August 28, 20185 Comments

Myth Busting: What NOT to do when teaching kids to sew One of the things I really love about Sew a Softie is meeting new people. And it's interesting to see how many mums want to teach their kids to sew but don't know how to begin. In response to those many mums, here are some tips to help you on your way. There are a lot of misconceptions and just plain bad advice being given to parents about the best way to sew with their kids. The "only use a thick blunt needle" theory is a good example. ...

50+ Easy Free Stuffed Toy Patterns: Sew a Softie 2018

July 30, 20188 Comments

Easy stuffed toy patterns that beginners will love sewing. Sew a Softie 2018 is underway and we have 50+ free easy stuffed toy patterns waiting for you to try out. They're easy to sew, perfect for beginner sewers and are made to be sewn with kids...and they're a great summer holiday activity. If you've ever thought that your kids are too young to sew a soft toy I challenge you to try. I've sewn with 3 year olds and there's nothing more satisfying than seeing a child's face after they've sewn ...

Want to Sew but Think You Can’t?

July 23, 2018Leave a Comment

Want to sew but think you can't: Confessions of a softie failure. Sewing is one of those activities that conjures up conflicted feelings, love and hate all tangled up together. Seems almost everyone has a horror story associated with sewing, often from a Home Ec. class at school or from a sewing project that was so complicated that it became a living nightmare and is lying somewhere in a bag, waiting to be completed, or more likely, has been dispatched to the local thrift shop. My own horror ...

Harriet: A Simple Sewing Project for Kids

July 1, 20188 Comments

Hooray! Sew a Softie in July is here at last. Harriet, my simple sewing project for kids, has been waiting, and not always patiently, ever since I told her that this year I had a surprise...I was making her the first softie tutorial so she would be ushering in our month of quick and easy softie sewing activities. Now, you might be wondering "who's Harriet?" and "why's she so special anyway?" Well, Harriet is a sewing bug and out of an innate affection for sewing, critters such as these will ...

Free Softie Patterns that are Simple to Sew

June 22, 2018Leave a Comment

Are you looking for some free softie patterns? Do you want to learn how to sew a softie, a plushie or a stuffie? Are you looking to make a softie toy that doesn't require cutting out lots of fiddly pattern pieces or have instructions that have to be read over and over again? Well, Sew a Softie is coming again this July 1st - 31st. It's a not to be missed month of amazing creative and loveable simple-to-sew free softie tutorials from bloggers around the world...and we also have more than 30 ...

Ladybug Craft: Sew a Sweet Little Ladybug

June 11, 2018Leave a Comment

Because a house isn't a home without a little felt ladybug When I was little, local folklore had it that you were in for some luck if a ladybug landed on your arm. Ladybugs unfortunately weren't that common where I lived. The solution which I didn't realise at the time was simple. A ladybug craft activity. I could just sew a sweet little felt ladybug of my own and luck would always be with me. I made these felt ladybugs for Valentines day but wanted to make some everyday ladybugs. I changed ...

How to Make a Quick and Easy Felt Butterfly Mobile

April 21, 2018Leave a Comment

This DIY felt butterfly mobile was one of the crafts I designed many years ago. It was the time before Sew a Softie and before I started to focus my attention on just teaching hand sewing to kids. I used to run after school craft classes and birthday parties and I found beading onto wire was a great activity for older kids as well as the little who wanted to join in with their older brothers and sisters. So I designed lots of different crafts using beads and wire...and the kids loved them. This ...