Simple Projects for Teaching Anyone How to Sew + Sewing-themed Project Ideas

Happy Weekend Everyone!

I can't believe it's nearly June! It's officially summer vacation here and all of the kids are out of school. Summer is a great time for trying new things and learning new skills - such as teaching kids, grandkids, or a friend how to sew!

I updated this simple list (not too overwhelming) of 12 ideas for teaching kids (or grown-ups too!) how to sew.

This includes my favorite tutorial for teaching someone how to make their first quilt using pre-cut 5" charm squares. (So if you don't want to figure that part out, rest easy. I've done the work for you.)

I tried to come up with a wide variety of projects that would both teach a range of different skills, as well as provide an assortment of project ideas to pique anyone’s interest.

Don't need the list this summer, but might need it in the future? Go to the post and pin any of the projects to find them again later.

Free-printable Patchwork Flag Quilt Pattern

This week I took out my red, white, and blue summer quilts. I have a spot on my stairs landing where I hang this patchwork flag quilt.

This pixelated patchwork flag is a quick make and perfect for using up scraps. You can make an even simpler version without the star block. And there are instructions for both a horizontal or vertical flag (like the one in the picture).

Click button below to get the free tutorial and printable PDF pattern for this quilt!

Fun Finds on the Web - Sewing Themed Inspiration

Liza Taylor of Liza Handmade has a gorgeous collection of sewing-themed foundation-paper-pieced patterns.

How incredible is this rainbow selvage quilt by Spunstraw?

Here's a cute project from Sedef Imer: Simple stitchy spool-inspired key fobs.

Check out these adorable (and free!) Sewing and Quilting-related printable notecards from Caroline at Sew Can She.

Bev of Flamingo Toes has a beautiful floral-sewing machine hand embroidery pattern here.

Today I would like to share with you the parable of the garden hose. (AKA a "hosepipe" for my British friends.)

We moved into our house almost 17 years ago. And the house came with a hose. And I've been using that hose all of this time.

But you see, it is a terrible hose that is falling apart, always has multiple kinks, and gets tangled up with itself. And I hate using it. It's a total pain.

A few weeks ago I was at Costco, walking through the gardening section, when I passed the new hoses. And there was a fancy new hose - one of those hoses that's made of a thick fabric, not rubber, so it's not as heavy and doesn't kink. After walking past it a few times before in years past, I just decided that this was the year I was finally going to buy the new hose for my backyard.

And later, at Walmart, I really went all out and bought a new sprayer attachment to go with it.

Well, can I just say I never knew a hose could be so exciting or enjoyable?!

All of these years that I dreaded watering pots in my backyard, I realize now it's because I subconsciously hated using that hose!

Now I look forward to going out to water my pots and my vegetable beds. It's this happy, meditative part of my day.

(Getting excited about a hose is one of those "old people" things that my kids would totally tease me about, but I know you all get it!)

And this is my thought today for all of you: if there's some old, crappy tool or hang-up in your life that can easily be solved, do it. Don't hate going into your backyard all summer just because of a 20-year-old cruddy old hose. Figuratively. 😉

Happy beginning of summer!

Amy

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