Easy Hand Sewing Sampler For Busy Homeschoolers Part 1
What is a good way to learn hand sewing stitches? Old fashioned samplers of course! I have create a hand sewing sampler for homeschoolers in mind.
Samplers can be super simple or very elaborate. Today I will show a simple sampler your homeschooling family can make at home. This is a great handicraft for girls and boys.
Included is a free downloadable sampler sewing pattern for beginners.
Hand Sewing Lesson Tips For Homeschoolers
Today I am going to tell you how these hand sewing lessons can be used in your busy Charlotte Mason inspired homeschool.
A couple of years ago a friend of mine, who is using the Charlotte Mason method to homeschool her children, told me her struggles with adding crafts to her week. Her children really want to do more crafts but my friend doesn’t know how to sew, knit, or any other handicraft and is to overwhelm to even begin finding help.
Even though I am not currently homeschooling my children, I have homeschooled for years, and we still craft together on and off so I have lots of experience with teaching my children of all ages to craft. I also volunteer at my children’s Waldorf school during hand work lessons which has provided me even more experience.
What I share with you today is what I have learned over the years.
The Magic of Sewing Cards
My current two year old loves sewing cards. He can’t really “sew” with them but he loves to hold it and pretend he is sewing, though I think he really thinks he is sewing! It’s absolutely adorable!
But it keeps him busy for a little while before he moves on to something else while his older siblings are sewing.
Three year old’s can sew with sewing cards though. Even my 8 year, who knows some basic sewing, enjoys sewing with it. Heck I even enjoy sewing with it!
Here is a link to Etsy for sewing cards. There are many different kinds out there.
Hand Sewing With Siblings Aged 5-8
If your kids are brand new to sewing the younger ones would benefit by starting with the motions of sewing by using burlap. (think potato sack fabric) Large holes for small hands is like large letter writing for small hands. It is what they need to begin with.
So while your older children are working on their sampler, your younger ones can enjoy sewing on burlap. By sewing I mean just moving the needle up and down in which ever direction they please.
Once they are ready to move on, they can learn the basic hand sewing stitches and practice them on burlap. I share each of the five lessons below. Yes five handicraft lessons that you don’t need to plan yourself! You are welcome. 😉
Easy Hand Sewing Sampler For Busy Homeschoolers DIY Stitches
First thing first your children need to learn how to sew the basic hand stitches. I have free lessons for all of these stitches found below. Once you have learned how to sew each one, you will automatically have made the most basic hand sewing sampler and will be ready for todays sampler. if they already know these stitches, keep scrolling.
Below I list the lessons in order.
Supplies For Your Sampler
- Fabric scissors.
- PDF sampler to download and print.
- Needle.
- Green, brown, and blue thread. If you have thread already use it even if they are different colors.
- White fabric.
- Embroidery hoop size 14 inch diameter. This makes sewing the sampler so much easier but you don’t strictly need it. But it is highly recommended!
Sewing the House: Hand Sewing Sampler For Busy Homeschoolers
First thing you need is my free PDF for the sampler. You can find it here.
Print it out. Cut out your fabric so that it fits your 14″ hoop. Place your paper behind the fabric in the middle and, using a pencil, copy the picture onto your fabric.
Step 1 Hand Sewing Sampler For Busy Homeschoolers
I am going to start with the house.
Pick up your brown thread. Thread and knot your needle.
The out line of the house is made using the back stitch. Sew all the out lines of the house the same.
Step 2 Hand Sewing Sampler For Busy Homeschoolers
Once you have done that, you can start on the door. The whip stitch is a way of sewing up seams but in diagonal lines. Here we are just getting used to sewing at an angel. Follow the lines all the way around. Don’t forget about the door knob or the poor people who live here can’t get out!
Step 3 Hand Sewing Sampler For Busy Homeschoolers
We continue the whip stitch on the windows on three sides.
Once you are done with this the blanket stitch makes the shutters and window box.
The straight lines I filled in with blue using the back stitch again. The jotted lines not only give a cute farmhouse look but also is perfect for the running stitch.
Repeat for the other window.
The above left photo is the view from the back. The back of your child’s sampler will be messier than mine. When I was a child the back of my work was a mess!
Step 3 Hand Sewing Sampler For Busy Homeschoolers
The house is almost done!
The blanket stitch is the stitch of choice for the chimney.
Running stitch completes the roof.
Congratulations! The house is done!
Ready For Part Two?
If you loved this super fun old fashioned sampler and would like to continue with it then click here and the magic of the internet will take right to it!
This Wraps Up The First Half!
Because this post was getting to long I divided it up into two posts. Before you go, let’s tie this blog post together!
Even though you may have different ages of children in your home you can still have handicraft lessons together.
I shared how you can incorporate siblings and I guide you through the first half of this fun and wonderfully old fashioned sampler!
I also give a free printable sampler you can use to make your chaotic life so much simpler!
Click here to continue the next lesson.
Thanks for joining me today!
Would you mind telling me how your children’s sampler went? I would love to know. Let me know the good and the difficult because there is always some of both.
You May Also Like:
- Embroidery Lessons taught through living stories. These lessons include a free embroidery sampler.
- Valentine’s day crafts heart pouch
- Finger knitted lace Valentines day garland
- Simple felt doll
