Simple sewing machine projects for a boy ...plus some other random questions :)

[missingmumxox]

Bit of background just to concentrate your inventive minds.
My Ds is 9 and has very definite ideas on style, he has long shaggy hair and enjoys wearing loud and what would be considered girlie colours, shocking pinks, reds, purples and I dye his and his twins school white school shirts at the end of the summer term, he enjoys picking the colours.
We also used to buy or get given all their clothes second hand, but the last 2 years this avenue has dried up, boys are hard on clothes it seems, he liked the hand me downs as he liked being different.

I am a competent machinist not great but made a cocktail dress and bridesmaid dresses in the past.

Soooo, he saw a ad for "this old thing" on channel 4 and has watched the first one on OD.

He now wants to learn to sew on a machine and bling his clothes, but the only projects I can think of which is simple, serves a purpose (needs to serve a purpose otherwise he will get frustrated) are marble bags for his twins growing collection and they both need new aprons as the ones I made they have grown out of.

So that is my first question, simple practical sewing projects, also should add dispite my discription above he is a very boyish boy as in likes ruff and tumble, nurf guns, getting filthy, sports, he has also asked me to make outfits for a haggard old barbie we have, for their stop motion anamation but I have discovered just how fiddly doll dresses are, so not just now.

Next question (sorry this is post is so long should speed up now)

I love my machine and guard it jealously are the sewing machines that retail at £14.99 in places like Dunelm any good? He won't need many stitches so on paper they look good. Or should I look at the most basic models at around £50?

On bling, I am at a loss, I have looked at Amazon and the amount of gems is mystifying, stick on, glue on, hot fix, sew on, any recommendations?

masculine bright coloured fabrics, I have all manner of pirate theme fabric In big enough pieces for him to get started but it is a bit boring, any ideas for sellers I could try?

Sellers for the double sided sticky fabric to attach fabric to fabric in large sheets.... And what is it called?

If you have stuck with me, I thank you :)

[butterfliesinmytummy]

It's great that your ds is interested in sewing. My dd is also 9 and for Xmas we bought her a Janome sew mini machine, about $50 here in the USA. It does a few stitches (straight and zigzag) and is pretty robust. I wouldn't use it for curtains but I reckon she would be able to run up a skirt on it. She also has a book called Sewing School with lots of projects, it teaches kids to sew and it a really helpful reference point. My dd raids my basket for fabrics and thread but I think I'll get her a gift voucher for the local craft shop for her birthday.

[butterfliesinmytummy]

Look for fabric on etsy too, loads of USA and Japanese fabrics. Or head to charity shops for interesting fabric in skirts and shorts that he can recycle.

[missingmumxox]

Thanks, in the UK machines are really expensive the one I guard is a brother I brought in the USA when I lived there, got it after black Friday, £78 in Walmart, the nearest equivalent is over $700 in the UK ! I have a voltage converter on it.

[butterfliesinmytummy]

Hobbycraft sells the Janome sew mini for gbp 50 with free delivery .... Or can you get second hand / reconditioned anywhere? Sewing world has reconditioned machines from gbp 60....

[Thumbcat]

Unfortunately lot of books with sewing projects for children do tend to be very girly, skirts and bags type stuff. How about starting with a pair of pyjama bottoms? Lots of straight sewing for practice and he'll have the satisfaction of ending up with something he can wear (however they turn out).

[StressheadMcGee]

You might find this series useful: www.danamadeit.com/celebrate-the-boy

[frames]

Try spoonflower for fabrics. There are also some sites selling retro clothes patterns.

[missingmumxox]

Thanks folks good starting points, AND! I actually have a really simple patter. For Pj bottoms, yay :) don't know why I didn't think of that.

I will look at spoon flower and that website also the machine ideas, I have search through my books and sewing stuff, and found a peg bag which he could make for his gran and half done Halloween bunting which I think I will start him on as it doesn't matter if he stuffs it up it will actually look better and will teach him some machine skills.
Thank you all