Sewing (or other basic skills) - home, club or school?

[Arioma]

I'm curious to know peoples thoughts on whether people think it's better for children to learn skills like sewing at home or at a club, or even school? Any tips or experience?

[OldBeanbagz]

I think it would be great as an after school club rather than something taught during school time.

I personally don't have the time or the skill to teach my DD how to sew though she would love to learn. We have recently inherited a sewing machine so maybe we'll try something at Half Term.

[taxi4ballet]

Basic hand sewing like replacing a button or attaching name tapes could probably be done at home pretty easily, but dressmaking is another thing altogether!

[TheFirstOfHerName]

Mine learned this kind of thing at Cubs/Scouts and also at home.

[Arioma]

I think it would be lovely to spend the time at home doing it, even if you have to learn as you go too. Hope you enjoy having a go at half term OldBeanbagz! I think starting on something easy rather than dressmaking is a good move, maybe a drawstring bag for PE etc.

[nonicknameseemsavailable]

drawstring bags are a really good place to start - remember making one in Yr3 at school, all by hand but we did them to use as pencil cases, I still had mine about 25 years later. Other early things I remember doing were pin cushions and sort of pin booklet things, we made skirts in Yr5 with waistbands rather than elastic but a simple cotton skirt with an elastic threaded waist is straightforward, especially with a machine. we also did felt toys because felt is easy to sew with as it doesn't fray or need hemming, so you could make initials for her room or bunting perhaps.

[Arioma]

Great ideas, thanks

[nonicknameseemsavailable]

oh and patchwork cushions, we did them at some point in primary school in craft club one lunchtime. just simple square patches and then the back was just one big piece so it wasn't too many to sew.

[bigbluestars]

Not sure how useful sewing is for kids except small repairs or replacing buttons.
More useful is changing a plug, how to plumb in a washing machine, cook, change a tyre, charge a car battery, hang wallpaper.

My kids can do all these things. To the sewers- do you teach your boys too?

[nonicknameseemsavailable]

I only have girls but my husband was taught to sew on buttons and repair holes etc as a child so if I had a boy then yes I think I would teach them the basics.

Sewing is extremely useful - can save a fortune in repairs and alterations and bring in extra money when other people want them doing plus making clothes etc so it is a good skill to learn alongside other stills, I never learned to plumb in a washing machine as a child but I also learned to cook, wire a plug, make circuits, lots of electronic and engineering stuff so I think everything has a place.

[TheSporkforeatingkyriarchy]

My DP sews far better than I and has been teaching DS1 (as it usually DP's or DS1's stuff that needs repaired!) while DP's mum is teaching them all knitting.

I hope all my kids can learn, it would be nice if there were clubs or workshops to help kids and families get more confident at skills that not every parent has well enough to teach. I've seen workshops for various things for kids and young adults around here but not for home skills like sewing and such yet. I mean, there are a lot of video lesson on youtube and others, but it would be nice for more hands-on workshops in those skills.