My youngest daughter and friends were just as keen to attend the school holiday sewing classes with Bernadette Doherty after seeing what the older girls had made during their sewing lesson.
I wondered how these three (around 10 and 11) would go since they'd never sewn on a machine before, let alone cut out a pattern or if they would last the 2.5 hours!!! - but as the desire was there we thought we'd give it a shot. Let's just say they're already planning to make another of these cute tops (above) on their own and are feeling pretty impressed with themselves!
Bernadette found a suitably simple pattern for them to start on and also importantly a style that they would enjoy wearing. The pattern is McCalls 5419. This pattern was modified slightly - view E's front was cut out twice so that you had the same piece front and back. Straps cut from Tessuti's soft grosgrain ribbon and gingham bias binding was threaded through the casings to create bow straps. A very cute style that can be made up into a dress or halter version. The pattern goes from ages 3 to 14.
Worth noting : although the pattern measurements at the back of the packet state that they measured a size 12 - when the actual pattern pieces were measured flat - the size 8 was plenty big enough! When will the pattern companies get this right!??!
Bernadette sent through an email and photos saying:
'The girls did fantastically today, I hope they are very proud of themselves, I was. I very much enjoyed the lesson as well'
They enjoyed it alright, they're already booked in for the next school holidays :)
xxxLabels: Childrenswear, Kids sewing, McCalls, Patterns, Sewing Classes
