boys Archives -

Boys 1 and 2 have been mithering for ages to have a go on my sewing machine. I’d thought that having all boys and no girls meant that I would never be able to sew with my children, but my boys have proved me wrong! Anyway, a few weeks ago we got our act together, decided on a project for each of them and ordered the stuff.

Boy 1 decided to make a cushion, inspired by one that I had made for their room (and which will be featured in next month’s Sewing World, I can’t wait!). He raided my fabric horde and chose all the bits himself. I helped him cut out the main cushion pieces as my scissors are not very sharp, due to Somebody using them to cut paper <rage!!!>. Boy 1 cut out the other bits himself, pinned them and sewed them on. The cushion has an envelope back, so nice and easy for a first attempt.

Boy 2 wanted to make himself a pair of trousers. We opted for trackie style trousers, mainly because, apart from school trousers, they are the only kind he will wear. He chose himself some fabric but when I looked at patterns, I couldn’t believe how expensive they were! As children are an easy shape when it comes to making clothes, I decided that it would be a useful lesson to teach Boy 2 how to make a pattern from clothes that he has already.

We drew around a pair of his trackers, adding a bit extra for a seam allowance. I cut out the pieces and Boy 2 sewed them up. Being trackies and therefore baggy and having an elasticated waist, it doesn’t’t matter that his sewing is not entirely straight.

I’m very happy that I have boys who sew! It’s not that weird surely? Patrick Thingy from the GBSB must have started somewhere, and so must have all the other Savile Row tailors.

They’ve got the bug now and they want to make more things. Next they’re going to make box purse pencil cases and I’ve given them the task of making drawstring bags to contain some of the mess that’s upstairs, so useful too!

The boys like to make a list of things they want to do during the school holidays. For Boy 1 this usually involves riding around on buses. I was planning to encourage them to do lots of outdoor things, like planting and running about in the woods, but it’s been too wet. Boy 2 wanted to make a hand puppet, a nice, quiet, wet day activity! He also wanted me to show him how to sew, so I was able to combine both things and teach him how to sew two bits of fabric together and how to make a glove puppet!

First we needed a template. A quick google brought up lots of results 🙂 but unfortunately I couldn’t get the printer to work, so I had to make the template myself. Thankfully this was easy to do. I drew round my hand with fingers together, not spread out, then added a head and some arms to the shape. Using Boy 2’s hand, I checked that it was the right size, so that once it was sewn up, he would be able to get his little hand into the puppet and move its head and arms. Some small alterations were needed to the puppet template, mainly in the armpit area, then I was able to cut out the pieces. Boy 2 had a go at cutting out his own pieces but the felt was quite thick. Boy 3 changed his mind after I had cut his out. He decided that he did want a pink puppet after all.

I sewed Boy 3’s glove puppet up on the sewing machine, by which point he had lost interest. Boy 2 however was determined to sew up his puppet himself. I showed him what to do, to his irritation, as he said he already knew what to do! A quick tutorial later and he was away!

Here is the finished result:

I was hoping they would turn out like this

With a kit they might have done, but this puppet is almost entirely Boy 2’s own work

Boys who Sew

Half Term Fun: Making Glove Puppets

Join the List

Share this:

Share this:

Join the List

Privacy Policy

Instagram