Hello all,
I'm back after a summer hiatus where I ran two sessions of our Kids’ Summer Camp, put together a couple of quilt tops of my own, and sent my firstborn off to TK. It’s been busy!
Before jumping back into our regular blog programming, I wanted to write down my thoughts about the camp. Over the course of one week our students went over the basics of sewing machines, ironing, and measuring, then put all those skills to work piecing blocks.
The kids got to pick their own fabrics and we turned the blocks they pieced into pillowcases. Once we completed our group projects, I passed out gridded paper and showed them how they could design their own blocks with a quick lesson on quilt math. Many kids designed their own blocks (and in one case, the pattern for an entire solar system quilt!) and many let their creativity roam with other personal projects, like a scarf, an apron, and little pillows for stuffies.
Cliché incoming: these kids really blew me away with how much they were able to accomplish in just one week. Many of them went from never having touched a sewing machine on Monday to designing and creating their own blocks by Friday!
Here are our creative kiddos with their finished patchwork projects:
Session 1
Left to right: Jocelyn Marzan, my partner in crime.
Naomi (9) the veteran sewer of the group (and also the youngest!) I want to look her up in ten years because this kid is going places.
Daisy (9) the queen of coordinated fabric choices, showing off a rail fence quilt block she designed herself.
Audrey (10) who sewed like a madwoman all week and ended up with a full sized throw blanket she designed herself in addition to our group projects.
Kaylee (10) sewed chic pillowcases in black and purple, but here is modeling a bright scarf she worked on all week to give to her mother.
Samaa (9) would win the title of Most Improved for the week, going from never having touched a machine at all to having impressive ¼” seams by Friday.
Addie (12) who looks too cool for school in this photo but don’t let that fool you–every single thing she sewed this week were given away as gifts.
Me, Ms. Vivian, being the classic dork in the group picture who didn’t realize her name sign was upside down.
Session 2
Left to right: The incomparable Joanne Payne.
Violet (12) had never used a sewing machine but by Friday was boasting a self-designed patchwork block with perfectly executed Y-seams.
Julia (12) another zero-to-sixty student, churning out self-designed blocks, with a real eye for design, color, and placement.
Chloe (12) calm and methodical with years of experience under her belt. Just look at the ombre she put together here!
Anna (11) driven and ambitious! Anna designed an entire solar system quilt to give to her little brother.
Some more summer camp fun:
Sporting our crafting-themed temporary tattoos.
A sleeping bag for Jocelyn’s precious Labubu.
My daughter joined us for a day and made her own little quilt.
Joanne says that next summer I’ll have to offer an Advanced camp as well as a regular one. I agree! Kids are immensely talented and deserve to have a place where they can grow.
I’m also going to try to offer one-day workshops for kids through the school year. I’ll target school holidays. I’m thinking of doing some classes for building basic skills like hand-sewing, embroidery, and applique techniques, but also some project-based classes themed around upcycling and making useful items. Maybe we could even find a way to have adult+child classes where you can spend some quality time with your kiddo while making something beautiful. If you have any suggestions, please pop by the store and let us know!
Exhausted but happy,
Vivian
P.S. Did you know that I also teach Private Kids’ Lessons through the Cotton Patch? It’s a great way for you to get a new sewist off on the right foot, get a personalized skill-building session for a more experienced sewist, or ask for hands-on guidance with a specific project.