Naomi has been nurturing her daughter Immy's interest in sewing ever since she started talking at the age of four. Recently, they crafted these delightful Sunny Day Shorts together. In this installment of our Sewn By Kids series, Naomi shares their mother-daughter sewing adventure.
As a child, my own mom taught me how to sew. I had my own little sewing machine, and I used it to create duvet covers for my teddy bears. However, it was knitting that truly became my passion as an adult—until I had my own child!
When I found out I was pregnant, I purchased a sewing machine, but like many parents, it stayed boxed up until my daughter was almost one. That’s when I finally mustered the courage to make her a reversible bucket hat. This moment felt like the perfect time to dive back into sewing. She was just old enough to express genuine interest in the colors and fabrics I chose, so I began consulting her before making anything. Any parent with a toddler knows the sinking feeling when your child rejects the handmade outfit you've poured hours into.
I attempted to make a duvet cover for her teddy when she was 2 ½ years old. Lesson learned: starting a project that requires actual thought (like adding a border around the edges) with a 2-year-old isn’t ideal. Neither of us had the patience, and it turned into a frustrating afternoon. Still, we managed to complete it eventually.
When Immy turned 3, we worked together on the Oliver + S Lazy Days Skirt. She helped pin the pieces and picked out the fabric and ribbon. The pattern is fantastic because the fabric is cut as a rectangle, eliminating the need to finish the seams. Following that, we made a similar skirt for her younger sister and her teddy bear!
For her fourth birthday, we got her a second-hand mini Janome sewing machine. The previous owner thought it was broken, but my husband fixed the timing issue, and I installed the right-sized bobbins. Now it’s a wonderful, functional—and pink!—machine.
Fast forward to April this year: Immy is now 4 ½, and we spend a lot of time discussing different fabric types. She’s always asking, “Is this jersey? Is this cotton?†She seemed ready to try another project from start to finish. This time, we chose the Oliver + S Sunny Day Shorts. After picking the fabric, we spent an hour sorting through the scrap bag to decide on details. Did it need pockets (of course it did)? A contrasting waistband? Decorations? She helped assemble the PDF pattern and trace the pieces (I did most of the cutting). She ironed the fabric under close supervision and even did a bit of the rotary cutting. (I’ve since replaced all my blades and think she'd handle it better now.)
Immy then sewed all the straight edges on her little machine. I finished the waistband, added the pockets, and inserted the rick-rack. We ran out of time that day, and she seemed content to let me wrap things up.
Since we’ve been talking about sewing since she could talk, she’s developed some fantastic creative ideas. She suggested yellow piping on the pockets, a detail I’d added to a previous dress. We also included a secret contrast fabric in the pockets, and she wanted one square pocket and another with a triangular bottom.
Together, we brought her vision to life. I’m excited to help her grow as a sewer. She’s also taught me that sewing involves more than just operating a machine—it’s about creativity and collaboration. These are skills perfect for children of all ages to explore.
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