Sewing and Weaving!

All classes have been working on some type of sewing or weaving project in our fourth unit. Here are some in progress shots - we are wrapping it up very soon as our days in the year are numbered! The kids love working with fibers and always get really into it!

I will be posting a few how-to’s and step by step pics this week, I promise. I’ll also have pics of Kindergarten suns and 4th grade portraits.

Second grade flowers, made with running stitch and back stitch - a few had time to try the satin stitch.

First grade names with rainbow yarn - we used a running stitch.

Needle & Thread Clubbers are sewing some of their own creations, and also taking inspiration from artist Jessica Rosestitch on Instagram who makes embroidered sculptures. I’m making one of these as well - it's addictive!

  

  

 This face embroidery was inspired by an Instagram post from art_teacher_mama.



Fifth graders are learning to weave patterns on a cardboard loom - the end result is a wall hanging.


   

Third graders created embroidered monograms using the couching stitch.

I made magnetic boxes for needle storage this year and invested in a bobbin box from Walmart for the embroidery floss - working out well! You can also see my old method - storing in baggies.

4th grade embroidered monograms

Fourth graders practiced threading needles, tying knots, sewing on buttons/beads/sequins, and several different types of stitches during our embroidery project this year. We also made paper frames for presenting our work after we removed the embroidery hoops.

4th grade embroidery

My fourth graders embroidered an image of their choice while experimenting with different stitches. Embroidery is a little like drawing with a needle and thread - we made different lines and textures with the running stitch, back stitch and cross stitch, as well as experimenting with our own stitches. Stitching/sewing/weaving are all great exercises in problem solving - tying knots, threading needles, visualizing how a stitch should be made to achieve a certain effect. It is definitely the project that gets the most "this is FUN!" responses.

When the pieces were complete, we took them out of the hoops and made a paper frame with a folded construction paper.

3rd grade embroidered monograms

Stitched alphabet letters are known as "samplers" in the sewing world, and back in the colonial days, school children would stitch entire alphabets with numbers and names too! We selected a monogram, or a single letter that represents you or your family, to sew with the running stitch. After learning to thread the needle, load the hoop, and tie the knot, we began our stitching. After the outline was complete, we added some decorative stitches.

Introducing the Needle & Thread Club!

I am very excited about my new after school club this year - the Needle & Thread Club! We have 24 members from grades 3-5 (and a long waiting list too) and we have just completed our first project, string art. This lesson was so much fun and quite a challenge, too - thanks so much to Cassie Stephens for the great step-by-step instructions on her blog - find it here: http://cassiestephens.blogspot.com/2014/09/in-art-room-string-stitched-dot-for-dot.html

My kids were very inspired by the work her students created.

We have many exciting sewing, weaving, embroidery and other fun fiber arts activities in store for this year - we are focusing on traditional hands-on methods with a modern spin. This is not your granny's sewing club! :)