The Princess' New Adventure!

What do you buy a 10 year old Princess for Christmas?  This was the question we wrestled with this year.

She doesn't need any toys, she is the youngest in the family and all the outdoor toys have been purchased before.  She is on the verge of 'growing up' but still wants dolls for Christmas and an iTunes card (of course!).  The boys were easy to buy for this year ... books and camping supplies.  But I do remember it being VERY hard to find them a suitable present at this same age.  We toyed with so many ideas and none of them fit.  The main items The Princess wanted were new clothes for Bell (her doll) and new clothes for her Barbies.  She already has an abundance of clothes for Bell as every time I made her a dress I made one for Bell with the scraps.  The Princess may not have any of those dresses anymore but Bell still has ALL of them!

Then we hit upon the perfect idea.  We bought her some doll clothes patterns, lots of cute fabrics, all the sewing supplies a new sewer needs, and a pretty pink box to put it all in.  That way she can make her own clothes for Bell and just perhaps develope a love of sewing.  This is also a skill she will be able to use once she is no longer making doll clothes.  I wrapped each piece separately so Christmas morning she had LOTS to unwrap :-)  At first I think she was a bit sceptical, but by the end of the morning she was bursting with excitement.  When we went to my Grandparents house that afternoon she proudly told everyone that she "got sewing stuff for Christmas"!

Our first sewing lesson together

So on New Years Day we sat down to have her first sewing lesson.  First I showed her all the parts of the sewing machine and how to thread it properly.  Then she practiced sewing a few straight lines.  Then I showed her how to change direction and she sewed along pencil lines I had drawn on some calico.  She took to it like a fish to water and was excitedly showing everyone her sewn lines.  Even The Extrovert who did sewing this year at school was impressed.  In the picture you can see her sewing box.  It is a pink Artbin Supersatchel that I decorated with vinyl letters that I use on my Cricut.  I then added some glitter butterfly stickers.  It looks so cute and so girly!

It fits Princess and just needs Velcro.

The next step for our lesson was to learn how to cut out a pattern.  I downloaded a doll nappy/diaper pattern for her and showed her how to lay it on the fabric and cut it out.  We then pinned the inside and outside together and away The Princess went.  She was thoroughly confused at this point as the fabric was all "the wrong way".  But the penny dropped when I showed her how to turn it inside out and stitch the opening closed.  She sewed all of it herself, even the hand sewing!  The pattern fit her doll Princess so now we have to enlarge it for Bell.  She was so impressed with herself.  Now all she wants to do is sew!

After the success of the nappy/diaper The Princess really wanted to sew something from one of her Christmas patterns.  So I helped her lay out all the pattern pieces for a skirt and jacket for Bell.  It was one very complicated pattern to lay out as it has just as many pieces as an pattern for a real person!  But it was a good learning experience for her.  We stuck to stretch fabrics for this one as that is where I am at my most comfortable.  It took her most of the afternoon to cut out all the pieces and sew the skirt but it turned out so beautiful!  I am sorry that I don't have a picture to show you yet as the minute she finished it we rushed out the door to the fireworks.  The Princess really wanted to get it finished so she could show her Grandma and rushed at one point.  Then came the lesson covering unpicking :-)  I don't think she will rush again LOL

It was such a great decision to buy her sewing supplies.  Maybe a little unconventional in this day and age but we are both really enjoying it.  We also bought her a pattern for a dress she liked in the shop along with all the fabric.  With a little bit more practise she will be ready to try a dress for herself.  I will keep you updated :-)

On an unrelated note there is a wonderful weekly storytelling time happening over HERE.  I have considered getting involved on occasion and will see how time goes throughout the year.  But the stories will make you laugh, and some will bring a tear to your eye.  But they are all definitely worth a read.  This year there is a different aspect in the storytelling and you can tell your story with pictures if that is more you.

The weather here is very HOT at the moment and trying to keep cool is hard.  I hope you are all enjoying the start to your new year.

Chipper