Kids Making

Miss 9 had a school project recently where she had to design and make something to solve a problem or have a use. Okay, after her initial idea of a prosthetic hand 'for people who might not have a hand and need to pick things up'...was deemed too tricky, I suggested she think of something a little closer to home. I love the ambitious nature kids have though, don't you. She decided that we always have trouble finding hairties for school in the morning(hmmmm wonder why that might be???)

So then, she sketched up a plan to make a little softie/hairtie looker afterer. She sketched it and she selected her fabrics from the scrapbox. I had her make a pattern by tracing her design onto baking paper. She did all the 'work' herself just following my assembly instructions-which was allowed.

I really enjoyed this little task despite feeling a bit stressed at times when old leadfoot was driving the sewing machine. Oh my goodness!!! The most precious moment was when she turned the fabric in the right way to find her ribbons stitched in place-she couldn't quite get how this was going to work. She looked so surprised and needless to say she was chuffed with the end result.

It stayed true to her original design with the exception of adding some fingerknitting as a hanging tool. She glanced at her fingerknitting sitting in the craftroom and said 'maybe we could hang it up with that'. I love how children create without limits and boundries.

 

little pocket for hairties

 

fastening hairclips and bobby pins to the ribbons for easy storage

There was also a written component of the assignment as well as a class presentation.
She kept telling me 'Mummy I'm really proud of myself'....words we haven't heard in a very long time. When I asked her how the presentation went she said everyone liked it except soandso. She said, 'I bet you didn't make that' Hmmpphhh! There's always one isn't there!