Works for me Wednesday - Not this week!

We’ve been listening to the radio a lot this week, (see yesterday's post) and Beka was inspired to do some sewing by a discussion she heard on BBC Radio 4's Woman’s Hour bemoaning the fact that sewing isn’t taught in British schools any more.

Beka likes her craft projects short and sweet, so we came up with the idea of making a little drawstring bag in paper, with minimal sewing and a bit of gluing for maximum impact.

We found some gift wrap, stronger than tissue. You could use felt, or other fabric to suit, bearing in mind that flimsy fabrics are harder for children to cut, glue and sew.

This is where I have to tell you that I’m in Works for me Wednesday this week under false pretences. From now on It Doesn’t Really Work Very Well.

It took Beka several days to draw round a dinner plate and cut out a circle. During that time the plate was in and out of the cupboard several times. However, once one circle drawn and cut, Beka was pleased to see that there was enough paper to fold over and cut out two circles. She can make herself and her sister a bag each without too much extra effort. Except that’s enough effort for today thanks Mum. She decides to do something else.

Two days go by. Today, as she knows I want to post about this project today, she thoughtfully finds the paper hole punch and make holes around the edge – as far in as the punch will let her go.

Still with the paper/fabric flat, Beka’s going to decorate her bag. She hasn’t decided yet whether she will sew or will glue shapes/buttons/sequins. I don’t want to put her off, but might offer to show her how to sew on a small button or two for a ‘funky’ bag. Simple random crosses or stitches in bright embroidery thread will work well too. Or she might choose a star pattern that radiates out from the centre of the circle.

But no, all things considered, she decides she likes plain best. No decorating. Not even gluing. She finds some yellow ribbon. It’s too wide really, but she likes it. It’s to hand.

This is what you do with whatever you have to hand. Cut two lengths of (thin) ribbon or contrasting embroidery thread or cord to weave through the holes round the edge of the circle. Start each length at opposite sides of the circle. Work round the circle and when your thread meets, knot it, leaving a short length to pull on. Keep the circle of paper or fabric flat. You end up with short pull handles at opposite sides of the circle. Pull apart and the threads neatly gather and close the neck of your bag.

I did take photos of each step, but as I was downloading them from the camera got distracted and have filed them to such an obscure place on my computer that my search facility can’t find them. So roll on Thursday.

I’m going to read Beka a bedtime story now. It feels the best thing to do all round.

I think, given the right creative mood of course, this activity would be good for as a party activity – the children can make their own pretty bags for their party favours. (Good excuse to keep them small!) Depending on the age of the children, you may want to do the cutting and hole-making before the party, leaving the children to decorate the circles before you gather them up. Older girls – from 9 – should be able to cope with all the steps themselves if you show them step by step first and stay on hand for the knot tying.