Sew Easy: A Heartfelt Journey

It’s February, so my thoughts turn to memories of my lovely mother, who taught me so many things.  I miss her every day. She would have turned 103 this year on February 25^th.  Many things that my mother loved, I love – teaching, making art, reading, eating cheese and crackers, putting on bright lipstick, and sewing.  My mother was an amazing seamstress and dress designer well before she had kids and became a teacher.  She would hold a piece of fabric in her hand, fold it, cut it without a pattern, and make something wonderful to wear.  She had a gift, and it was magical.  Many of the dresses my sister and I wore were made by my mother and had her special touch: beautiful buttons, smocking, fringe, rickrack, or a bright colored sash.  Though, I love to sew, I did not have her gift for creating clothes, but I do love to embroider, and thought I could share that skill with the girls who attend my school.

What better time to offer a class on how to sew than in January and February!  There are six little girls in my class after school on Thursdays, and I love sitting in a big comfy chair as they work on sewing projects and exclaim, “Mrs. Emery, my needle fell out!”  or “Mrs. Emery, how do you tie this knot?” or  “Mrs. Emery, what did I do wrong?”  I smile, I’m patient, I conjure up all the sewing know-how I learned from my mother, and take it all in stride.  This Sew Easy class for second graders is like an hour-long meditation, an hour with my mother looking over my shoulder. I can feel her presence as the girls learn to thread needles, tie knots, and make simple stitches. 

Our first project was creating a pink, red, or white felt heart.  The girls learned to make a blanket stitch all around, then stuffed the heart,  and added a ribbon.  It surprised me how patient they were as they waited for my help.  They sang as they waited, and as they did, I thought this little room filled with little girls was the most perfect place on the planet.  My stress level went to zero, and I knew offering this class was the best thing I could have done, especially in February, when all the northeastern world is covered in gray and ice. At first, the girls were a bit dismayed that their stitches weren’t perfect, but I told them, “That imperfections were part of the charm.” They quickly embraced that idea, and often told each other, “That’s part of its charm!” I wish this hand-sewing mantra would be employed during academic work! The girls were so pleased with themselves as they finished the heart project and were ready for the next one.

The next project was an embroidery hoop with their initial and a daisy to sew.  I wrote the initial of their first name on a square of linen along with a simple daisy shape.  Then, I asked them for their favorite color and threaded that color on each of their needles.  I demonstrated a straight stitch, and they all took up their needles and started sewing.  We got into the rhythm of sewing and they were quietly working most of the session.  Then they started to sing a sewing song that they made up spontaneously.  At first, it was a sweet a song as they are, and then they giggled and got mischievous, singing about sharp needles and poking skin.  The more I protested, the more they giggled and sang.  This was part of the magic too.  A sewing circle my mother would have been very proud of indeed!