Have you ever flipped through the pages of a magazine and admired an outfit that your kids would adore? Instead of buying that outfit, Sewing Machines Etcetera offers classes that can teach you how to make your own outfits for kids that will save you money while indulging your creative flair.
A baby sling for example, can sell for up to $100 in some magazines, but Erika Kottelenberg from Sewing Machine Etcetera made her own.
“It’s very simple and straight forward and would be a great project for a first time sewer,” she says. For someone interested in learning how to make a specific item, like a baby sling, classes can be created to accommodate a group of friends who want to learn. “If you come in with a group, we would love to put a class together for you,” explains Kottelenberg.
There are a lot of great sewing projects that kids and adults can enjoy. Special fabric allows you to print a picture of your favourite cartoon character or photo and iron in onto a piece of clothing. Kids can colour on fabric that is set with the iron, creating a keepsake to treasure.
“One of our customers does fashion design with her grandchildren all the time. She loves to come in for felting tools, special paints and fabrics. She spends the whole summer crafting with her grandkids,” Kottelenberg says.
For tweens and teenagers, learning how to sew can be a valuable and enjoyable hobby that will allow them to create their own cloths that express their individuality.
“I think sewing can be a huge outlet for teenagers,” Kottelenberg says, adding the kids and adults can take classes to learn many different sewing techniques.
For younger children interested in learning how to sew and make their own clothes, Sewing Machines Etcetera offers a summer sewing camp.
“We had a fantastic summer camp this season that went really well,” recalls Kottelenberg. Kids ranging in age from 6 to 16 enjoyed a week learning different sewing techniques. They were able to complete three projects, a tote bag, pyjama pants, and a kite, which the kids embellished with decorative stitches.
“The tote bag is the same bag I learned to sew when I was eight and my sister was six. It was the very first project that we learned to sew and I used it as a gym bag throughout high school,” Kottelenberg says.
For information on classes offered at Sewing Machines Etcetera, visit www.SewingMachinesEtcetera.com.