This weekend, we continued our heart-making activities and sewed some stuffed t-shirt hearts. I had such fun picking out XL t-shirts from the thrift store to make these little guys. My kids have really had fun learning how to sew, and after making their Christmas trees, they were excited to get started on hearts (which are unbelievably quick and easy to make — and so satisfying).

Yesterday, we went to the library and my daughter went off on her own and came back with this book: Made by Me, by Jane Bull.

That cover had me wishing I hadn’t just gotten rid of our cardboard suitcases. They’d make perfect little sewing kits. Anyway, here’s the first project she chose — decorating a t-shirt with all kinds of stitches, buttons and pictures.

We didn’t get very far, because we haven’t yet mastered the blanket stitch. After messing up a few times, we went on You Tube and watched someone give us a little tutorial. It’s really fun to be learning something new with my 5 year old daughter. She seemed to understand the demo better than I did, but then we had to head out to dinner, so we’ll give it another try later today.

The book had some other projects I’d like to make, like these little pouches:

Ideas for “softies”…

And most importantly, a stitch directory. I have mastered the running stitch, but I’m going to need some more You Tube help to get some of the others.

It’s looking like 2012 is going to be a crafty year. Do any of you like doing this sort of thing? Have Etsy shops? Do tell!