Children Children's Sewing Lessons: Facts & Ideas facts and ideas

• Sewing is the craft of fastening or attaching objects using stitches made with a needle and thread.
• When people first began to wear clothing, about 60,000 years ago, they didn't sew it, they just wrapped leather or furs around themselves and soon began to tie their clothes on with leather cords.
• Around 45,000 BC, people began to use sharp pointed sticks or stone tools called awls to poke holes in their clothes so they could run the cords through the clothes instead of just around them. They used the awls to poke the end of the cord through the holes, too.
• Approximately 40,000 BC, somebody had the idea to make a hole in the end of the awl and thread the first needle. These early needles were made of bone and ivory.
• Around 9000 BC, people began to spin thread out of wool or linen and weave cloth out of it. It was much easier to sew cloth than to sew leather, so people began to do more sewing.
• When people began to use bronze, about 3000 BC, they quickly started to make sharper, lighter needles out of bronze.
• The sewing machine is thought to have been invented by Englishman Thomas Saint in 1790.

What should you be thinking about to help you choose the right sewing class for your child?

• Do you want it to be a social activity, how many other children will be participating? Children can gain valuable social skills and self-confidence through working and learning in a group environment.
• What kind of sewing does your child want to get involved in? Does the activity provider cater for your child’s requirements?
• Are all materials included in the price of the activity?
• Does the activity provider operate as a club? Regular contact with an activity will help develop skills and ability. Or are you looking for a one off activity to occupy a rainy day or provide entertainment during a child’s party?

There are three examination boards accredited by Ofqual. These are:

OCR (Oxford Cambridge and RSA Examinations) – Over 13,000 centres choose OCR for their A Levels and GCSEs.

AQA –One of the leading providers of GCSEs and A Levels. Used by most secondary schools and colleges in the UK.

Edexcel – Considered the UK’s largest awarding organisation, they offer both academic and vocational qualifications and testing to schools and colleges.

Qualifications – children and young adults

There are many courses that include aspects of sewing and needlework from GCSE through to Degree level. Theses cover a wide variety of subjects for example, Design and Technology, Pattern Cutting, Fashion, Tailoring, Textile Design and Hand Embroidery.

• Focus
• Concentration
• Creativity
• Design
• Craftsmanship
• Relaxing
• Calming
• An interest in sewing could lead to lots of different career opportunities or may just become a relaxing hobby which gives your child the opportunity to explore their creativity.

A sewing class for kids.