Bear and Sewing!

Thank you for all the wonderful comments on the previous post.  I've replied individually to them.  I feel ashamed that I haven't already taught bear but he has only been mildly interested so far.  The last time he really took an interest was when he had been watching 'The Great British Sewing Bee' and had a go on the sewing machine.  He lost interest, but he may take a closer interest now he is older.

If I had stopped to think about it for more than a millisecond, of course there is no reason why bear shouldn't be learning sewing and knitting.  I can't teach him much sewing as I don't know much myself, but I can certainly get him started on knitting.  I don't know a vast amount about knitting, but I can teach him the basic stitches.  Men in my family have done sewing, tapestry, crochet and knitting very successfully.  It's just that I haven't seen them doing it for several years and it slipped my mind.

Bear has spent some time this evening sewing squares into fours.  The result is not a thing of beauty, though I've been as encouraging as I can.  Some of the sewing is puckered and bear has a wonderful indifference to keeping the seams on the same side of the work.  I'm taking it as a design feature, really.  I pointed out that the main thing was to relax and enjoy himself and according to bear it has been a resounding success.  He sees himself making a quilt for his bed.  I'm going with the flow.  He is just copying some bits he has learned in class but he has taken the initiative and is having a go and having a marvellous time.  I think it shows a great deal of credit to him.

I will just follow bear's lead.  I'm sure he will have fun, and once he has got the hang of things I think he can use knitting and hand sewing of whatever type as a way of relaxing during stressful times.  These days schools are so intense and so much is required of kids that I when I think about it, knitting ought to be compulsory. 

I am now off to brush up my skills to try and keep up with bear.