Falling Fabric Leaves

Fall is just full of inspiration!  One of the most vividly colorful seasons, an artist or crafter would be hard pressed not to find something to inspire them.  Multi hued leaves, orange pumpkins, bales of hay and slightly weathered burlap faced scarecrows offer a variety of colors, shapes and textures just begging to be transformed into a work of art.

After last week’s Sewing Club’s hand stitched pumpkin pincushion project, which, I might add was a big success, I thought I would keep the autumn theme going with another fall inspired project.  The girls are itching to use the sewing machines, so I guess I have to finally pull the machines out of the closet and set them up.  Machine sewing is an exciting prospect, especially to teenage girls.  They are getting pretty good at threading needles and simple hand stitching, so I suppose they are ready for a simple machine sewn project.  Since I only have 4 sewing machines, we are going to have to alternate time on the sewing machines.  One group will work on a hand sewing project while 4 will work on the sewing machine.

Student adaptation of Scrap-Buster Fall Pillow by Cluck Cluck Sew

I actually saw this project last year from Cluck Cluck Sew and loved the variety of patterns and colors and its simple yet striking design.  When I was searching for an easy machine sewn project last week, I came across it again, and knew immediately I just had to try this out with the Sewing Club girls.  I simplified it a little bit due to time constraints and the girls’ lack of sewing experience. 

I pre-ironed the Heat Bond on various fabric pieces, cut some trunk and leaf templates, let the girls rummage through the fabric pieces and had them trace and cut the leaf and tree trunk shapes from the backed fabric.  I eliminated the stitching on the leaves and the envelope stitched back.  The girls will just iron on the pieces, and stitch and stuff the pillow instead of inserting a pillow form.  Two or three of the girls had time to iron on their trunk and leaf appliqués onto their pre-cut solid pillow backgrounds and will be ready next meeting to stitch their pillows on the sewing machine.  Many of the girls still have to finish cutting and ironing which is really a blessing in disguise because of my limited number of sewing machines.

Student adaptation of PurlBee's Very Easy Pincushions

I totally enjoy moderating this club.  The girls are so proud of their creations and one girl, who is always the first one in the room at dismissal, said that Thursday is her favorite day of the week because of Sewing Club.  She even passed on the Gelato Sale sponsored by the World Language Club so she could pay her Sewing Club dues!   

Knowing how to sew is such a valuable tool!  I can’t tell you have much it has helped me through the years.  Besides making my own clothes throughout high school, and making my daughter’s outfits when she was young, I made countless Halloween costumes and crafts projects including fabric pumpkins, dolls and Christmas ornaments.  I have come full circle and now sew ring bearer pillows, wedding hair bands, and fabric flower bouquets.  Although I teach art, sewing offers me a little change of pace from the pencil and paintbrush.  I just love to create, period.  I can’t wait to try things out with lots of different mediums.    

As a teacher, my job is to inspire my students to appreciate, to learn, to develop their own passions about art, about sewing, about life.  If they can leave my room on Thursday afternoons with a newly sewn creation in their hands and a smile on their face, I know I have done my job!