Teaching Beginners How to Sew- Lesson 4- Coaster

Lesson 3 required exacted straight stitching by sewing a straight line equal distance apart.  At the end of the lesson, we said we would repeat lesson 3 for more practice.  However, my student helped create this lesson when her "creative designer" side kicked in.  She asked if we could do a circle instead of a square.  Also, while picking out fabrics she found the elephant and wanted to know if we could use it.

Those 2 requests gave us the objectives for Lesson 4:  Stitching exact curves.

 

 

~~ Sewing Lesson 4 ~~

*Layer the fabrics as in Lesson 3.
*Pin the elephant to the center.
*Use a narrow, long zig-zag around the outer edge of the elephant, taking out pins as you stitch.
Don't worry about being too exact, as curved stitches across the elephant will help tack it down.

 *Start curve (circle) stitching wherever you like.  (We intended to start in the center and do stitching equal distance apart, but it didn't happen.)  Try to sew in a circle, lines equal distance apart, manipulating fabric so as not to have to stop and pivot and turn. PRACTICE.
*Zig-zag around the outer edge.  Try to use a denser stitch than used in Lesson 3.

 My student decided to use her piece as a coaster in her bedroom.  I loved the creative aspect of her work, and the self-esteem and pride she acquired from "her" project.

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