"I Think I Did a Crooked One" ...

... was a phrase repeated SEVERAL times by my 10 year old as she sat at the sewing machine for the first time, trying her hand at chain-piecing.

She's the kind of kid who won't be happy if her project looks "all wonky".  But she's also the kind of kid who was born with not a lot of patience.  She's an impatient perfectionist - not an easy personality combination to parent.  However, I want her quilting life to start on a positive note ... one that will make her feel happy and proud of her work, and is fun enough to be motivating.

So I helped her unpick every single "crooked one".

And when it was time to reveal her nesting seams she asked me to rate each one on a scale of 1-10.

There were enough 10's to put a big smile on her face. :)

Comments

[greenrabbitdesigns]

Clever girl! It looks brilliant! I do love that bunny fabric. :)
V x

[Kristy]

Very sweet looking quilt! My 10 year old is also learning to sew. She is sewing 9 patches. She has done way better than I thought. She has 10 out of 24 done! So I am glad she can do it pretty much on her own. Keep up the good work! Tell your daughter she has great color sense just like her mom! :-) K-

[Paula]

Oh my goodness! She did wonderful! (Better than me!)

[Pam in Cincinnati]

being an impatient perfectionist is hard, especially when you're trying to learn a new skill. she's doing great!

[Debbie]

I remember doing the same thing when I was young and my Grandmother was teaching me how to sew on her Kenmore. I had to prove I could hand sew before she let me work on the machine and as a result, I had a lot of hand sewn doll clothes. She was so patient with me and you post brings back such fond memories of that time.

[Gwendellyn]

I'm an impatient perfectionist, too - I know how it feels! It comes with a lot of frustration and for me at least, I tend to be really hard on myself about it too. My impatience usually wins out though, which is why a lot of my seams still don't match up...hers look so great!

[Sandra (Cherry Heart)]

My word her work is amazing! At 10 she's easily as good, if not better than me. Obviously she has a great teacher ;) I recognise that combination, impatient perfectionist, that's what I have a home too.. they are testing I agree!

S x

[Hildy]

I think it's amazing for a 10 yo! Many woud be proud if their seams looks so neat;-)
Please give her a huge hug, Hildy

[Mary]

Well done!
A nice combination of colours

[Cheryl]

She did an amazing job and I love her cute fabric. I remember when I worked with my granddaughter on her first quilt at age 8. She blew me away with her skills. Tell her being a perfectionist can be a good thing but, in the end, she is the only one who will see the imperfections. Great job!!

[Cheryl]

She did an amazing job and I love her cute fabric. I remember when I worked with my granddaughter on her first quilt at age 8. She blew me away with her skills. Tell her being a perfectionist can be a good thing but, in the end, she is the only one who will see the imperfections. Great job!!

[Lee]

You can share with your sweet little one that I once was talking about quilting perfection with a well know and much respected quilter. Her philosophy was that most people do not view quilts with magnifying glasses. Many quilts, in fact, look better from further away so that you can see the whole pattern and the 'movement' of the pattern. If things are just a little off, you really can't tell in the long run.

Said the woman with four seam rippers to her name and one is never very far from hand.

Your baby has done some beautiful work and I hope her smile stays firmly in place, even if she has a seam ripper in her hand.

[A Little Blue Dragonfly]

Good for her!!! She's doing such a great job! Love it! :)

[jan]

Your daughter did a terrific job! I love her patchwork!

[Bari Jo]

Wow - did she ever do a great job or what? Looks like the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.... way to go little one! You are just like your mama!

[Melanie Sim]

Wow! Her work is so neat. An inherited gift from Mama? :-)

[Dana]

Ooooo....I love her fabric & color choices! She's doing a great job!

[Bear Creek Quilting Company]

Adorable! Thank you for sharing.

[Polly Hada]

You're a GOOD mama and she's a lucky girl. Great job sweetie!

[Joana]

My daughter, who just got married last month, made a little quilt the year she was nine--pink and white, with pretty buttons instead of tying (covering the one or two not-quite-10's at the same time). She doesn't sew at all right now, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it will happen. If not, well, there will be grandbabies!

[Anda]

I love your hex tote bag, the colours are spectacular! awolk at rogers dot com

[Bonnie Nyquist]

Oh my,I am so impressed!!! To have a mom like you in charge,she has the best teacher. Her work is every bit as good as mine. Sweet fabric too.I think you have to love the fabric you are sewing. Tell her we are all very proud of her!

The Quilting Life book looks great,I love her blog also.Wish she would tell us how she runs her home and sews so much,and her organizing quilting tips!

[jamee]

she did a wonderful job!

[Cheryl]

I am very impressed with her neatness!
My grandmother helped put my grandfather through law school, probably in the early 1900's, by making beautiful wedding dresses. My mother was an accomplished seamstress and quilter. I love sewing, quilting, and handwork. I am now trying to instill a love of sewing, quilting, and handwork in my 3 sweetheart granddaughters. What an awesome heritage we have to pass on!
Cheryl

[Christi Pike]

Wow...your daughter should be very proud. Awesome job!

[Tammy Edwards]

Awesome! Worthy of many 10's.
: )

[Leianna]

Very nice job. I remember my first little patchwork, my grandmother had given me antique treadall sewing machine. Oh, how I couldn't wait. I think we will all look forward to seeing more of your daughter's work!!! :) Thank you for sharing.

[Bette]

Okay. So I now know what I will be doing with Miss 10 year old next summer holidays! Your daughter's patchwork is looking good for a first time sewer.

[Capi Cloud Cohen]

Picking out stitches and repinning was the best gift my mom ever gave me. It kept me sewing...and I have been for over 50 years.

[Kay]

She did a great job. Posy by Aneela Hoey is one of my favourite collections too.