Sewing Lapbook

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Learn what you need to know to begin sewing (and a little about the history of sewing) as you create a sewing lapbook. A sewing lapbook is a great place to store all those facts you may need to refer back to while practicing your sewing skills. It is also a perfect place to store project notes and fabric samples. For more information on lapbooking, visit the Notebooks and Lapbooks Group.

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Sewing MinibooksSewingMinibooks
You can design your own lapbook using the free ideas on this lens. Or, you can purchase Lilliput Station's Sewing Minibooks- twenty minibooks that are ready to be printed, cut and assembled.

sewing lapbook sewing lapbook

 

Kids Can Sew: Fun and Easy Projects for Your Small Stitcher

Amazon Price: (as of 11/09/2009)Buy Now

This book contains all the information you will need to create a sewing lapbook, as well as some very nice sewing projects. Directions are clear and easy, with plenty of illustrations.

Sewing Terms 

Make a list of words to look up. Record them with their definitions in a vocabulary book.

Vocabulary Book* basting
* bias
* bobbin
* darning
* embroidery
* facing
* hem
* interfacing
* notions
* pleat
* seam allowance
* sewing
* selvage
* smocking

Introduction To Sewing 

The links below provide some valuble information to help you get started sewing. There is a lot to remember at first, so you will probably want to record this information in your lapbook.

Create a petal book describing uses of sewing. Make a side tab book telling about different types of plain and fancy sewing. Make a fan book listing occupations in which sewing is necessary. Create a library pocket. Draw pictures of different sewing notions on cards. Label them and store in pocket.

 

All About Sewing
Wikipedia
Quilter's Resource Cards
Great printables to include in your lapbook.
Steps to Successful Sewing Part 1
Maidens of Worth
Steps to Successful Sewing Part 2
Maidens of Worth
Sewing Tips
Sense and Sensibility
Guidelines For Sewing
One- and two-page educational articles in pdf format that cover all aspects of sewing, from beginner level information to advanced sewing techniques.

The Sewing Kit 

Before you begin sewing, you will want to make sure you have everything you need to complete your project. A sewing kit should contain all the basic supplies which are needed for any sewing tasks. The specifics are really up to you, but you will probably want to include things like pins, needles, thread, a seam ripper, and a good pair of scissors.

Make a sewing basket shapebook. On the inside pages, tell about the different items that could be included in a sewing kit.

Sewing Kits
Some things to include in your basic sewing kit

A Child's Sewing Box
How to put together a sewing box for a child.

Sewing Accesories
Slide show with descriptions, uses, care & maintenance and more.

Alligator Sewing Kit
Cute and easy project idea

Fabrics 

There are many different types of fabrics to chose from. Before begining a project, you will need to know what fabric is best for it. Do some research on different fabrics and make a layer book telling the best uses and washing instructions for each. You could even glue a small sample of each to your book.

You may also want to research where different types of fabric come from and how they are made. You could make a shutter fold booklet comparing natural and man made fibers.

Selecting Fabrics
Sewing Success Begins With the Right Material For the Job

Fabric and Cloth
Word list and definitions

Fabric
Information and facts

The Silk Association of Great Britain
History, production, types, and care of silk

Fabric 101
Different types of fabric available, how they vary and how to care for them

Home-Grown Clothes: From Garden To Garment
Links to a variety of textile-related projects and printable notebook pages.

Patterns 

Make a pattern shape book. Your topic could be "What Is a Pattern Used For", "How To Lay Out and Sew Using a Pattern", "How to Make Your Own Patterns", or "How to Alter a Pattern."

You will need to learn how to measure for clothing so you know what size pattern you need. You could add this information to an accordion book.

How To Lay Out A Pattern
Guidelines for accurately and efficiently laying out sewing pattern pieces onto fabric.

Sewing Patterns
How to use a pattern

How To Take Measurements
Illustrated instructions

Hand Sewing 

Learn to sew by hand. Record what you learn and keep notes about the projects you are working on in a sewing notebook.

Make a simple fold telling how to darn a sock and a minbook telling how to sew on a button.
Techniques and Resources
Teaching Kids to Hand Sew
Attaching Buttons
SEW-lutions PDF file
How to Sew a Button
Directions and pictures.

How To Darn a Sock 

Instructional video from www.greenfibres.com

curated content from YouTube

 

Simple Sewing (Klutz)

Amazon Price: (as of 11/09/2009)Buy Now

My daughter got this book for her 9th birthday. The projects were very easy for her to complete on her own, with no prior experience, and the finished products were quite impresive.

Types of Stitches 

Make a stitch sampler on a single piece of plain material. Glue inside a matchbook. Or, put each stitch on a different page (stitch through paper or stitch on fabric and glue to paper) of a minibook.

If you are learning to use a machine, you may want to make a sampler that also includes stitches done on your sewing machine.

Basic Sewing Techniques and Stitches
Instructions with illustrated details on sewing stitches

Hand Stitching
Easy instructions and simple illustrations

Gingham Embroidery
Definition and instructions

Grandma's Sewing Machine

History of Sewing Machines 

Make an accordion fold timeline, some matchbooks featuring sewing machine inventors, or a simple fold booklet on the social implications of the invention of the sewing machine.
The History of the Sewing Machine - Elias Howe and Isaac Singer
Lots of info from About.com
History of the Sewing Machine
Info on several different inventors, early machines, paer patterns, and the social effects of sewing machines. You could make several booklets using this page.
The True History of the Sewing Machine
More info on the social implications of sewing machines, info on Isaac Singer, and even on advertizing and buy on an installment plan!

Types of Sewing Machines 

Make a flap book with four divisions showing the different types of sewing machines.
Types of Home Use Sewing Machines
Mechanical, electronic, computer sewing machines, sergers.

 

Isaac Singer's 1854 Patent Model For Improvements To His Sewing Machine At The National Portrait Gallery (Washington, DC) by takomabibelot

curated content from Flickr

Parts of a Sewing Machine 

Add a labeled diagram to a simple fold booklet. Make another simple fold booklet book showing how to thread a sewing machine.
Parts of a Mechanical Sewing Machine
Labeled diagram with three separate views. Also a great list of terms which could be used to make a vocabulary booklet.
Sewing Machine Basics
Labeled diagram and list of terms. Also, small paragraph on sewing machine maintenance which could be made into another minibook.

Sewing Machines: Problems and Solutions 

Troubleshooting Sewing Machine Problems
Nice table format. Would work nicely in a trifold booklet.

 

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Project Ideas 

While you are learning about sewing, you will probably want to do a project or two to put your new knowledge into practice. Ofcourse, you won't be able to put these into your lapbook, but you can take pictures and make a mini photo album to include.

There are two different types of photo albums you could make. The first kind would be a portfolio. This would be a book which includes samples of all the work you have done. If you make a portfolio, be sure to include some blank pages so you can add to it as you complete additional sewing projects.

The second kind would be an album of a specific project. This would include pictures of the project in all the different stages of completion, pictures of you working on the project, and possibly even a fabric sample or two.

The photo album should be made of lightweight cardstock for durability.

 

Beginner Sewing Projects
Free Beginner Sewing Projects for Kids
Kids Sewing Projects
The Home Sewing Association membership, links, sewing projects, sewing tips and more.
Free Sewing Patterns
A part-time project distributing free original sewing patterns and projects under a Creative Commons license. Instructions and tutorials are available as webpages with photographs, and patterns are available as downloadable pdfs.
Sew Your Own Hair Scrunchies
Free Directions
Make Your Own Pillowcases
An easy sewing project for a beginning sewer.

Additional Ideas 

Here are some more things you can learn about. Make minibooks for each topic and add them to your sewing lapbook, or take notes on them in a sewing notebook.

sewing machine safety

how to sew a buttonhole- machine and hand

how to put in a zipper

hemming

using elastic

applique

gathering

adding lining

using interfacing

pockets

darts and waistbands

fixing mistakes

Sewing Minibooks 

SewingMinibooks
Learn what you need to know to begin sewing (and a little about the history of sewing) as you create a sewing lapbook using these twenty minibooks. A sewing lapbook is a great place to store all those facts you may need to refer back to while practicing your sewing skills. It is also a perfect place to store project notes and fabric samples. This file includes a link to our sewing lapbook webpage which contains many links to the information which you can use to complete your lapbook. Buy Now!

Comments 

Herbie wrote...

Fine blog. I have learned a lot.

Welcome on
http://www.naehbistro.ch/sewing

ReplyPosted June 20, 2009

tandemonimom wrote...

5***** and welcome! This lens is now a featured lens on the newly redesigned Homeschooling Group!

ReplyPosted April 11, 2009

Lensmaster

Susie in KS wrote

Hi,
I am not affiliated with this sewing teacher but I saw her booth at our homeschool conference and her sewing curriculm is truely my sewing book I made in 9th Grade sewing class. Each page I added to my 3 ring binder was a real sample of a technique I learned. A true lapbook/notebook of sewing techniques and info. Anyway it is pricey but it probably covers the entire year of my 9th grade sewing class.
here is the link
www.georgieporgiedesigns.com

Reply Posted June 21, 2008

gods_grace_notes wrote...

You've done a great job on one of my favorite subjects! I love the sewing lapbook ideas... it's great to combine crafting with education. Lapbooks are new to me, but I can hardly wait to learn more! Keep up the great work!
Connie
: )

ReplyPosted April 12, 2008

groovyoldlady wrote...

Hmmm. I really need to make a sewing lapbook. Maybe then I can figure out why that last dress I made came out looking like window curtains!

Superior Lens!!!

ReplyPosted April 10, 2008

view all 10 comments

by LilliputStation

Homeschooling mother of eight: ages 0-13. We love notebooking, lapbooking, unit studies, and hands-on education. Visit Lilliput Station Adventures to... (more)

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