Sewing in Baby Steps... an Update!

Sorry, the free daily emailed version of this workshop is no longer available. You can still, however, download the entire workshop in a Workbook format here for $5.95.

The first session of the Sewing in Baby Steps Workshop received such great feedback, but so many of you wanted to join in and missed the registration deadline. I think everyone should learn how to sew! Thankfully, we've developed a new and improved system for our workshop that allows for simultaneous registrations with no end date! Hurray!

Feel free to blog/tweet/facebook and tell all your friends who couldn't make the last session's deadline that they can now come back to register for this ongoing session.

The workshop is 13 days long and each day you will receive an emailed "baby step" task to do, along with detailed instructions on how to complete the task. By the end of the workshop, you'll have sewn a reusable drawstring produce bag and a matching grocery tote! More importantly, you'll be well on your way to completing other sewing projects on your own. For more information on the workshop, click here.

Also, the Sewing in Baby Steps Workshop is now available as a downloadable workbook for $5.95. You can choose to download the entire workshop at once, to complete at your own pace, or sign up below for the free version of the same workshop to be emailed to you one "baby step" each day.

You will also be invited to join our Google Group where you can ask questions, upload photos of your finished projects, and discuss the tasks in further detail -- not only with me, but also with each other. Fun, right?

To sign up, fill in your name and email address in the form below. You will receive a confirmation email to verify your registration, and your first task will be emailed to you the following day. Let's get ready to sew!

Indoor Herb Garden

Starting this indoor herb garden was such a fun project for Emily and me, and we are especially looking forward to having some fresh basil to add to our homemade pizzas! Thanks to a few items from Target's $1 section, this was very inexpensive and surprisingly not nearly as messy as I had anticipated.

The seed packets we chose came with a soil pellet and you could start the seeds right in the bag! We opted for some inexpensive planters (also from the dollar section), and some recycled YoBaby 3-in-1 Meal containers, but Emily did mix the soil pellet with water right in the bag.

She fluffed the soil with a fork, and remarked that the soil was "light and soft".

Next, we transferred the soil to the pots with a small hand shovel (also from Target's dollar section). This was Emily's favorite part!

Then, she added the seeds, and covered them with dirt.

And gave them a little bit more water.

I printed out some seed labels on the computer and Emily attached them to some short dowel rods. Of course, you could also use popsicle sticks, but we are all out of those.

Ta-da!!! Our nifty indoor herb garden!

By the way, Emily's garden apron was made from a tea towel. It has a bunch of pockets for all her kid-sized gardening tools.

Which reminds me... be sure to come back soon for an important update regarding the Sewing in Baby Steps workshop. The second session of the same workshop (slightly improved) is about to begin! You won't want to miss it!

Sewing in Baby Steps ... the Workbook!

If you always wanted to learn how to sew, but were too afraid or intimidated, this is the workshop for you. The Sewing in Baby Steps workbook is designed to teach you how to sew one baby step at a time.

The workbook is divided into 13 days. Each day contains a short baby step assignment with detailed instructions to help you complete the task. By the end of the workbook, you'll have sewn a reusable drawstring produce bag and matching shopping tote, and you'll be on your way to sewing other fun projects!

You can complete one baby step each day, as intended, or one baby step each week. The workbook is designed to be done in your own time and at your own pace.

Who is the workbook for?

The workbook is intended for:

• those who are completely new to sewing.
• those who have sewn previously, but need a quick refresher on how to get started.

It is not intended for those with extensive previous sewing experience.

What materials will I need?

Here's what you'll need to get started:

• Sewing Machine
• Multipurpose Thread
• Empty Bobbins
• Scrap Fabric
• Scissors

Here's what others are saying:

"I finally took step 1 yesterday, and I have to say I already feel such success. You were spot-on with the need to dust my machine. Thank you so much for encouraging me to actually DO something with the sewing machine I begged my husband for over three years ago!" --Sadia

"I wanted to thank you so much for the Sewing in Baby Steps Workshop......The information was great, the pacing was perfect, and I really got acquainted with my machine and how it works......Thank you....." --Kimberlee

Download Your Copy of Sewing in Baby Steps for $5.95

That is less than $0.50 per day and it is available for immediate download by clicking the add to cart button below. Are you excited? You're going to learn how to sew!

Pillowcase Pajama Pants

Emily loves that her new pajama pants are so soft and comfy, since I made them from an old pillowcase. I used a technique very similar to the one found in The Creative Family by Amanda Blake Soule. These were made in just a few minutes! By using the existing hem on the pillowcase, I did not have to sew bottom hems for the pants -- plus I like the decorative edge. I used a pair of Emily's elastic pants as a pattern.

I'll be making a few more pairs of these!

If you don't know how to sew, but would like to learn how, you can sign up for my free online sewing workshop -- Sewing in Baby Steps! I can't believe how many of you have already signed up...Wow! It's going to be so much fun!!

Announcing... Sewing in Baby Steps Workshop!

[Update: The Sewing in Baby Steps Workshop is now available as a downloadable workbook. You can download the entire workshop all at once, to go through at your own pace for $5.95. Otherwise, you can still register for free by signing up below.] Sorry, the free version is no longer available.

A few days ago I posted that I was thinking of offering a free online sewing workshop and to please leave a comment if it was something that would interest you. Oh, did it interest you! The comments on that post were fascinating. Many of you have sewing machines and simply do not know where to start. Some of you are scared and nervous. (I was too!) Some have fond memories of grandmothers who knew how to sew and wished they had learned from them. One reader said she wants to learn so she can, in turn, teach her girls to sew. Isn't that sweet?

About the workshop, this is completely designed for beginners. A sewing machine can be intimidating, and no one was born knowing how to sew. The objective here is to simply get out the machine, dust it off, and sew an easy first project (in this case a reusable produce drawstring bag and matching grocery tote). This, in itself, is a huge accomplishment and hopefully will give you confidence to pursue other projects. The workshop is designed to be done in baby steps. After all, sewing should be fun! Afterwards, I would be delighted if you share photos of projects you've made.

Are you excited? You're going to learn to sew!!! I know you can do this!

Here's what you'll need to get started:

Sewing Machine

Multipurpose Thread

Empty Bobbins

Scrap Fabric

Scissors

The workshop consists of quick emailed tasks that can be done in your own time and at your own pace, along with detailed instructions for each task.

You will also be invited to join our Google group to discuss aspects of the workshop with others who are participating.

To register for the Sewing in Baby Steps workshop, enter your name and email address in the form below: