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By Amanda Boyarshinov 6 Comments

Making an Alligator Purse, a Beginning Sewing Lesson!

sewing crafts for kids

Alligator Purse Learn To Sew Activity:

Sewing is a great learning activity for parents to do with their children that combines fine motor skills, life skills, and creativity.  In this activity, grade schoolers will sew their own Alligator Purse to go along with the story, “The Lady with the Alligator Purse.”

sewing with kids

Alligators are SO much fun to learn about and with that we can’t leave our grade schoolers out of the fun! If you missed our tot-school A is for Alligator post or Kim’s post about what she did with her grade schooler – chomp, I mean stomp, no wait – stop, on over for lots of ideas!  When afterschooling (the learning that happens after school gets out) I try to think of the things that I feel are important skill and life lessons that I know my daughter is not getting at school.

Sewing is one of those skills that I believe helps with math, hand-eye coordination and life skills.  At my house, if there is a hole in your clothing, it gets mended, not thrown away.  The only way to learn this skill is to practice it!  And so, this week, we made an alligator purse!

Depending on the age and experience of your sewer, you can adapt this activity to meet their level!  My daughter is in the early stages of sewing and so I provide her with enough support that she can feel like she successfully completed a project on her own.  We are working on the straight stitch.

For this project, you will need
1. Green felt
2. Scissors
3. Green Thread
4. Needle
5. Ribbon or Ric-Rac
6. Sewing machine (optional)
7. A bit of stuffing
8. Fabric paint for extras

sewing with kids
I started by just free-hand cutting 2 alligators (same shape and same size) out of felt.
sewing with kids

Because my daughter gets frustrated when the 2 pieces do not line up correctly, I added zig zag teeth.  One because they look neat and two, because they act as a stay stitch for that area, making the two felt pieces stay together while she stitches, sans needles.  Then, I attached the handle securely, also as a way to hold the pieces together AND because I know this is the part that will need strength.  Lastly, I straight stitched the tummy to break the project into two parts, to reinforce the bottom of the purse, and to again, hold the felt pieces together.  You may not need all these little before preparation things for your sewer, but they really helped her to feel successful and not frustrated.

sewing with kids

After prepping the project, I threaded the needle, and handed it over.  Many 6 year olds can thread their own needle, but my daughter cannot see the hole well.  My goal is to help her learn to sew, not get frustrated and disappointed.  Let your child try it on their own before threading it for them.

sewing with kids

And then, let your little sewer, sew away!  I usually demonstrate once, watch her do one, then let her sew the rest on her own (This is the I do, We do, You do instruction philosophy)

When they are done straight stitching around the edges, have them stuff a bit of stuffing into the head and tail.  This just gives it a little extra depth.  Then, using fabric paint add eyes and any design your little one may choose!
sewing with kids
 And here she is…  “The lady with the alligator purse!”
PS – my daughter spend another hour making her own Lady with the Alligator Purse book and said, “Wouldn’t it be cute to make this purse even bigger for a trick-or-treat bag and dress up as The Lady with the Alligator Purse?”  Loved her idea and thought I would share!!!
The book that inspired it all…

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Filed Under: Arts Tagged With: Afterschool Express, Alligators, Amanda, LOVE BOOKS, Sewing

About Amanda Boyarshinov

K - 12 masters reading teacher, author and mom to 3. Amanda is a National Board Certified teacher with oodles of experience in early childhood education.

« Waiting For Wings: Butterfly Art Project
Lois Ehlert Author Study {Virtual Book Club for Kids} »

Comments

  1. maryanne @ mama smiles says

    September 18, 2012 at 9:11 am

    Adorable! I love simple sewing projects like this!

    And we read that same book last week 🙂

    Reply
  2. Cerys @ Rainy Day Mum says

    September 19, 2012 at 7:14 am

    This is brilliant I have pinned to my sewing with kids board

    Reply
  3. Raising a Happy Child says

    September 21, 2012 at 1:51 pm

    Oh, wonderful! I love how proud she looks. I can see that my daughter is *almost* ready for more sewing, but in our case we will be learning together 🙂

    Reply
  4. Kimberly Sminkey says

    September 22, 2012 at 12:44 pm

    What an adorable project! thanks for sharing at tip toe thru tuesday!

    Reply
  5. RedTedArt says

    October 1, 2012 at 1:33 pm

    That is so cute. Looks like you have a very happy child. Adorable.

    Thanks for sharing on Kids Get Crafty!

    Maggy

    Reply
  6. trixi says

    August 4, 2014 at 11:15 pm

    I love your alligator purse. It's awesome and so much fun that you've linked it up with a book!

    Reply

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Early childhood teacher, author, speaker and mom of 3. Kim Vij shares ways to make learning fun and parenting an adventure by sharing developmentally appropriate activities.
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