Sewing with a 3 year old in the room.

[PrincessFiona]

BTDT!!! DS actually loves watching me sew, but gets a little to in the way. I've been looking for a play sewing machine that doesn't actually work, but so far all I've found is the kind that sew and are made for older children.

Sewing with kids sometimes causes for outright child neglect

[Rapunzel]

Oh, that's just really hard!

I never had a good solution for that. YOu can do it during naptime for toddlers and the older kids can occupy themselves - but three year olds? Forget it!

I never had a good solution for that. YOu can do it during naptime for toddlers and the older kids can occupy themselves - but three year olds? Forget it!

So this is what I don't understand - how do you ultimately manage it? Particularly those of you with multiple children are going to have a three year old around for at least a few years in total. Do you just give up temporarily?

This was partly what inspired my question to Kris, about how she gets so much done. My DD is only 17 months old, but she wants (and has always wanted) to be involved in whatever I'm doing, and won't let me leave the room without following or screaming. She has no interest in the electronic babysitter yet, and so the only time I get anything done much is when she is taking a nap. Unfortunately this is the only "me" time I get too, so housework presents a conflict of interests! But all I can see is that Kris has FIVE and still somehow makes quilts!

I'm getting a sewing machine for Christmas. I've wanted one for years and it will be my first (at nearly 33!) but I'm already wondering how I'll use it... Tips?

[PrincessFiona]

Robyn,

I have more than one child, and the older ones are big enough to help out!!!!

It gets easier the older they get. I'm on the verge of not being able to do anything soon either...as soon as Zoe gets mobile, all bets are off....really. 17 months is not conducive to sewing projects!!!

kris

[Sheherezade]

I've always just gone ahead and *tried* to sew with the little ones underfoot. I sometimes let my DD sit on my lap when she was little with her hands under her bum. Slow, slow, slow. Mostly, I tried to sew when the kids were in bed at night.

I think the key to sewing (or doing anything) with little guys underfoot is that you need to be prepared to abandon the effort if it gets truly unbearable. If you can't abandon it without having a total breakdown :> (like me most of the time) then it isn't something you should start during the waking hours. Leave those absolutely-must-be-done projects for the wee hours of the night. And hope nobody wakes up sick.

[Rapunzel]

Yeah, once they hit about the age of 4 I've always found it gets easier to do projects again.

Right now I'm starting a sewing project for the first time in about three years! My youngest is 18 months old but I'm really, really, really going to try to do it this time with a kid that age because I miss this hobby. But, even plowing ahead like this I'm being realistic and making a very simple quilt (double Irish chain). I don't think I'll be making another wedding dress for quite a while in other words!

Projects that can be broken down into very small steps that you can easily leave and come back to (such as quilting) are best when you have a toddler. That way you can do an hour here and there and not have to reorient yourself to a really complicated project. Like Angie said, the best time to work is when the young one is sleeping!

That being said - 3 is still a really hard age to do anything like this! At least my 18 month old takes naps and goes to bed early at night!