On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast we’re talking about teaching children to sew with my guest, Annabel Wrigley.
Annabel Wrigley is an Australian mom, author, and designer living in rural Virginia. She owns Little Pincushion Studio, a space where she teaches children everything they need to know in order to go forth and conquer the world of sewing and creating. When she’s not teaching, she’s working on her “We Love to Sew” series of books published by C&T publishing. She also teaches classes on Creativebug and designs fabric for Windham Fabrics.
We begin by talking about Annabel’s move from Sydney, Australia, to a town in rural Virginia and her career shift from nurse to business owner. Annabel explains how she started her business, the progression from teaching students out of her home to using her garage as a classroom to finally renting space in a building downtown.
If you’re interested in teaching children (or adults) to sew, Annabel shares helpful tips about how to keep the classroom organized, how to teach basic sewing techniques, and how to cater instruction to students working at different levels.
Annabel has a fantastic trailer (which she’s named Penelope) that is a mobile sewing studio. She explains how she outfitted it and the role it plays in her business. We also talk about her books, teaching for Creativebug, and her fabric line with Windham.
And, of course, I ask Annabel to recommend great stuff she’s loving right now. Annabel recommends:
- the Purl Soho seed stitch wrap
- Sherri Lynn Wood’s book The Improv Handbook for Modern Quilters
- the Eversewn sewing machine, which she says is the ideal sewing machine for children
Connect with Annabel on Instagram and check out her website for more information about Little Pincushion Studio.
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Today’s episode is sponsored by art street collective. Visit artstreetcollective.com to find books and DVDs on surface design, art quilting, bead embellishment and more by some of today’s top fiber and quilt artists. Also, be sure to check out the Art Street Collective coloring books which range from whimsical and cartoonish to Celtic knots and kaleidoscopes. Visit the art street collective website to see all the books available.
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You can listen to the show right here by clicking on the arrow below, or subscribe in iTunes or Stitcher and listen on the go. If you enjoy the show, tell a friend about it! Thank you so much.
I’m teaching my 3 granddaughters to sew. I’m really interested in hearing more about what Annabel has to say. But this is supposed to be a podcast — how can I get onto the podcast to hear the conversation? I’m looking all over the page to find somewhere to click or a link and can’t find anything. (BTW that trailer is simply fantastic!)
Duh. I figured it out…
Abby, I know it’s been said before but, you are gifted interviewer. I enjoyed this episode so much. I am teaching my granddaughters to sew and there was so much helpful information. I can see how children would be drawn to Annabel and her kind voice. I am going to check out the sewing machine she recommends. My granddaughters use mine now but when the oldest turns 7 in Feb I would like to purchase one for her to use at home. I am also teaching her mom, my lovely daughter-in-law. I have just one question for Annabel. Does she use a finger guard for the children? I just set the machine to a very slow speed and teach them safety but I wonder with more children that 1 or 2, how I would observe them.
Thank you so much. She didn’t mention finger guards and I know at the studio where I teach and where my children take lessons they don’t use them.
What a great interview. I loved how Annabel renamed the parts of the machine to make it easier for the kids to remember. Brilliant! And of course I loved the Aussie accent 🙂
Loved this interview. So inspirational! I’ve only recently started listening to the podcast, and I am addicted. Thanks for bringing it to us!
Thank you so much, Andrea!
This was such a great and informative interview! I also teach children to sew and had the same concerns about liability issues, etc so I am glad you took time to ask those from her. Her camper idea is great and I have often thought of doing that for birthday parties when my children are a bit older. Thanks for the peek into all areas of creativity via your site and podcasts.
I receive your newsletter and enjoy that also. Good luck with all your endeavors Abby.
Thank you so much!