miriam

We have some young men volunteers helping my hubby with a house we bought at a tax sale. The house has been empty for 3 years. The guys are just helping so they can learn some basic skills. DH informed them yesterday that they would have to learn to sew before they could use a power saw or any other power tool. (I had our boys learn to sew before they used a power tool.) He told them sewing a finger isn't near as bad as cutting something off. Then he told them I'm real good with any saw because of my sewing. (He has me make the cuts once in a while for siding or ceramic tiles) And he told them it was harder to sew because you have to coordinate your feet and your hands.
While a sewing machine is a power tool you push material into a saw and you let the machine pull the material into the sewing machine. I've seen guys try to sew and they like to try to pull the material through the machine.

I know I'm going to have them do the old 4H maze and maybe some dot to dot then I wonder about having them do some free motion. I also think they could learn to read and follow directions with the sewing. I'm thinking they could make nail pouches or bucket buddies. File keepers? like yeah they have files... Any other ideas?

mmdquilts

The bucket buddies are a great idea!

quilticing

Bucket buddies is my 1st choice, then a pillow case and pillow for break time (if you give them one).

jansquiltn

Your hubby is a smart man. They need to learn the basics. Measure twice cut once. My hubby also has me work with the power tools. I spent two weeks last summer putting lattice under our cantilevered front porch. And this spring we finished the basement bathroom. He did the measuring and I did the tile saw. Boy were we stupid. Picked up porcelin tiles. one of the worst to learn to cut on. but boy did it come out nice. wont do another bathroom for a while. I think the Kitchen is next year.

blueangel

Great idea

alikat110

Fun.

amma

What a great idea! Pillow cases would be useful, table runners? :D:D:D

miriam

Some feed back from the guys - they think it is a great idea to learn to sew - they didn't balk at all! They like the bucket idea a lot - they don't have any tools yet though.

Jennifer22206

I think a bucket buddy would be a good idea!

I made my dad a wrench/screwdriver holder too, he wore it like a tool belt when he was in his workshop.

http://www.craftstylish.com/item/311...ed-size-labels

http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/20...tool_belt.html

http://www.ehow.com/how_7602983_make-wrench-holder.html