New Second Edition Books are in full color!

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Special Offers:

All Three
Hand Sewing Kits -
$39 (a 20% savings)

Five New Second Edition Books
(without kits) - $49
 (a 25% savings)

We at Palmer/
Pletsch are
committed to
sharing with
children the
enjoyment and
rewards of sewing.
These days many
children have not
had the opportunity
to learn to sew.
This series starts boys and girls as young as five. The program is compatible with
Montessori-style
teaching and
excellent for
home schooling.

The hand-sewing books are written in rhymes, making it easier for young children to remember what to do. Read Winky Cherry's rhyme about rhymes...

MY FIRST SEWING BOOKS COME AS KITS:

HAND SEWING SERIES

MACHINE SEWING SERIES

This book provides a fun sewing experience for children as young as 5 years. Read the book aloud (it's written in rhyme!), then help children follow directions as they sew and stuff one of many shapes from the book.

The books comes as part of a kit, which includes:
▪ Two sets of precut shapes from quality felt
▪ 3 yards each of four colors of crochet thread--enough to create two projects.
▪ 43 patterns for additional projects.

More than sewing...this book teaches the child responsibility, commitment, focus, patience, cleanliness and coordination. Plus children feel the satisfaction of a job well done.

For children ages 5 and up

With a clear understanding of the concepts of sewing, and the skills developed through hand sewing and embroidery, children are now introduced to the sewing machine on an elementary level, substituting pictures for words, for repetition, and to help children who are learning to read. Silly names for machine parts help children remember.

Children will learn about:
▪ Seam allowances
▪ Stitching right sides together
▪ Tapering
▪ Snips
▪ Clips
▪ Turing the shape right side out

The book is part of a kit that includes:
▪ Sewing practice sheets
▪ Fabric for two stars

For children ages 7 and up

My First Embroidery Book DOWNLOAD $8.95 
(available as a downloadable PDF after processing your order) 

In this book, children make a name sampler, following the rhymes to learn a variety of simple embroidery stitches: Straight running stitches done in three different directions (horizontal, vertical and diagonal) plus a parallel lines variation, the cross stitch, and satin stitch.

The squares on gingham fabric provide the grid on which they make their stitches.

The book comes as part of a kit which includes:
▪ 8" embroidery hoop
▪ gingham fabric
▪ flannel backing fabric to eliminate show-through
▪ crochet thread...enough for one name sampler

For children ages 5 and up    

This book introduces the process of patchwork to beginners as they make a "Four Patch Block" by hand or machine. The sequence of construction is as important as the finished work. It also introduces the iron as a sewing tool, and teaches a beginner to use a seam guide. Youth beginners will sew this project with a ½" seam allowance. When children understand elementary patchwork math and can make an accurate ½" measurement consistently, they are ready to use a traditional ¼" seam allowance

This books comes as a kit complete with:
▪ patch template
▪ alphabet code flat pattern sheets

For children ages 7 and up

NOTE: The updated Second Edition of this title will be available late Fall 2011. You may pre-order this book for immediate shipment once it is in the warehouse:

SECOND EDITION PRE-ORDER

Making a doll is a way for children to capture a spirit, make a friend, express skills, and expand awareness of the world and their relationship to it. Boys and girls have a great time making a felt doll version of themselves using hand-sewing skills (learned in "My First Sewing Book) and embroidery skills (learned in My First Embroidery Book). Plus they learn to make simple clothes. 

This book is part of a kit which includes:
▪ Two cut-out dolls (two different skin tones)
▪ Crochet thread
▪ Yarn for hair

For children ages 5 and up

My First Quilt Book
Second Edition (book only) $12.95

This book uses a quilt plan and machine sewing skills to make a pieced quilt with sashing strips and square blocks. The quilt is finished quickly by attaching the back of the quilt using the pillow-making process. The three layers of the quilt are held together with yarn ties so the quilt may be used over the period of time it will take the child to add quilting stitches by hand or machine.

This book is part of a kit which includes:
▪ Template
▪ Quilt Plans

For children ages 7 and up

FOR CHILDREN AGES 5 TO 11.

  $19.95

Order the DVD plus
My First Sewing Book Kit
for a special price of $29.
($36.90 if ordered separately)

5-year-olds CAN sew! Boys and girls can make their own collection of hand-sewn stuffed animals.

In Part 1, My First Sewing Book is read to the child watching the DVD. Two voices narrate each illustrated step, from gathering tools, threading a needle, then sewing and stuffing a felt bird. Selected video of children actually doing the steps is included along with the pages from the book.

Part 2 is a close-up, speeded-up segment of a boy, Brian, creating his own sewn, stuffed bird. Part 3 shows how to make patterns for more shapes to sew.

THE DVD INCLUDES 44 PRINTABLE PATTERNS. Using the included pdfs of 44 patterns designed by children, a collection of stuffed shapes can be made---a zoo, flock of birds, a bear family, or celestial shapes to hang as a mobile can be made. Or, children can make a heart for grandma for Valentine's Day.

The theory behind this book is to start 5 year-olds sewing what they can handle and enjoy, and what you can safely and simply teach. 

Not only will you learn how to teach children to sew, but this system will help you form competent little people who respect both people and things. You will be introducing them to the joys of sewing, and also to a "method of learning" that can be used in all phases of their education. Oh? You thought you were going to learn to teach 5-year-olds to sew? You will...but your teachings will have a more far reaching effect than you ever dreamed.

The book is broken down into three parts
Part I - Everything you need to know to teach a "My First Sewing" Series
Part II - The psychology of teaching children
Part III - The business of teaching children to sew.

DVD

This one-hour video is for children, teachers, and parents. You can teach a 5 year old to sew! You can also teach 10-year-old children hand sewing skills they can use while babysitting. Parents will love you because you'll also be teaching valuable "Life Skills" (manners, patience, following rules, coordination, responsibility, etc.).

If you are a parent who decides to teach your own child, use this video to help you with the instruction. If you are a teacher, you will see how a classroom is set up and how to interact with children.

The video is based on three parts
Part I - A sewing class with 5 - 9-year-olds.
Part II - A close-up, speeded-up segment of a child sewing a stuffed animal.
Part III - Winky helps you become a good teacher - all the tips you'll need.

"Winky Cherry System Manual" $19.95

Teach Young Children to Sew Video (DVD) $19.95

Special Manual & DVD Combination Offer:

Teach Young Children to Sew DVD and Manual $29.95. Save $10!

Teachers of the Winky Cherry System can be listed in our Teacher Directory. Learn more...