Spending time with my nieces is a rare treat — we live on opposite sides of the country, and I don’t get to see them nearly enough. But on a recent visit home over the Easter long weekend, I decided to make the most of our time together by teaching them how to sew. Both girls have sewing machines, and they’ve often mentioned wanting to learn more. So when my friend Jennie from Clover & Violet announced a sew-along for her Rosalie Crossbody Bag, I knew it was the perfect project to try with them.
My youngest daughter is into upcycling vintage clothes and was excited to join in too. I imagined a day filled with laughter, fabric, and finished projects — but like most good intentions, the day didn’t go exactly as planned.
What Went Well
Letting Them Pick Their Own Fabrics Online
The girls all had different schedules, so instead of trying to coordinate a trip to the quilt shop, I had them browse fabric online from my favorite local shop. This gave them the freedom to choose what they liked without the pressure of making a decision quickly — plus, it saved us a ton of time in person. (And honestly, I’d probably be the one slowing everyone down in the store anywa
Shopping Ahead of Time
I handled all the supply shopping myself, driving to a few different places to gather everything we’d need. This way, we didn’t have to wait for shipping delays — though I did order some bag hardware from Amazon since the local shops didn’t have the sizes I needed.
Joining a Local Quilt Shop VIP Program
While I was out shopping, I discovered that one of the quilt stores had a free VIP program that offers discounts on future purchases. Win-win! I love supporting small businesses whenever I can.
Starting Early
We began our project on Friday when the kids were off school and work. That gave us the full weekend to finish — and it turned out we’d need every minute of it.
What I Wish I’d Done Differently
Underestimated How Long Cutting Would Take
Even for a small project like the Rosalie Bag, there are lots of pieces to cut — and it always takes longer than I think. I had planned to make a bag alongside the girls, but once I realized how time-consuming cutting would be, I shifted into “designated cutter” mode so they could jump right into sewing. In hindsight, I should have pre-cut everything the night before.
Limited Sewing Machine Access
We had two machines for three people, so someone was always waiting. The girls were patient and helpful with each other, but teens lose steam quickly when they aren’t engaged — or fed.
Choosing a Project Too New for Me
The Rosalie Bag was a new pattern for me too, so we were all learning together. While it worked out, the project took longer than expected because I had to figure things out on the fly. In the future, I might stick to something I’ve already made when teaching others — especially beginners.
The Takeaway
By dinnertime, we were only two-thirds finished. The kids were hungry and a little frustrated, but they’d worked so hard and stayed determined. We met up again later that weekend to finish the bags — and they turned out beautifully! I was so proud of their perseverance and creativity.
Teaching teens to sew wasn’t as easy as I thought, but it was definitely more rewarding than I imagined. And despite a few bumps in the road, we made lasting memories — and some adorable bags too.
This past week I finally got to make the bags I wanted to while we were together and I'll be giving them to friends as birthday gifts. If you want to make your own Rosalie Crossbody bag, you can access the pattern here.
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