My First Sewing Kit
This beginner's sewing kit comes with colored felts and trim, though the quality may leave something to be desired.
<p><strong>Toy Description</strong></p>
<p>Kit includes: 28 felt shapes (animals and rectangles), 8 colors of embroidery floss, fabric squares, ric rac, stuffing, 2 needles, 6 buttons, paper measuring tape, plastic thimble, tomato pin cushion, scissors, 40 straight pins, and a pom pom strip.</p>
<p>Felts are themed in pinks, reds, oranges, and yellows. Quilting fabric and floss are assorted colors.</p>
<p><strong>Play</strong></p>
<p>The kit includes instruction on how to make a few felt animals, a draw-string pouch, and a book cover, though children are certainly free to come up with their own ideas.</p>
<p>There is enough stuffing for one animal, so additional stuffing will be needed to make future animals.</p>
<p>The instructions teach simple techniques, like how to attach a button, as well as more complicated instructions for the projects.</p>
<p><strong>Observations</strong></p>
<p>Many users seem pleased with this toy. There is enough material for a child to make a project from the instructions or to create something entirely on their own. For the most part, children, sometimes with much adult help, were able to get around any issues in order to enjoy the toy, though we feel we should relate the concerns many users have.</p>
<p>The thread is not sewing thread. It is embroidery floss. Embroidery floss is made up of six strands, so it is certainly possible to cut a length of floss and unwind two strands out, making a perfectly adequate stitching material. However, we understand why this is frustrating for many users. Leaving the six strands together, the floss is too thick to get through the eye of the needle, and many children, and adults, had difficulty with this. Several users report the needle breaking during this process.</p>
<p>Many users report that the kit is improved if a needle with a larger eye is purchased, though we feel a kit should include adequate tools to begin with.</p>
<p>Many users report frustration with the instructions. Using pictures makes it somewhat intuitive, though anyone never having used a needle and thread before may still find it a little confusing. We had to look at the instructions for the Book Cover for some time before understanding what is going on, though we are still not entirely sure. <a href="http://www.alexbrands.com/product/arts-crafts/my-first-sewing-kit-2/" linktype="3" target="_blank">The instructions can be found here, in a PDF version, underneath the Product Description.</a></p>
<p>The plastic thimble is thin, but for most users, was thick enough to help push the needle through two layers of felt. For a few users, the thimble broke during use.</p>
<p>The scissors are only really meant to cut through the floss, and some users report the scissors not managing to do even that.</p>
<p>This toy is not really gender neutral. Most users agree that the color selection is aimed towards young girls, though some users report boys enjoying this kit just as much as girls did.</p>
<p>Overall, many users agree that this kit is okay for children who have never used a needle and thread before. The fabric is decent quality, the floss is fine for use when unwound into separate strands, and the storage case is durable. However, because of the number of complaints we found regarding the need for additional needles, and for the instructions not being the most helpful, we are not particularly thrilled with this toy.</p>
<p>The manufacturer recommends this toy for ages 7 and up, though we found that children as young as 5 can enjoy this kit so long as an adult provides help and supervision.</p>
<p><strong>Parts and Pieces</strong></p>
<p>If the tools are found suitable, additional fabric and materials can certainly be purchased at any craft store when the included materials are used up.</p>
<p><strong>Care</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Fabric toys can be washed, though felt may warp or shrink during the process</li>
</ul>
<p>For more in-depth information on how to clean this type of toy, please see our blog, <a href="/Blogs1/How-To-Clean-Plush-Toys.htm" linktype="8" target="_self">How To Clean Plush Toys</a>. </p>
<p><strong>Concerns</strong></p>
<p>We addressed a number of concerns regarding the quality of the needles and instructions in the Observations section. </p>
Written by: The Guide For Toys
My First Sewing Kit
Date published: 2016-02-18
7.00 / 10 stars
Detailed ReviewToy Description
Kit includes: 28 felt shapes (animals and rectangles), 8 colors of embroidery floss, fabric squares, ric rac, stuffing, 2 needles, 6 buttons, paper measuring tape, plastic thimble, tomato pin cushion, scissors, 40 straight pins, and a pom pom strip.
Felts are themed in pinks, reds, oranges, and yellows. Quilting fabric and floss are assorted colors.
Play
The kit includes instruction on how to make a few felt animals, a draw-string pouch, and a book cover, though children are certainly free to come up with their own ideas.
There is enough stuffing for one animal, so additional stuffing will be needed to make future animals.
The instructions teach simple techniques, like how to attach a button, as well as more complicated instructions for the projects.
Observations
Many users seem pleased with this toy. There is enough material for a child to make a project from the instructions or to create something entirely on their own. For the most part, children, sometimes with much adult help, were able to get around any issues in order to enjoy the toy, though we feel we should relate the concerns many users have.
The thread is not sewing thread. It is embroidery floss. Embroidery floss is made up of six strands, so it is certainly possible to cut a length of floss and unwind two strands out, making a perfectly adequate stitching material. However, we understand why this is frustrating for many users. Leaving the six strands together, the floss is too thick to get through the eye of the needle, and many children, and adults, had difficulty with this. Several users report the needle breaking during this process.
Many users report that the kit is improved if a needle with a larger eye is purchased, though we feel a kit should include adequate tools to begin with.
Many users report frustration with the instructions. Using pictures makes it somewhat intuitive, though anyone never having used a needle and thread before may still find it a little confusing. We had to look at the instructions for the Book Cover for some time before understanding what is going on, though we are still not entirely sure. The instructions can be found here, in a PDF version, underneath the Product Description.
The plastic thimble is thin, but for most users, was thick enough to help push the needle through two layers of felt. For a few users, the thimble broke during use.
The scissors are only really meant to cut through the floss, and some users report the scissors not managing to do even that.
This toy is not really gender neutral. Most users agree that the color selection is aimed towards young girls, though some users report boys enjoying this kit just as much as girls did.
Overall, many users agree that this kit is okay for children who have never used a needle and thread before. The fabric is decent quality, the floss is fine for use when unwound into separate strands, and the storage case is durable. However, because of the number of complaints we found regarding the need for additional needles, and for the instructions not being the most helpful, we are not particularly thrilled with this toy.
The manufacturer recommends this toy for ages 7 and up, though we found that children as young as 5 can enjoy this kit so long as an adult provides help and supervision.
Parts and Pieces
If the tools are found suitable, additional fabric and materials can certainly be purchased at any craft store when the included materials are used up.
Care
- Fabric toys can be washed, though felt may warp or shrink during the process
For more in-depth information on how to clean this type of toy, please see our blog, How To Clean Plush Toys.
Concerns
We addressed a number of concerns regarding the quality of the needles and instructions in the Observations section.