Many years ago, it was a common practice to teach children crafts. Of course during those days many of the things children learned were not considered crafts. They were necessary tools that were functional and kept a family warm.
But as we have become a society of less time and more resources, children are not usually taught some of the basic skills that our forefathers (and mothers) needed to learn to survive. Truthfully, because I was a latch key kid, my mother never had the time to teach me many of the things she had learned herself. I learned to sew in Home Ec in High School. I learned how to cook after I got married. And I learned how to quilt because it was a new hobby that caught my interest. I've always loved to put puzzles together, and quilting brought together the math and the beauty of color.
In a recent
blog post, I shared with you how I had taught my friend to quilt, and she in turn taught one of her friends. In the same respect, teaching kids to do something you love, is a way of passing on to the next generation a love that will hopefully be carried on yet again.
Several years ago I met with my daughter and her friend as they wanted to learn how to make quilts. The reason they wanted to make quilts was because they had a desire to help with a cause.
They saw a need and thought the best way they could help was to design and stitch a quilt for every fallen soldier during the beginning days of the war in Afghanistan. It was a monumental undertaking. Especially for two young girls.
My daughters friend and her mother took the reigns of this project for
several years. Their effort touched the families of hundreds of fallen
soldiers.
Operation HomeFront Quilts was eventually passed on to military wives but the effort and beginning was started by the stirrings of two young girls who wanted to do their part.
So whatever it is you love, you can share it with a child or young person. It can become the catalyst of something that goes on far beyond our little world. Let's keep passing it on.
Did someone mention a giveaway!
Fat Quarter Shop is one of the generous sponsors of It's All About the Kids. As a jump start to stir your interest in helping to pass it on, FQS is offering a $25 Gift Certificate during this fun blog hop. All you have to do is leave a comment on this blog post. I will leave the giveaway open until Saturday November 1st. Please be sure that I have a way to contact you.
You can find an easy quilt pattern to start with at
Cluck, Cluck, Sew. I love Allison's patterns and have made several in the past.
I'm happy to join
SewCalGal for It's All About the Kids. Please be sure to stop by
SewCalGal everyday and find out what other fun ideas are being shared.
