Fluffy Morning Sunshine

The thing about sewing with children is that their little fingers are still acquiring dexterity.  We use big plastic darning needles to sew the sock together with yarn.  I spend a lot of time teaching them to thread the needle and we learn how to tie a knot.  We learn how to pinch the yarn at the base of the plastic needle so that the yarn doesn't slip out.  Inevitably, I come around with a metal darning needle to help close up the holes.  "Ms. K., if you don't fix the hole he'll bleed!"  We spend a lot of time talking about how it doesn't have to be perfect, just unique.  We talk about what the word unique means.

But the other thing about making dolls with children is that they always have a vision for their doll.  They know exactly who they want their doll to be.  They want to take their dolls outside for the break with them, and they create narratives with their dolls before we even get the eyes and the arms on them.  I love the magical qualities the children give their monkeys.  The monkey featured here is named Fluffy Morning Sunshine and the little girl that made her worked very hard to get everything as it should be, including a separate sock from my leftover bin so that Fluffy could have a unique tail.