Recommend sewing or craft gift for 5 yo DD?

[KrisM]

DD likes to make things. She has a sewing kit and made all the projects and then made herself a dress. The dress was mostly just cut from fabric, but she did add buttons on her own.

She is fabulous with paper and tape and scissors. She fashions outfits for her Barbie dolls from paper and they are really quite impressive with straps, arm bands, mermaid tails, etc.

She's done the knitting circle loom and likes that okay, but doesn't do it for more than a couple minutes. She didn't handle the knitting needles well. She didn't have a lot of interest in the plastic yarn things (like needlepoint?).

My aunt is putting together a gift of fabric, buttons, etc out of her leftovers.

Anyone have a good idea of what else we can get her?

[infomama]

Can she handle latch hook? I loved making latch hook rugs but perhaps she is too young.

[new_mommy25]

I'm considering buying my 5yo DD this: http://tinyurl.com/2bv7veq

I've seen it go on sale for $39.95 pretty often.

[swissair81]

http://www.alextoys.com/products/132755?&n=0&va=t&/

[KrisM]

I don't think she has the patience for the latch hook yet. But, I think she'll get there and love that.

I think she'd like the idea of a sewing machine, and I considered it, but since I don't really sew, I worry it'll be too much for her now. That might be a good Christmas or 6th birthday idea though. I like that it's not a toy.

She might like the loom for pot holders. I loved that as a kid! It might be a quick enough project to hold her attention and close enough to knitting/sewing to win her over.

[GrammyK]

With a 6 yo DGD I'm following this thread. Although my granddaughter isn't interested in knitting, if your DD is but found it too difficult to handle the needles, maybe try a circular knitting needle for straight knitting rather than a regular pair.

I find it much easier to handle the circular needle and expect it would be true for a child. Advantages are easier to push work to middle and nothing fall off when not using and no needle that can fall when starting new row. I think it's a lot easier to manipulate and more comfortable to hold since only a small part of the needle is rigid at each end. Also, when my DGD is ready to knit I plan to first do the cast on and knit (only garter stitch) several inches myself so she has something to hold onto rather than having to learn cast on and deal with knitting off the cast on.

[new_mommy25]

How about an embroidery hoop with some bright colored threads? My 5 year loves her "sewing" she does with a hoop, burlap, and blunt needle. Another option, that I remember doing as a child, was cross stitch. http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog/productdetail.jsp?CATID=cat2704&PRODID=prd10777