It's no joke: Young girls in stitches

The News-Enterprise (Hardin County, KY) ^ | 16 July 2002 | JACOB BENNETT

[Fred Mertz]

It's no joke: Young girls in stitches

By JACOB BENNETT

As they tried to thread the needles on their sewing machines, many of the girls raised their hands to ask for help.

The 12 young females were at the Hardin County Extension Office in Elizabethtown on Monday as part of a camp to learn what Liz Kingsland considers to be an old-time skill with a new-age twist: sewing for fun rather than to keep clothes on their backs. That twist keeps sewing lessons in big demand these days — both this week's camp and another next week are full with waiting lists.

"Sewing is a heritage skill we've always had," said Kingsland, an extension agent who was teaching the class with the office's Beth Loving. "It's relaxing, and it's stress release."

Monday was the first day of the four-day sewing camp for children ages 10 to 14, and they were starting from scratch. Eleven-year-old Stacie Bratcher of Buffalo learned where to put needles and thread and how to attach foot pedals and presser feet.

Stacie laughed when she saw her presser foot that holds fabric in place during sewing.

"It's like ski shoes," she said.

Sewing clubs and classes have become popular in the area, Kingsland said, as people turn to more traditional ways of doing things. Parents taking adult sewing classes requested that their children also be able to learn the skill, so the sewing camps were scheduled.

"If you get them interested in it at their age, as they get older they might appreciate it more, especially when they can sew buttons on shirts and their friends can't," said Charlotte Brammer, whose 12-year-old daughter, Stacy, is enrolled in the camp.

Stacy has sewn before, including several pillows used in various rooms of her Elizabethtown house. She still wears a blue scrunchie in her hair that she made.

At the camp, Stacy hopes to learn more techniques so she can sew her own purses.

"You get to put whatever features you want in it," she said. "You can get one in every color."

By the camp's end Thursday afternoon, the girls will have sewn purses, shorts, skirts and accessories. But first, they had to watch a video on how to use their Viking machines.

"This is the boring part of learning to sew," Kingsland said. "But it's the most important part, because if you don't learn it at first then you'll have a mess when you start sewing."

Jacob Bennett can be reached at 769-1200, Ext. 428, or e-mail him at jbennett@mail.the-ne.com.

[FreeTally]

The first guy who says "sew what" will have his eyes bloused;^)

These kids will reap what they sew.

[slugbug]

"It's relaxing, and it's stress release."

Not for me-every time I attempt to sew I get so frustrated I want to throw the machine across the room! My mother and sister are excellent seamstresses-somehow I didn't follow in their footsteps! OTOH I can sew on buttons and hem pants so I'm not a total loss.

[ValerieUSA]

Oh yes, I'm pro-life. Crisis pregnancy centers got all the maternity clothes, baby clothes, blankets and furniture that was outgrown.

[Utah Girl]

I didn't know you taught sewing lessons! I sew most of the stuff in my house (duvet covers, upholstery, pillows, tablecloths, etc.) I've even started sewing clothes again. Great skill to have.

We make lap quilts for the police here in Provo. They take them out on domestic disturbance calls when children are involved and give them to those poor little kids. They are super easy to make, just fabric for both sides, batting, sew them together like a big sandwich, flip them so that the right sides are together, and tie that quilt. I can make a couple of quilts in an evening.

[Palladin]

I'm impressed by all the needlers here at FR!

[Utah Girl]

Me too. I thought sewing was a lost art. I like it for the sense of accomplishment I get after I am finished making something. :)

[ValerieUSA]

My mom made my wedding dress and my Grandma sewed on the little pearls and lace details. It was beautiful. Mom also made my prom dress. I didn't have any daughters, or I might have done more sewing.

[lelio]

My girlfriend recently started to knit and a friend of her's at Boston College remarked that all the trendy girls were doing this on the subway.

[sonofdemnomo]

My Mom's church makes baby quilts for the Pregnancy Crisis Center. My Mom has made a ton of quilts. The women get together and tie them up. My Mom has one or two quilting bees a year. She has a serger. She should make some blankets to go with the quilts.

[ravingnutter]

OTOH I can sew on buttons and hem pants so I'm not a total loss.

Not me...I buy my clothes at the thrift shop, if they lose a button I throw them away and buy a new one, LOL! Hemming? Fuggedaboudit! Blood is too hard to get out.

On the other hand, I just pulled my grandmother's old portable Singer sewing machine out of the top of the closet a couple of days ago for my 23 y/o daughter who wants to make children's clothes to sell on consignment to supplement her income. Hasn't been used in at least 15 years, so it will need cleaning, oiling and adjusting I'm sure. Not sure why they called it a portable though, it is HEAVY (made of heavy blue metal).

[TC Rider]

I wish more girls would learn these essential life skills.

Mrs TC has saved us uncounted thousands of dollars by sewing our own drapes and curtains(window treatments).

I've helped by installing hardware and making cornice boards.

[Lazamataz]

This is great news. I know the sewing classes for adults are popular in this area. These girls will soon learn that one of the most satisfying things in life is to be able to say "I made it myself".

That's exactly how I feel every time I make a new firearm!

[Utah Girl]

I made my oldest niece's junior prom dress a couple of years ago. Now my three nieces who will be juniors this year want me to make their dresses. It is too hard to find a modest prom dress to buy (and they are expensive to boot.)

[AdamsPapers]

Knitting on the subway is a great way to use time. It's also a deterrent to crime. A bad guy might think twice accosting a girl with long metal knitting needles! Too bad you can't take them on an airplane now. They were a great way for Mom to fill the time on a long trip. If she were there, she might have take out a terrorist with a pair of those.

[nanny]

You know, I never asked! I'll have to do that.

[dixie sass]

I actually made a suit with lining but some how managed to break the Mama's sewing machine... Haven't touched one since, they all stop working when I approach - go figure.

[WellsFargo94]

I didn't really think it was a lost art, as most of my friends sew. Maybe I'm among the minority? I've started teaching my 5 year old how to sew and my son can sew, but he's no longer interested. When he was a little guy he used to say, "I just feel like sewing something". It sounds really gay but, hey, he was just a little guy and around the same time I did catch him looking at the Speigel catalog - bra section - saying, "ooohh, la, la", so I'm not really worried.

[SamAdams76]

Why is it that feminists are so opposed to girls learning skills like this in high school? I don't get it. After all, there is no men's movement that I know of that wants to ban industrial arts and automotive repair courses in high school. Why is this so bad for girls?

[dixiechick2000]

"Not for me-every time I attempt to sew I get so frustrated I want to throw the machine across the room!"

Same here! I just didn't have the patience for it.
However, I'm great with power tools.
Go figure...

[syriacus]

I hope this means fabric stores will re-open in this area. I miss the opportunity to cut up and stitch something other than sheets, tablecloths and remnants.