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.

[Fred Mertz]

I wish more girls would learn these essential life skills.

[jamaly]

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".

[Brad’s Gramma]

I teach beginning sewing and trust me, these teenagers today WANT to learn.

So, that said, a big bump for sewing machines, fabric, teens, little girls, and yes, an occasional little GUY!

[Brad’s Gramma]

One of my students, btw, refuses to use a pattern. And she's not been sewing that long. She just goes for it.

Is it professional? Not by a long shot. But she's wearing the clothing!!!! AND, she's made Prom dresses for her friends, charged them for it, and is learning a business skill.

Go figure. :-)

[Fred Mertz]

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

[Rebelbase]

How dare the County sponsor a class that is so demeaning to women. The next thing you know, they'll be having cooking and baking classes, how stereotypical of our male dominated society................../sarcasm!

[Brad’s Gramma]

Boys LOVE sewing! They're natural at it. One of the things I first noticed was the ones whose Dad's had worked with them on a band saw. They, especially, did well. It's kinda the same theory.

Oh! And give a boy a computerized sewing machine....I'll say no more.

[ValerieUSA]

I loved sewing shirts and pillows and curtains for myself and my kids when they were little. I haven't sewn for a long time now.... ought to drag out something to put together on this rainy miserable day. (I made crazy quilts that I sold, too -- really a fun project)

[nanny]

Because of scheduling glitch, my son and some other boys had to take a Home Ec class in high school. Now this boy is 6 ft, weighs 215, has hands like hams and is a diesel mechanic - but he loved it. He likes to cook and made a shirt that was just great --and the guide sheet was missing from his pattern. He made it without a guide sheet - first time sewer. He was teacher's pet!

[Fred Mertz]

Was his teacher a knockout?

[Brad’s Gramma]

I don't know if you're pro-life, but if you have a serger/overlock machine....you could buy some flannel and make receiving blankets for Crisis Pregnancy Centers.

Heck, just make a blanket of ANY kind....Those little people NEED stuff!!!!

[muggs]

I wish more girls would learn these essential life skills.

So does my husband, he would be happy if I just learned to sew buttons on.

[Brad’s Gramma]

Shame on you Fred, shame shame shame! (you're probably right, though)

Nanny, GREAT story! See? Boys ARE good at this!

[Fred Mertz]

I hate doing buttons too. I guess I just never learned the proper method because I just push that needle through a different button-hole each time and hope for the best. And I never know how to tie it off or whatever I'm supposed to do when I think I've finished sewing the button on.

[Map Kernow]

Hardin County...isn't that central Kentucky, where Abe Lincoln was born?

[Brad’s Gramma]

I've GOT to log off.....I'll try to answer your button question later.

TRY! I give no guarantees! :-)

[maxwell]

Sew what?

[Fred Mertz]

Consider your eyes bloused wise guy!!

[SauronOfMordor]

I wish more girls would learn these essential life skills.

Besides academics, my eldest homeschooled daughter knows how to sew and cook. She's also competent with rifle, pistol, & knife.

[maxwell]

Dude you got me in stitches here...

Awright I'll zip it...

Okay I'll button up...

Don't bust a gusset...

Too many loose threads here...

Okay I'll quit needlin' ya...

You got me on pins and needles, bud...