Success Stories By MajorProgram FY2021Jul 1, 2020 - Jun 30, 2021





Basic Quilting and Sewing

Author: Brenda Cockerham

Major Program: Apparel and Textiles (Non-Master Clothing Volunteer)

Quilting has routinely taken place here in Johnson County for the past 50 years. A group called the Johnson County Piecemakers have served in leadership roles teaching others for just as long. They have hosted quilt shows and activities consistently each year. After covid, sewing and quilting has a rejuvenated interest. At first 11 people who sew that are in or affiliated with the Johnson county Homemakers worked together to make over 500 facemasks. The FCS agent, recognized the need for positiv

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Volunteers provide skills to assist with Covid-19

Author: Donna Fryman

Major Program: Apparel and Textiles (Non-Master Clothing Volunteer)

The COVID-19 Virus closed many businesses and placed a strain on health care providers worldwide creating a high demand for personal protection equipment for health care workers which included isolation gowns plus cloth face coverings. These items were being requested by health facilities and the general public. Thus the much needed basic life skills were put into action by Extension homemakers.Primary Plus requested homemakers in the region to sew isolation gowns from material provided by them.

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Helping out during COVID

Author: Shannon Smith

Major Program: Apparel and Textiles (Non-Master Clothing Volunteer)

The COVID-19 Virus closed many businesses and placed a strain on health care providers worldwide creating a high demand for personal protection equipment for health care workers.  With such a demand on personal protection equipment, items such as isolation gowns were not available.  During this time, the Lewis County Extension Office was contacted by Primary Plus asking if we had anyone that could sew isolation gowns for their 9 offices in Lewis, Mason, Fleming, Bracken, Greenup, Carte

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Clothing Subscription Services

Author: Jill Harris

Major Program: Apparel and Textiles (Non-Master Clothing Volunteer)

Subscription box services sell items such as beauty products, food, pet supplies, cleaning supplies, and clothing.  With over 3500 different types of subscription box services available as of 2018, the subscription e-commerce market was worth $57 million in 2011 and almost $3 billion in 2016. Research shows more than half of online shoppers belong to a subscription box service (Segran, 2018).Services have different business models, policies, and pricing structures. Wardrobe subscription ser

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Online Needlework classes stitch through the pandemic!

Author: Ruth Chowning

Major Program: Apparel and Textiles (Non-Master Clothing Volunteer)

With the Kentucky “Healthy At Home” initiative during this pandemic, the Extension Agent of Bullitt County partnered with the Extension Agent of Garrard County to offer an online Needlework class over the 8 months of the pandemic in 2020. With the resurgence of heritage skills, Needlework can be a way to learn new skills of the mind, heart and hands.  Handwork develops focus and concentration. It encourages following a process in order to complete a project. It enhance

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Facemasks for Madison County Schools Family Resource Centers

Author: Jessica Hunley

Major Program: Apparel and Textiles (Non-Master Clothing Volunteer)

The COVID pandemic has presented several new obstacles for our local schools systems, one of which being able to keep our kids safe by providing enough facemasks for any children who are in need, for one reason or another.  Several Madison County Family Resource Centers in our local schools identified as having a need for child sized facemasks for their students around the county elementary schools, as well as a couple middle and high schools.  In partnership with the Family Resource C

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Virtual Area Seminar: It's Not Your Mothers Sewing Room

Author: Mary Hixson

Major Program: Apparel and Textiles (Non-Master Clothing Volunteer)

The Ft. Harrod Area Seminar, "It's Not Your Mothers Sewing Room" was originally planned for a limited audience in-person for March 2020, the seminar format was changed and held as a virtual program with unlimited audience in November 2020. 183 participants viewed the live Zoom program (2.5 hours) which was recorded and made available afterwards (197 views since Nov 2020). A qualtrics evaluation with 70% return was conducted immediately after the program. This seminar was planned af

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It's Sew Fine: Sewing Expo Event

Author: Mary Hixson

Major Program: Apparel and Textiles (Non-Master Clothing Volunteer)

It's Sew Fine: Sewing Expo had been held annually for several years in the northern Kentucky area. Not from the lack of participation or interest, this event could no longer be held as in previous years. FCS Agents and participants of the event had inquired whether the Ft. Harrod Area FCS Extension Agents would continue this event in a different location. With the renovation and additions to the Boyle County Extension Office, this was possible. An area committee was formed consisting of the

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Quilting Techniques Workshops by Jabez Quilt Seminar

Author: Hazel Jackson

Major Program: Apparel and Textiles (Non-Master Clothing Volunteer)

 Due to closures during the pandemic, the Jabez Quilt Seminar was cancelled in January 2020 and 2021.    The advisory council of 6 volunteers and 3 agents planned a day of tips and techniques by zoom on one of the days that the conference would have been held.  8 separate workshop sessions were taught by teachers and agents.  62 people attended the online sessions.     The Rockcastle County FCS agent taught a session on the Jabez Quilt Seminar quilt design

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Sewing Expo 2021

Author: Alethea Price

Major Program: Apparel and Textiles (Non-Master Clothing Volunteer)

The Ft. Harrod Area Seminar, "It's Not Your Mothers Sewing Room" was originally planned for a limited audience in-person for March 2020, the seminar format was changed and held as a virtual program with unlimited audience in November 2020. 183 participants viewed the live Zoom program (2.5 hours) which was recorded and made available afterwards (197 views since Nov 2020). A qualtrics evaluation with 70% return was conducted immediately after the program. This seminar was planned af

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Using Technology During the Pandemic Allows Longstanding Jabez Quilt Seminar to Reach New People

Author: Angie York

Major Program: Apparel and Textiles (Non-Master Clothing Volunteer)

It is often said that sewing and quilting have become a thing of the past, but that theory has been proven wrong in recent months.  Never has sewing been as useful as it has been throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.   Sewists, experienced and new, honed their skills by making face coverings that were used in hospitals and beyond to help stop the spread of the novel Corona virus.  As interests in sewing renewed, a surge in the purchase of sewing machines, fabric, sewing notions, and e

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Pandemic creates Opportunity

Author: Diana Doggett

Major Program: Apparel and Textiles (Non-Master Clothing Volunteer)

2020 created both chaos and opportunity for many citizens.  During a pandemic, many skilled homemakers were tasked with implementing home management practices for personal, family and community needs. In the middle of a face covering shortage, there became a huge demand for handmade masks.  A Fayette County Quilt Guild member and her mother-in-law combined their pre-purchased fabric and sewed face masks daily.  After donating hundreds of masks, they began selling their excess to c

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A Pandemic Personal Development Series-Beautiful You

Author: Kate Thompson

Major Program: Apparel and Textiles (Non-Master Clothing Volunteer)

Clothing serves many purposes. Societies generally dictate that we wear clothing for modesty or to be in line with cultural norms. And if we go beyond the aspects of how clothing protects us from the elements, enhances our comfort, or indicates our affiliation with select groups or ideals, clothing also impacts our self-image and how we interact with others (Aydino?lu & Krishna, 2011; Kinley, 2010). Clothing is more than just, “wear a dress because you are going to a fancy dinner,&rdqu

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"Its Sew Fine" Sewing Expo continues to impact over a decade later

Author: Ruth Chowning

Major Program: Apparel and Textiles (Non-Master Clothing Volunteer)

Sewing and handwork can bring great satisfaction to someone who makes a project. When very little cost is associated with a project and personal creativity a part of the process, the level of personal satisfaction and fulfillment is found to be greater.  Pin Weaving is a low cost, personally creative method of using the heritage skill of weaving. The "It's So Fine for Home and Family" Sewing Expo committee brought Shirley Adams to Kentucky to be the featured speaker on Cl

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Virtual Quilting Classes

Author: Mary Hixson

Major Program: Apparel and Textiles (Non-Master Clothing Volunteer)

In a collaborative effort with the Lincoln County FCS Extension Agent, in September 2020 we offered our first virtual quilting class in conjunction with the National 'Sew a Jelly Roll Day' event. The sewing community is an easy way to make friends and seek advice from people that enjoy the same hobby as you, which can also fight depression.Sewing is a single focus task, which reduces the likelihood of negative thoughts and can help fight anxiety.By September 2020 after months of shut dow

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Not Your Mother's Sewing Room Seminar

Author: Karli Giles

Major Program: Apparel and Textiles (Non-Master Clothing Volunteer)

The Ft. Harrod Area Seminar, "It's Not Your Mothers Sewing Room" was originally planned for a limited audience in-person for March 2020, the seminar format was changed and held as a virtual program with an unlimited audience in November 2020. 183 participants viewed the live Zoom program (2.5 hours) which was recorded and made available afterwards (197 views since Nov 2020). A Qualtrics evaluation with 70% return was conducted immediately after the program. This seminar was planned

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Not Your Mother's Sewing Room

Author: M. Elizabeth Coots

Major Program: Apparel and Textiles (Non-Master Clothing Volunteer)

The Fort Harrod Area Seminar, "It's Not Your Mothers Sewing Room" was originally planned for a limited audience in-person for March 2020, the seminar format was changed and held as a virtual program with unlimited audience in November 2020. 183 participants viewed the live Zoom program (2.5 hours) which was recorded and made available afterward (197 views since Nov 2020). A Qualtrics evaluation was conducted immediately after the program, with a 70% return rate. This seminar was pl

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It's Sew Fine: Sewing Expo

Author: M. Elizabeth Coots

Major Program: Apparel and Textiles (Non-Master Clothing Volunteer)

It's Sew Fine: Sewing Expo had been held annually for several years in the Northern Kentucky area. Not from the lack of participation or interest, this event could no longer be held as in previous years. FCS Agents and participants of the event had inquired whether the Fort Harrod Area FCS Extension Agents would continue this event in a different location. With the renovation and additions to the Boyle County Extension Office, this was possible. An area committee was formed consisting of the

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It's Sew Fine: Sewing Expo

Author: Rita Stewart

Major Program: Apparel and Textiles (Non-Master Clothing Volunteer)

It's Sew Fine: Sewing Expo had been held annually for several years in the northern Kentucky area. Not from the lack of participation or interest, this event could no longer be held as in previous years. FCS Agents and participants of the event had inquired whether the Ft. Harrod Area FCS Extension Agents would continue this event in a different location. With the renovation and additions to the Boyle County Extension Office, this was possible. An area committee was formed consisting of the

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It's Not Your Mother's Sewing Room Program

Author: Rita Stewart

Major Program: Apparel and Textiles (Non-Master Clothing Volunteer)

The Ft. Harrod Area Seminar, "It's Not Your Mothers Sewing Room" was originally planned for a limited audience in-person for March 2020, the seminar format was changed and held as a virtual program with unlimited audience in November 2020. 183 participants viewed the live Zoom program (2.5 hours) which was recorded and made available afterwards (197 views since Nov 2020). A qualtrics evaluation with 70% return was conducted immediately after the program. This seminar was planned af

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Sill Fine for Home and Family

Author: Valerie Holland

Major Program: Apparel and Textiles (Non-Master Clothing Volunteer)

Sewing and handwork can bring great satisfaction to someone who makes a project. When very little cost is associated with a project and personal creativity a part of the process, the level of personal satisfaction and fulfillment is found to be greater.  Pin Weaving is a low cost, personally creative method of using the heritage skill of weaving.  The "It's So Fine for Home and Family" Sewing Expo committee brought Shirley Adams to Kentucky to be the featured speaker

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