Stitched Together Inter-generational Sewing Class

              The Stitched Together Inter-generational Sewing Class was created as a part of the Berea Folk Arts and Culture Grant that Magoffin County Extension Office received.  We were awarded an additional $1,000.00, in addition to the amount requested, and therefore created the sewing class.  The class was designed for parents and their child or a grandparent, or caregiver and child to come to sew together, creating time for bonding and making lasting memories as a family.  

              The class limit was set for 20 pairs of participants, so that materials could be purchased in advance for the project.  The pattern that was selected was for a child’s and adult’s chef apron, which would be completed together during the four week class.  Each pair of participants would receive a new sewing kit and sewing bag for storage for their sewing tools, a pattern for both a child size and adult size chef’s apron, fabric, thread, bias binding, and woven strap fabric to complete their aprons.  One pattern was purchased at a cost of $19.95, but to conserve money, rather than buying 20 of the patterns, a $65.01 purchase of Pellon Tracing material was used to reproduce the needed patterns.  

              Twenty sewing kits were purchased, at a cost of $380.96, which included the sewing case, scissors, seam ripper, seam guage, measuring tape, needle threader, straight pins, pin cushion, and hand sewing needles.   In addition, fabric was purchased in the yardage amounts needed for each apron, and matching thread, at a cost of $414.44.  

              There were seven parents/grandparents who brought children, with three of the nine bringing two children to participate.  This brought the total number of participants in the class to 17.  Those who came to all of the classes and completed their sewing projects were invited to come to a Mother’s Day Cookie Baking party on the week before Mother’s Day, and got to wear their new aprons, while cooking. 

              The goal of this class was to strengthen family bonds and to continue to teach sewing skills to young people, so that the art of sewing will not be lost.  Initially, we had planned to have 20 pairs of participants, and even though we did not reach that goal, the kids who participated learned so much and were very pleased with their finished projects. The lesson  learned about this project would be that it needs to be conducted during the winter, in a time when there are not as many school activities vying for participants’ time.  The parents and grandparents who participated were thrilled with the outcome of the program, and were happy for the time that they spent with the children.  The children were excited about the sewing kits, fun fabric, and learning skills that they may otherwise, not have had the opportunity to learn.  

              More programs like this one, which incorporates learning new skills, with family bonding time, will be planned for the future.  Families need time together to work and play, and this program definitely filled that requirement.