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 an unlimited audience in November 2020. 183 participants viewed the live Zoom program (2.5 hours) which was recorded and made available afterward (228 views since Nov 2020). A Qualtrics evaluation with a 70% return was conducted immediately after the program. One year later a follow-up survey was sent to participants who answered the original survey with a 39% response. This seminar was planned after the annual assessment of  Extension Homemaker lesson ideas gathered from 8 Ft. Harrod counties indicated a strong interest in sewing. As reported by Industry Market Research in IBISWorld, the sewing business has a US market share of 3.4 Billion dollars yearly. Those who sew spend substantial amounts of money each year on new tech, fabrics, and the related tools and supplies offered in the marketplace. 

Topics for the seminar were chosen based on economics, health, sewing trends, and new sewing-related tech. Presentation topics included: ergonomics in the sewing room, new sewing machine features, needle and thread updates, organization in your sewing room, and helpful exercises to benefit the sewist. (More details about the seminar can be found in the Success Story written 2021.)

Following up with specific questions related to the presentations we learned the following:

In 2021 only 50% of the respondents to a poll question stated they had an ergonomic specific chair for sewing at their home during the seminar. 11% have reported since the seminar they purchased an ergonomically correct chair for sewing.

In 2021, 67% of respondents to the Qualtrics practiced new exercise stretches as related to sewing during our seminar; 99% reported planning to add more stretching breaks to their sewing sessions. 2022 survey results: 95% have reported 'getting up and moving in some way' during their sewing sessions.

In 2021, 97% of respondents to the survey reported learning something new from the presentations. When asked specifically, new things learned included information about: changing needles more frequently; threading spool correctly; using ergonomics when placing ironing surface, cutting station, and sewing height;  new tech on sewing machines.  2022 survey results, 28% of respondents reported purchasing new organizational items; 13% reported changing/adjusting their sewing height in some way;  87% are more aware of their body positions when sewing/pressing/cutting and making adjustments; 28% reported finding creative ways to reorganize their sewing spaces without spending extra money, they cleaned out some and de-cluttered sewing items.    

Other info from the 2022 survey: several mounted the needle chart that was given out on a wall for easy access; over 10% responded they change their needles more and try to match up with the correct needle for the project; at least 13% admitted to throwing away 'old' thread; numerous commented they had learned about using the correct type of thread for the fabric and have made those changes. One person noted they had moved their 60-year-old thread to a lovely display case'!

Most of us can feel overwhelmed by the relentless demands of the digital world. Endlessly scrolling through social media, replying to emails, and checking apps can make it difficult to switch off. Mindful practices are a popular antidote to this. And sewing, as well as knitting, is increasingly recognized as an effective way to help with anxiety and depression. With the popularity of this presentation and other sewing-related programs in the Ft. Harrod Area, offering opportunities in sewing/needle-arts will continue.