I taught a workshop at 4-H Teen Summit. I taught plushie making. The youth learned basic sewing skills and completed a stuffed cactus. They learned a basic hand-sewn stitch, how to knot the thread, how to thread a needle, and how to take their time and take frequent breaks if needed.

There was one youth that really excelled. They took the class, kept getting frustrated, couldn't quite grasp the sewing concept, and left with a cactus that had big holes where the stuffing was coming out, and were not happy with the outcome. I had offered everyone the ability to meet up during free time to finish any unfinished projects and this youth decided they wanted to try again. Allowing them to have a second kit and work a little more one on one where I could help to explain the steps better and show them closer, helped this youth become more confident in their abilities and got frustrated less often. They completed a second cactus with a major improvement. There were no large holes, no stuffing falling out, the stitching was more uniform and they stuck with it until the end when they got a product they enjoyed. They also noticed that when they took a break and walked away for a second, they came back with a clearer mind and were able to keep their frustrations down.