In the fall of 2022, the  Ponderosa afterschool 4-H sewing club merged from a parent needs survey that revealed the 4^th and 5^th grade students were in need of an “afterschool/enrichment/learning” activity and/or club.   Ponderosa Elementary is the only school in the Boyd County School District that does not qualify for state and/or federal afterschool funds through the 21^st Century Community Learning Center grants.  To be eligible to apply for the 21^st CCLC funds, a school must have 50% of the student population identified as free/reduced lunch.  Administration and staff also reported a need for Ponderosa upper grade level students to participate in afterschool service learning activities or clubs.

This was the perfect opportunity for Boyd County 4-H and Family Resource Center East to partner and host a 4-H Sewing Club.  This new afterschool club was so successful that beginning Fall 2024 will be the third consecutive year for The 4-H Sewing Club.  

The same format of eight consecutive weeks each fall from 3:00 pm until 5:00 pm was utilized for 2022, 2023 and now 2024. Ten is the maximum number of club members due to the number of available 4-H sewing machines.

The club members were led by three Boyd County 4-H staff members, nine Boyd County Homemakers, 2 Boyd County Master Clothing Volunteers and 3 community volunteers each year for a total of 31 adults assisting over the two years and more for the upcoming 2024 year.  The students and volunteers each week recited the 4-H Pledge, reviewed daily progress goals, and agreed safety guidelines in their sewing curriculum.  

Not only did the clubs each year follow a schedule, but also each year the club members completed pre and posttests.  A pre-test was given on the first week and a posttest on the last week.  Students were quizzed on the parts of a sewing machine, types of sewing machines, different types of stitches, items that can be made with a sewing machine, different types of fabric and what natural resources are needed for that fabric and Appalachian traditions/heritage and how the craft of sewing originated.

According to pretest results of both 2022 and 2023 years, 17 of the 20 students had never seen a sewing machine, did not know the parts, and had never seen a homemade item from a sewing machine.  In contrast, the posttest results showed that all 20 students could identify all parts of a sewing machine, knew at least three different type of stitches, and could name several careers where sewing is involved.

Both years the club members participated in a community service project known as Quilts of Valor where a veteran is presented a quilt at a ceremonial dinner that was made from local sewing clubs across the nation.  Our clubs’ quilt patches were sent to the statewide Quilts of Valor program and added to a quilt that contained patches from other afterschool sewing clubs.

Quilt patches were not the only projects completed both years.  Other projects were hot/cold cherry pit packs, notebook covers, tissue box cover, and a pair of pajamas including a t-shirt and bottoms designed by the students.

Each year students reported receiving sewing machines as gifts for the holiday.  

With such great interest in sewing, the former club members are now in Boyd County Middle School and plans are underway for a new Boyd County Middle School 4-H sewing club.