Success StorySewing for your Health and Financial Benefits



Sewing for your Health and Financial Benefits

Author: Judith Hetterman

Planning Unit: Owen County CES

Major Program: Promoting Healthy Homes and Communities (general)

Plan of Work: Strengthen Families by Developing Healthy Secure Homes

Outcome: Intermediate Outcome

With sewing becoming more popular and a means to generate income, Family Consumer sciences Extension Agents coordinated the "It's Sew Fine For Home and Family Sewing Expo, providing hands on experiences learning programs to 165 participants from 48 Kentucky Counties and 19 states. The Sewing Expo attracts college educated women(65%; 22% had some college); over the age of 55 (87%) and a growing number under the age of 35 (22%) who belong to one or more organizations who address issues related to clothing construction, textiles, or fiber arts. The majority of participants (81%) consider they have intermediate or advanced skills.

Participants completed a survey to describe the reasons why they sew:

-59% social interactions

-81% expression of self

-74% to relieve stress/relax

-92% to express creativity

-77% create gifts for others

-85% Sense of accomplishments

-53% to custom fit for self/friend

-67% to create item for home

-22% to save money

-13% to earn money

This year there were 37 first time participants and 16 participants who had attended all fourteen years.






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