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 unlimited audience in November 2020. 183 participants viewed the live Zoom program (2.5 hours) which was recorded and made available afterward (197 views since Nov 2020). A Qualtrics evaluation was conducted immediately after the program, with a 70% return rate. This seminar was planned after the annual assessment of  Extension Homemaker lesson ideas gathered from 8 Fort Harrod counties indicated a strong interest in sewing. As reported by Industry Market Research in IBISWorld, sewing business has a US market share of 3.4 billion dollars annually. 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 sewists.

The preparations for hosting this seminar began in fall 2019. Speakers included University Specialists, Master Volunteers in Clothing Construction, FCS Extension Agents, and a retail sewing business owner. Through live presentations, demonstrations, PowerPoint, and pre-filmed video, audience members Zooming in for the seminar had the chance to participate in live polls and complete a Qualtrics evaluation about the seminar in real-time. This was truly a team effort. The Woodford County FCS Agent arranged the facility and tech equipment for Master Volunteers and University Specialists to give their presentations. All of the Fort Harrod Area agents presented, planned, promoted, and managed the ins and outs of Zoom, dividing responsibilities to ensure a successful event.

Sewing is a single focus task bringing many health benefits. Those health benefits include: steady heart rate, lower blood pressure, less perspiration over time, reduced stress, and an increase in dopamine. The creative process of sewing keeps the mind healthy and active so that your mind can stay sharper for longer. The creative thinking required during sewing encourages the growth of new brain cells. Sewing items with meaning can create sensory triggers for those who suffer from dementia.  

This was the first Zoom experience for 10% of the audience, 12% reported sewing for profit, and 46% responded they had attended an online sewing-related class the past year. Only 50% of the respondents to a poll question stated they had an ergonomic specific chair for sewing at their home.

67% of respondents to the Qualtrics practiced new exercise stretches as related to sewing and 99% reported planning to add more stretching breaks to their sewing sessions. 

97% of respondents to the survey reported learning something new from the presentations. When asked specifically, new things learned included information about: changing needle more frequently; threading spool correctly; using ergonomics when placing ironing surface, cutting station and sewing height; new tech on sewing machines.     

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 Fort Harrod Area, offering opportunities in sewing/needle-arts will continue.