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Sewing helps develop life skills

January 09, 2007|Heather Cassill

A clinical study has revealed that learning to sew helps youth develop life and career skills and other attributes that contribute to lifelong success. Clark County's 4-H Youth Development program offers a variety of sewing projects.The study revealed that children ages 8 to 12 had elevated creativity and self-esteem after completing a simple sewing assignment. However, these traits were not exhibited by the children who watched a movie or played a video game instead. One hundred children participated in the study commissioned by the Home Sewing Association.

Multiple sewing choices in color, selection, fabric options, design and proportion may help stimulate and focus creative energy. Pride and a sense of accomplishment from mastering skills and completing a project tend to boost children's self-esteem. The sewing participants also appeared to develop problem solving skills, patience and perseverance.

The Clark County 4-H sewing program focuses on positive youth development by teaching the art and skills to create useful items using a needle and thread, sewing machine and other sewing-related machines. Through sewing projects, 4-H members learn to create clothing and accessories useful for everyday living. They also develop skills for a rewarding, stress-relieving hobby.

Consumer surveys and studies have demonstrated other benefits of learning to sew. These include honing eye-hand coordination and other fine motor skills, working individually and as a member of a team, and using and respecting tools and technology.

The junior sewing program is for youth ages 9 to 13. The senior program is for youth ages 14 to 19.

In the beginning junior unit, "Let's Learn to Sew," 4-H members learn basic sewing machine use and acquire skills to sew a simple garment or usable item. Youth then build on these skills in each succeeding unit. Skills learned in other units include using interfacing, hand-stitching a hem , fitting patterns, making buttonholes, learning basic knit and serger techniques, selecting patterns and fabrics for various uses, and attaching collars, pockets and plackets.

Senior 4-H members enclose and finish seams, select a pattern and fabric for a dressy occasion, coordinate numerous fabrics and garment pieces, make alterations, and choose fabric and a pattern for a specialized activity.

Youth who learn to sew now may have an edge in tomorrow's economy, when creative, flexible workers will be in high demand.

Source: Linda Heaton.

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For more information on sewing and other 4-H Youth Development projects, contact the Clark County Cooperative Extension Service at 744-4682 or http://ces.ca. uky.edu/clark/youthdev/.

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