This year the girls talked a friend in to doing the revue (their version of a sewing circle involves a sewing machine and fleece) and A. came over a couple of weeks ago to make her fleece hat and scarf (she's a newbie so this was her first sewing project ever).
While helping A. with her sewing project I realized how much I miss the days of beginner sewing because it was, well, easier for me. It's one thing to teach straight stitching and putting in elastic waist bands. That's stuff I can do easily.
But this year L. chose a fleece coat pattern that requires button holes (I stink at that) and G.'s fitted dress, a zipper (I hate zippers too).
It's not that I have not done these things before, I've just not done them well. And trying to teach the girls how to do it? Let's just say these projects have taken quite a bit of time to make.
But L. has not lost her sense of humor through the learning curve of button holes (which neither of us has mastered and L.'s afraid to put one on her coat but this weekend she's taking the plunge).
The 4-H Fashion Revue is basically a fashion show where kids sew (or knit/crochet) an item to wear for the show. The projects are judged, which requires the kids to stand before a round of judges and talk about their project and provide info about them (like how they made their project, why they chose that particular pattern, what was hard/easy for them, etc). The kids also write a commentary about their project (and themselves) that is read during their time modeling their piece on the stage.
The kids are awarded ribbons for their projects but I think the real appeal of this particular 4-H event for kids (it's a Cumberland County-wide event but kids from other counties have also participated in the past) is the individual fashion statement opportunity and walking the runway.
And this morning I'm now feeling nostalgic about my girls' first fashion show. It took a lot of convincing to get L.'s 6-year-old self out on the runway that first year (and she's still not keen on taking that first step on stage but once she does, she has a lot of fun).
In 2005, L.'s diagonal quilt idea for her fleece pillow was pretty cool and a great first project for her even though the diagonal part was a little tricky for her to figure out at first. G. made her a-frame skirt quite roomy so she's been able to get A LOT of wear out of it. (And if you regularly read my blog, you'll realize that she's still wearing this skirt!)
This skirt, with capris under it, is a favorite hiking outfit. This photo from Frankenstein Cliff was taken this past fall.
I also tracked down a couple of photos with links to previous fashion revues. All the 4Hers come up with some fabulous sewing projects every year and I'm happy to report that sewing crafts are still alive and well with this generation.
L. made a fairy quilt and G. made her doll a dress. See photos of the Fashion Revue entries by all the kids in 2007.
Last year G. undertook an easier project because she really wanted a new poncho (the one I made for her for Christmas several years ago was looking ratty) and she thought it would be fun to model a new one at the fashion show. It took L. a couple of months of on and off work to make the doll, which included embroidering the face and heart, making the body, sewing on the hair (the hardest job of all!) and then making the clothes. This project was actually inspired by grandma because she made the exact same doll for me when I was a kid (L. now has possession of that one and her own).
More about the 2008 4-H Fashion Revue.
And just a quick tidbit for aspiring sewers (young and old). Jo-Ann Fabrics offers sewing classes regularly at their stores. When the girls and I made a quick pit-stop for L.'s buttons the other day, we saw a class in action so I know the Portland store offers them.
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