The following are excerpts of leader ideas presented at the 1989 textiles
and
clothing forum.
In Alaska, one county has a fair exhibit called, "My Favorite
Outfit" which
any member can enter whether or not they are enrolled in 4-H clothing. They
also involve LABO 4-H'ers on exchange from Japan by asking them to model
clothing
they purchased in Alaska.
In Arizona, 4-H members utilize clothing construction
skills in their horse, western wear, apiary, and outdoor discovery projects.
In
Arkansas, a county utilized the National 4-H Congress Fashion Revue video.
In
California, one leader presented a workshop, "Sewing shortcuts
and time
saving devices", teaching quick and easy methods that go beyond the
general information provided by commercial patterns.
In Delaware, a leader
conducts
sewing workshops in 4-8 consecutive Saturdays. The workshops are not only
a series of classes, but are also problem solving sessions for 4-H'ers who
are sewing
projects on their own. 4-H'ers sign up for the workshops and are given a
list of supplies for a specific type of outfit. Parents are encouraged to
attend and
learn new techniques right along with the kids. Basic hand stitches and seam
finishes are topics that are emphasized. Projects taught include knit skirts,
tulip aprons, and jams.
In Florida, one leader did a workshop on decorated
t-shirts and sweatshirts.
In Hawaii during fashion revue, fourth and fifth
graders are judged on modeling only unless they wish to model a self-made
outfit. All others may model either ready-made or self-made articles. High
school girls
are encouraged to model self-made garments.
In Idaho, they utilize mini-class
topics with their fashion revue judging, some of the more innovative topics
selected were: writing your narration, accessories (what to wear with first
year sewing
projects), and "Turns and
Smiles" basic modeling techniques which the first timers need to know
before going on stage.
In Idaho, at the close of one of the county fairs,
4-H'ers
remove their ribbons from their exhibits and extension agents set up clothing
judges training for aspiring clothing judges. A workshop was devoted to the
different areas of clothing construction. The judges were divided into groups
of five to
judge these classes: hems, serged seams, seam finishes, waistbands, waistlines,
zippers, buttons/buttonholes, sleeves, ribbing, and crotch seams.
In
Idaho, they are piloting a serger project.
In Idaho, mannequin modeling
is being
tried in one county. They work in groups of 3 girls. The announcer reads
the first girl's name; she walks to a
predetermined place on stage and "freezes". The second girl's name
is called
and she "freezes" and then the third. Then the first girl models
while others remain frozen, then she strikes a new pose while the second
girl goes...etc.
In Illinois, one leader is teaching youth 8-12 basic sewing
skills and is using simple 2-3 hour take home projects (potholder and patchwork
pillow)
to
do this.
Indiana set up a sewing fair. They set up and manned booths
by 4-H leaders and volunteers who were "experts" on zippers, buttonholes,
seam finishes, interfacing, fashion and fashion revues, fabric and pattern
selection, waistbands, and hems. 114 people participated to practice techniques
and get
answers to individual questions.
In Indiana, a county has a sewing for
fun project where they make garments, luggage, furniture items and accessories.
They
are able to exhibit at the fair.
In Indiana, one county finds interview
judging to work very well. Another
county provides a "total image workshop" that covers everything
that would aid 4-H'ers preparing for the fashion revue: hair styling, modeling,
etc.
Kentucky has a judges certification program. A slide presentation was
developed for the training that showed five junior units and what is required
and looked
for in a quality garment. Each leader was instructed and required to sew
on buttons, hook and eyes, and snaps and did several different hems on samples.
Recycle
jeans into a stylish skirt, a snazzy sweatshirt, or a cute tote bag. Each
child brings an old pair of blue jeans to a workshop and comes home with
a garment
or an article.
In Louisiana, fashion revue members take a plain t-shirt,
sweatshirt or an
old man's shirt to create a "super shirt" and model them; a good
activity for a modeling workshop.
Can five 4-H'ers cut, sew and have
a garment ready
for modeling in three hours? Call this "Team Challenge" where 4-H'ers
have a chance to work together rather than to compete with each other. (Maryland).
This would be a good community project idea.
In another county in Maryland,
several clubs were challenged with what to do with 300 bolts of fabric and
patterns that a store wanted to discontinue.
In Massachusetts, several
teens were
invited to join the state 4-H textiles and clothing advisory council, which
helps plan the state fashion revue.
In Minnesota, 4-H teens gave their clothes "lots
of dash for little cash". They gave 6 tips:
Pick one color per season
to add accessories
If you go fad, go cheap
Accessorize the basics
Shop around
Check those labels
Follow sales at the end of the
season. They used PENNY POWER
magazine as a resource.
In Montana, they decided to incorporate ready-made
clothing selections into the fashion revue. A manager of an area clothing
store volunteered to work with 4-H members in selecting garments and
accessories for
the event. An optional activity would be a team project where merchant
members and leaders work together toward the finished look.
In Montana,
one club
modeled their garments for people in the rest home.
In Nebraska,
serger sewing is utilized throughout the clothing projects. They have
found that
sergers can
be safely used by the youngest 8-9 year olds as well as older teens.
In
Nebraska, one leader shared a valuable teaching aid on clipping and
notching using a Pellon-like
fabric.
Another leader in Nebraska provided an outline for a first
year sewing workshop, which focused on personal appearance, textiles,
sewing, and choosing
accessories.
In Nebraska, a new clothing project was introduced
in 1987.
Individual modules were provided for each project that allowed the
leaders to complete various hands-on activities.
In New Mexico, one
project
they are
using combines skills in sewing "how
to make a cobbler's apron" and no bake recipes that are made to
complement this activity. The curriculum is called, "Creative
Fun for Nine Year Olds".
New York has a handout on clothing related
community service ideas.
Several counties in New York State conduct
a TEXTILE EXPO, with
various classes
to get
youth excited about clothing projects and activities. They have almost
40 different workshops and speakers, but participants much choose three.
North
Dakota found that Nancy Zieman of Nancy's Notions has an excellent video
on
teaching children to sew.
A fashion workshop in Ohio provided workshops
with catchy
titles: The Bottom Line (hem finishing), Put Your Best Foot Forward
(modeling), I Just Want to Dye (tie dyeing), TLC and TNT for Sewing
Machines and
Overlockers (care for these machines). The hit of the day was a simple
t-dress that was
constructed from an oversized t-shirt. The shirt was decorated and
a skirt of matching or
contrasting fabric was added to the hem, making it a dropped waist
dress.
In Oregon, 4-H members use an advancement program, which
are advanced
program
steps written into a planned learning sequence for all members.
In
Oregon, a special fashion revue is held for 4-H members to demonstrate their
skills
in consumership and wardrobe planning.
Two leaders from Puerto
Rico
provided a pattern for towel slippers and one for a fabric flower pin.
A
leader in
South Carolina helps young children learn to sew by allowing them to
stitch seams in legal sized paper.
In South Dakota, one leader
would like to
include purchased
garments and Decorate Your Duds in the fashion revue.
In Tennessee,
a fashion revue was held in a local mall.
At a fun day in Texas,
one group
used Wonder
Under iron on to a bandana to trace a stencil and apply to a t-shirt.
Others used bandana scraps to cover buttons and earrings. Some made
bandana scarves.
In Utah, they organize a mall spree. Week one consists
of studying clothing styles in magazines and newspaper ads, showing how a
few good
clothing pieces
can be mixed and matched. In week two, they learn to accessorize clothing.
In week three, each member is given a notebook and pencil and an imaginary
$200.00
and is told to outfit themselves from head to toe, excluding underclothing
and to draw sketches of the garments. Week four is devoted to a discussion
of what
was "purchased" and how it could be mixed and matched.
Utah
also gave directions for a t-tube dress and a t-flip dress made from
t-shirts
and
a designer bag which helps members learn measuring, grainline, pressing,
and straight sewing.
A leader from Washington State uses burn
tests to help her
group learn about textile fibers.
Four teens from the previous
year are selected in Wisconsin to facilitate the clothing and
textiles activities
at the Wisconsin
State Fair.
One leader in Wisconsin focuses on color and
favorite colors by using a food color experiment. She dyes muffins and
cookies, red, blue,
green, yellow and gray.
4-H members make quilts for 75th
anniversary
in Wisconsin.
A leader in Wyoming shared a detergent experiment.
Another leader from Wyoming initiated a clothing camp.
