Published: July 23, 2009 11:01 am      

STEP BY STEP, STITCH BY STITCH

Hager’s ‘You Sew Girl’ camp teaches students ins and outs of the craft

Ashland — Reilly Barker, 10, of Ashland, pushed a purple fabric square through a sewing machine, practicing neat, straight stitches. Across the room, Geri Willis pulled tangled thread out of a stalled machine.

The room, ringed with sewing machines, whirred with the sound of girls peddling their machines, many for the first time.

Willis, coordinator of the Ashland Family Resource Center, said she was surprised at the response for the week-long sewing camp, called “You Sew Girl,” at Hager Elementary School until Friday.

She originally planned to teach about eight girls about sewing with help from the Boyd County 4-H club. In the end, 19 girls from Hager showed up for the program.

The Boyd County Homemakers also volunteered to help with the camp.

Participants went on a field trip Monday to pick out fabric to make capri pants.

They will all create an outfit and present it in a fashion show on Friday at the Boyd County Fairgrounds, said Becky Stahler, the 4-H agent for Boyd County.

Stahler said she thinks one reason for the high demand is that it’s been about six years since 4-H has sponsored a sewing program.

The response was so positive it might be extended it through the school year, Stahler said.

“I think when you give kids an alternative, something new, something hands on, they’re going to want to do it,” she said.

Barker said she and her mother started working on a quilt about a year ago, but haven’t finished it yet. She said she’s excited about completing an outfit.

“If they’re not pajamas, then I’m wearing it to school,” she said.

Barker said her friends would be jealous of her homemade outfit.

Raegan Williams, 10, of Ashland, said she had a sewing machine at home but had never used it. She said her favorite part was picking out the cloth she sewed with.

Caitlyn Roberts, 11, of Ashland, said she came to the camp to have something to do besides watch television.

She learned to sew from her grandmother, making pillows and quilts, so she has experience with a sewing machine, Roberts said.

Janice Riley, 64, of South Point, Ohio, volunteered to help with the camp because her granddaughter is a participant.

She said she wants to help the girls learn about crafts, such as quilting, that have been forgotten and help them develop the skills needed to be a homemaker.

“I think it will carry on these skills to the next generation, and that’s something that we need,” Riley said.

Riley has been a homemaker since her children were born. She said she felt glad to be able to contribute to her home through skills such as sewing.

KATIE BRANDENBURG can be reached at kbrandenburg@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2657.