Another reason to love Fridays
26 May 2010 Leave a Comment
In the past, the Sewing Project was solely holding classes and group projects on Saturdays. The thought was that this was the day most accessible to refugee sewing students and our volunteer sewing mentors/teachers, since weekdays are typically filled with school, work and family busyness. That has worked well, but has limited us to a maximum of four sewing classes or gatherings per month (since each month typically consists of four Saturdays each). This year, with the Project growing so quickly and with our Basics Sessions (intended for new sewing students and taking place on three consecutive Saturdays) being in full-gear to usher in new sewing students, extra time in the classroom with volunteer teachers has been found wanting.
Desiring to to offer more practice time and more student-teacher interaction, in accordance with the high demand, we recently decided to expand sewing time to some weekdays. The good news– our now every-other week, Friday morning sewing time is a hit! There have been a couple of faithful volunteers coming out every other Friday and five or so sewing students that consistently and happily fill our sewing room with chatter, the hum of machines, and excitement over new skills being developed.
Due to the extra time and smaller class size of these Friday gatherings, students have been afforded the opportunity to learn to make such things as skirts, pillows and pillowcases, light tops, and pants (using a pair of their own pants to make a new pattern). A certain camaraderie unites the regular attendees and everyone is growing in their knowledge and abilities.
One student who has flourished and who loves sewing already has gone home after our times together and has used these same project patterns to create multiple garments. What’s more is that she has also now created other items (various sized bags, for example) modeled after what she has made or after principles she’s learned and used in class. While the teachers think she is soon going to be able to teach a class 
, this lovely sewing “student” has told us that these projects are completely new to her!
Most of the other “regulars” (regular attendees) are mothers and said they were going to go home and try to make pants and shirts for their children too.
Sewing can be so practical and so empowering! Likewise, Fridays can continue to be much-loved!
