Six of the oldest students just completed an exciting sewing project! First the children had to get certified by the Fayetteville Free Library’s staff. An hour long course taught them the parts of the sewing machine and how to thread it, fill a bobbin and more! Our second class involved designing a bargello patchwork quilt. The children selected fabric, donated by family members, and then started tearing 3 inch strips of each fabric.  

Now it was time to use the sewing machines. Sewing the strips together sounds easier than it is for novice sewers. Sewing straight and making sure each seam has the same width proved to be a challenge. Irons were used to press the seams. Then the magic happened. After forming a tube of strips, the children cut across their fabric strips in thin or thick strips. The last stage involved sewing these “new” strips together. Many students learned how to use a seam ripper when they had to re-do a seam, but with patience and perseverance all six students ended up with a stunning sample of their handiwork. The children were incredibly proud of their creations, as well they should be. This project would not have been possible without the expertise of NS parent, Julie Niederhoff and her daughter Katie who are both gifted sewers.