Pride, One Stitch at a Time

Funded Feb 25, 2020

This gift had LEGS! While I wasn't able to use these supplies right away (Covid sent us into remote learning for the next year-and-a-half), this year I've joyfully dug them out of storage and set kids to work in a new elective in our school: "Maker Space".

The kids eying the hoops, embroidery floss, muslin, and calico squares was hilariously like lions eying antelopes on the plain. I managed to distribute the basics with calm and set some groundrules for how we'd "shop" from our supply, and then we were off to the races!

In Maker space, I started kids off doing an old-fashioned "sampler" -- they stitched rows of running stitch, backstitch, chain stitch, did some lazy daisies, some satin stitch, and french knots. Having mastered those basics, kids designed and stitched a monogram, some with floral motifs and others with symbolic images to represent what they loved and valued. After that, we tried out embroidering on felt to make bookmarks, embroidering applique pieces onto circles and other ornament shapes, and finally we tried out hand sewing and stuffing some little creatures of kids own design (we had a rash of little strawberries, cookies, and pizza slices with smiles and eyes), and creating pencil cases with some of the calico and zippers you supplied. We got a donated sewing machine, so our next step will be to learn some of the basics of garment sewing, first for little stuffed animals, but eventually, I hope, for themselves.

Needless to say, we have loved having the abundance of supplies you made available to us. I'm so sorry that it's taken so long to use, and even longer to thank you, but I wanted to make sure you knew how alive and nurtured my students and have felt, sewing together. The highs and lows of beautiful satin stitch and tangled floss have bonded us together, as have the conversations we have...those same kinds of free-flowing, exploratory conversation that happens on a long road trip, where you are both looking at something else, but feeling free-er to talk as you pass the time together. This kind of conversation isn't always available to a teacher of middle school students, unless you make the time and space for it. So as much as I love the products your supplies have allowed, I've been infinitely more grateful for the relationships that they've helped create. Thank you so much for your generosity.”

With gratitude,

Ms. Wylie