Before fashion and design students began on their pillowcases, they started with hand stitching. This allowed them to become comfortable with certain stitches and learn the basics. As students finished their hand-stitching project, they moved on to learning the sewing machine parts. Before getting assigned a sewing machine, students had to get a 90 percent pass on the knowledge test for the parts of the sewing machine. This helped them understand what parts of the sewing machine they would use and look at for the remainder of this semester. As the students got their assigned sewing machines, they started with stitching samples; this is where they learned all the basic sewing patterns they would be doing in the future. While learning the stitches, students got to have fun with the machines and explored all the settings they might have.

Before fashion and design students could start their pillowcases, they had to do a lot of preparation, starting with cutting their fabric of choice into the exact measurements. Students are also learning a lot more than just sewing and more things they can use later in life. Because after cutting their fabric they had to iron it, making sure it was crisp with no creases. This allowed students to learn how to iron as it was many of the student’s first times ironing. Once all of this was done, students followed the step-by-step instructions given by Ms. Schneider to finish their pillowcases. Once the students are done with their pillowcases, they take their pillowcases home and get ready for their next project.

Fashion and Design student Brighton Mucklebust enjoying working on her latest class creation.

The pillowcases are just the start of fashion and design student’s sewing machine projects. Once the students are done with the pillowcases they start a zipper pouch. This is a project that is more complex than the pillowcase and involves sewing on zippers and new kinds of stitches that will be introduced to the students. The zipper pouch will let students gain confidence for their final project, which will be sewing their choice of pajama pants or shorts that they will also be able to take home and enjoy. “It is a great feeling to bring the projects you have been working on for a long time home and to know it is finished; it makes me feel very accomplished,” said Noelle Hauge.