Holiday Greetings from the Young Designers!

Our Young Designers are doing their part this Holiday Season by donating pillowcase gift bundles, that they have sewn, for the children who are spending the holidays in local homeless shelters. The gifts include the homemade pillow cases and books wrapped together.

Here are a few photos of our girls at work making these gifts!

We are hoping to have finished as many gift bundles as we can before our holiday break so that we may have gifts for as many children possible!

Please help our girls continue their donations to the community by donating to them!

Gaines Elementary School

Young Designers Sewing Club

"What I like about sewing club.."

My favorite thing in sewing club is using the sewing machine. I liked picking out buttons.

~D.H.

The thing I like about sewing club is being on the sewing machine, measuring cloth and my friends, too.

We went on a field trip to UGA where we talked about what they wear in Ghana with Dr. Hunt-Hurst. Then we went to a loom with Mr. Raul. He let all of us have a turn at the loom. Then we went to Ms. Leslie, a UGA student who was going to be a fashion designer. Her designs were pretty. I love the sewing club and I hope I can be in it next year when I'm in 5th grade.

~L.N.

When I first started the sewing club I was scared because it was my first time sewing and because it was my first year at Gaines Elementary School. I have always wanted to make my own clothes since I was four years old. The reason I joined the sewing club is because I want to learn the different ways to sew. I like fashion design. I enjoy learning about the different fabrics. I'm proud to be in the sewing club.

~S.H.

I just love being in the Young Designers because I'm learning how to sew and measure. Thanks for reading our blog!

~B.T.

When I started in sewing club I was excited. When I started to sew on the machine I was so nervous because I thought I was going to sew my finger up. But then I got the hang of it. We are going to make pajamas, shirts, dresses, and pants!

~A.B.

So far in Sewing Club we've learned how to measure a person's body, the parts of a sewing machine, how to use a sewing machine, how to use a ruler to mark where we have to attach the cloth. So far, my favorite part was when we got to measure other people's bodies. That was my favorite part because I've always wanted to learn how to do that. That was what I've learned so far in Sewing Club.

~E. B.

The girls are now using the sewing machines. The first thing they are making is a tote bag to carry their sewing supplies. Of course, learning to sew means that you need to make the needle go where you want it to, so the girls are "tracing" lines, scallops, squares, and zig-zags on their fabric before it is made into the tote bag. They are doing a good job, too.

Along with learning to use the machine, the girls are putting their math skills to good use. Meter sticks, yard sticks, five eights, one quarter, inches, centimeters... The girls love sewing!

School is in Session!

The school year has begun! Gaines Elementary School Young Designers Sewing Club is getting started and we need your help!

The Gaines Elementary School Young Designers Sewing Club was established as a service learning project for a small group of fourth and fifth grade girls in order to provide a complete education and outside opportunities that may not be readily available to the children of Clarke County. We are providing a variety of opportunities and benefits to the girls involved in the sewing club. Some of the benefits include:

• Learning humanitarian skills

• learning business skills and budgeting

• gaining an understanding of a different culture

• opportunity to travel

• and of course learning to make clothing

Gaines Elementary School is a Title I school in Athens, Georgia. The students in the club are bright and determined young ladies who want to do their part to make a difference in the community and beyond.

As part of the service learning project, the club has established pen pals with a group of students in Africa. As well as being pen pals, we would like to send sewn goods to our friends in Africa.

BUT first things first!

This is where you can help. We need monetary assistance to provide materials and supplies to the girls in order to complete their goals! Our call for help is not only for the club itself but also for our pen pals in Africa. We plan on making small zippered bags filled with toiletries and school supplies to send to our friends in Africa. We also want to have the opportunity to attend a summer sewing camp in Huntsville, Alabama, something that the girls would not be able to do outside of this club.

We would like to raise $12,000 for our project. That money will go towards a new sewing machine, fabric, other sewing supplies, sewing repairs, field trips, school supplies, toiletries, postage for our packages and letters to Africa, and the trip to sewing camp in Alabama. We have already had many nonmonetary donations including seven used sewing machines and seven sergers and we welcome all donations. But we also need money!

Please donate and help the girls learn and grow to become caring and active members of society!

Make checks payable to:

Young Designers Sewing Club

Donations may be sent to:

Young Designers Sewing Club

Gaines Elementary School

900 Gaines School Road

Athens, GA 30605