The newly formed St. Anne Sewing Club has made some colorful pillowcases for children receiving care at Bluewater Health.
The Sarnia elementary school launched the club in February to provide interested students with basic stitches and techniques to the craft.
Grade 1 and 2 teacher Sian Olver runs the program alongside three other teachers, including two retirees. She said the club recently donated around eight pillowcases to the local hospital.
"Last winter, my daughter was hospitalized with COVID and that was the first time we saw that [the hospital] gives out these really cute, custom-made pillow cases, just to make things feel more homey," she said. "So, we thought that that would be a really awesome project for the kids, and then they can see that they can make things and donate them and contribute positively to the community."
Olver said other projects included pin cushions, draw-string bags and wallets.
"This year was just kind of get it up and running. A lot of them hadn't used a sewing machine before and many of them hadn't handsewn either, so they kind of took a lot of the time learning the basics and the pillowcases were near the end," she said. "Next year we'd like to donate at least 20 and 30."
The club featured around 20 students from Grades 5 to 8, and the program ran until May. Olver said the school already had sewing machines prior to launching the club.
"But we noticed a lot of students didn't know how to use them or felt intimidated about trying it," said Olver. "So, we just kind of saw an area where we could implement student learning and then they can go in the collective working space and work on their own projects."
Olver talked about why sewing is a good skill to have.
"It's so great for creative expression and it's a hobby you can have for your whole life. Everything is customizable, so students can learn how to make basically anything with fabric," she said. "And then also it's very practical, like learning how to repair your clothes, hemming them, customizing them rather than constantly donating them or throwing them out."
Olver also said the skills and the dexterity you acquire from hand sewing is really great as a fine-motor practice.
The club's plan is to restart the program in November and run it through the winter months. Olver said some students have really taken off with it and really understand things, so they'll be able to mentor new students coming in.
Olver said while they usually see more girls than boys, all are welcome to attend.
-With files from Melanie Irwin
