Youth Learn Sewing is Not Harder Than It "Seams"

JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK (February 4, 2025) – Chautauqua County 4-H’s Leaf Jr. program invited youth ages 9-18 to the Carnahan Center on the JCC Campus for a 2-class series on how to sew!

The first class was held Thursday, January 23, 2025, at 6:30pm at the Carnahan Center on the JCC Campus. Thirteen youth signed up to work with 4-H volunteer Nancy Johnson to make a sewing box to store a basic sewing kit.

The youth started by tracing a pattern on fabric to cover the outside of the box, learning about seam allowances to allow the fabric to fold over to the inside of the box. After the fabric was glued to the outside of the box, the students covered the inside of the box with contact paper to help it last for years to come. They then filled the box with a basic sewing kit to start their sewing hobby.

The second class in the series will be held on February 6th where students can learn to use a sewing machine and sew their own pillowcase. This program will be taught by Amber Laurie of the Concord Quilting Studio in Ripley, NY. We are not taking registrations for this class as it is full.

Our next LEAF Jr series will be on gardening. It kicks off March 10th with cold sowing and growing microgreens, then students will build a bug house in April to help native pollinators and finish in May where students will make seed creatures with native plant seeds. Youth do not have to take all the classes in the series. Registration will be open soon!

The 4–H Program is one of many programs offered by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County (CCE-Chautauqua). CCE-Chautauqua is a subordinate governmental agency with an educational mission that operates under a form of organization and administration approved by Cornell University as agent for the State of New York. It is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The association is part of the national cooperative extension system, an educational partnership between County, State, and Federal governments. As New York’s land grant university Cornell administers the system in this state. Each Cornell Cooperative Extension association is an independent employer that is governed by an elected Board of Directors with general oversight from Cornell. All associations work to meet the needs of the counties in which they are located as well as state and national goals. For more information, call 716-664-9502 or visit our website at www.cce.cornell.edu/chautauqua. Cornell University Cooperative Extension provides equal program and employment opportunities.

Last updated February 4, 2025