Happy Moment #4: Writing (about Sewing!)

I have been meaning to post this entry for the last week but I have been buried in student papers and other projects and just couldn't find the five minutes to do it! (shame on me!).

So here is Happy Moment #4 ....

In short, I wrote something recently that makes me happy. Our SWIC Foundation here at my college was asking for proposals to fund projects up to $2000 that help find ways to push academic success with our students. For awhile now, I have been thinking about how much I love sewing (even when it gets hard!) and how I am learning all about math and solving critical thinking problems at my sewing machine. I have also noticed that so many students have been excited when I tell them I made what I am wearing when they ask about a funky dress or skirt that I happen to have on. Most of them say that they would love to learn how to sew. Unfortunately, other than Youtube videos, there aren't many viable options here in Granite City, especially if you don't happen to own a sewing machine (at least a $100 expense that many of my students cannot afford). I know that sewing has made me more confident and a better thinking. So what if I could bring that to my students?! I spent the last few weeks doing some research and wrote a grant proposal that I am quite proud of -- whether it gets me the money or not!

What if I could create a "sewing circle" that teaches students basic sewing skills right here on my campus? I am convinced that participation in this sort of artistic project could have positive benefits on their academic performance (i.e. gaining confidence, learning to think outside the box, troubleshooting, etc).

Even if I don't get the grant to make this happen, the research I did (which took me a few weeks!) helped clarify how important sewing has become to my own sanity and way of thinking. Writing the proposal even reminded me of how much I love doing this sort of text creation. I even stumbled on another English instructor's blog where she talks about sewing "is like writing"! -- click here!

So ..... drum roll, please! This is what I wrote and submitted (and keep in mind that I had a two page limit in what I could say!:

Summary Statement: This grant proposal outlines an initiative to create a “sewing circle” (outside of regularly scheduled courses) to help our students become more confident and academically successful in all of their courses at SWIC.

Description: Learning to sew can be an enjoyable and creative process. Indeed, creating something from a piece of cloth can be empowering. Sewing offers much more than basic sewing skills to our students (a skill most of them have never tried). Sewing specifically connects to the academic success that we want for our students. Historically, courses in sewing have fostered critical thinking. Even though M.H. French was writing in 1917, she followed a philosophy of teaching similar to critical thinking: “The subject of clothing relates to almost every other subject taught, such as history (how political conditions influenced fashion), physics (how sewing machines worked), chemistry (how fabric can protect against heat or cold), physiology (how the body moves)” (qtd. in Lewis-Goldstein 15-16).

As a writing instructor, I see many students who enter my classroom with little confidence in what they might be capable of doing. Participation in a sewing “circle” might help encourage a greater self-efficacy. In fact, self-efficacy beliefs have been used as predictors of students' academic motivation for achievement (Zimmerman, Bandura, & Martinez-Pons 1992), and motivation is an important aspect of learning (Knowles, Holton III, & Swanson 2005). In essence, a person’s belief in his/her capability to do a task will influence how successful that person will be, not only in the task in question, but also in other tasks. A person with high self-efficacy will try harder than a person who has low self-efficacy. Someone who can sew a simple bag will be motivated to sew more complicated items – and this confidence might very well transfer to their academic coursework.

Community college advocate Vincent Tinto links learning communities like a sewing circle with academic engagement. His research found that outside class activities positively affect learning with an educational outcome of increased persistence: “Social communities emerge out of academic activities that take place within the more limited academic sphere of the classroom” (620). Deeper and richer learning was a result, as one student in his study expressed the feelings of many, in that "we not only learn more, we learn better" (Tinto 615). In addition, an activity like sewing can offer stress relief so students can better “attack” their academic coursework. Many folks agree that the creative arts are often seen as therapeutic. Researchers La Ferta (2004) and Monson (2005) relate occurrences of using a creative art, such as sewing, as a form of stress release.

Once the basic equipment is purchased (i.e. sewing machines, material, thread, bobbins), there will be little need for additional funding. A vacant classroom space on campus will be used. I will volunteer my time. Once minor projects are completed (i.e. pouches), students will purchase their own fabric for larger sewing projects.

10 Sewing Machines: Brother cs6000i 60-Stitch Computerized Sewing Machine (Amazon: $154)

Thread, Bobbins, Needles: Thread is approximately $3 a spool (need 20); Bobbins are approx. $10 for 25; 100 needles (approx. $50)

Fabric and 20 Zippers: Zippers are approximately $5 per zipper; fabric remnants at the local Jackman’s Fabrics in Fairview Heights are $6 per yard (start with 10 yards of fabric).

2 Irons and 2 Ironing Boards: INGER Expert Finish 1700 Watt Anti-Drip Steam Electronic Flat Iron (Amazon: $54); StorageManiac Tabletop Ironing Board (Amazon: $27)

Assorted Sewing Supplies (pins, tape, etc.): Approximately $8

Copies for Projects: Approximately $10 in printing

Total Budget Requested: $2000

All the equipment and materials will be stored in Room 205, the Instructional Office, at the SWGCC.

Surveys will be implemented at both the beginning of the academic semester and at the end to help determine the effect that this sewing circle might have on the academic success of the participants.

Works Cited

Knowles, M. S., Holton III, E. F., & Swanson, R. A. The Adult Learner: The Definitive Classic in Adult

Education and Human Resource Development. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier, 2005. Print.

La Ferta, R. (2004, February 24) “Front Row: Needle Trades Provide Therapy.” New York Times. Available at http://www.nytimes.com

Lewis-Goldstein, Diane, Outcomes of Student Participation in Apparel Construction/Sewing Laboratory

Classes in Southern California Community Colleges. Graduate Theses and Dissertations. 11280. 2010. http://lib.dr.iastate.edu/etd/11280

Monson, Nancy. Craft to Heal. Tucson, AZ: Hats Off Books, 2005. Print.

Tinto, V. (1997). “Classrooms as Communities: Exploring the Educational Character of Student

Persistence.” The Journal of Higher Education, 68, 599-623.

Zimmerman, B. J., Bandura, A., & Martinez-Pons, M. (1992). “Self-motivation for Academic Attainment:

The role of Self-efficacy Beliefs and Personal Goal Setting.” American Educational Research Journal, 29, 663-676.

NOTE: I apologize for the spacing and "weirdness" of any of the text since I just cut and pasted from my application!