SuzzyQ

Going to start a virtual sewing club for 4-H this February. Planning on new sewists to make pj pants out of woven cotton or flannel; members who have made pj pants before (with me preferably) will sew with knits - either a t-shirt or sweatshirt or leggings...
I have two other leaders who will make a garment for themselves - one with the woven cotton and one with a knit. I plan on demonstrating taking measurements and sewing the garments with an American Girl doll that I've borrowed.
Zoom works pretty well and I'm learning how to do more with it. Not all of our members have reliable internet connections so there will also be links to tutorials and videos online for them to access. And the leaders will be able to connect for short periods of time online....
Hoping to be able to meet our members at the local fabric store when they pick out their fabric. It's always better for a leader to veto an expensive fabric choice rather than Mom or dad. But that depends on lockdown...
Any other suggestions? This club everyone will make themselves a garment. They need to learn the basics before they tackle something harder. We want success!

bearisgray

Have they already done a pillowcase and/ or a tote bag?

I am of the mind that it is "good" to made a usable item before attempting something to be worn.

But pj bottoms are a good starting place for a garment. Learning how to finish seams so they are neat looking and durable and do not fray is not always included in the pattern directions - and i think it should be.

platyhiker

Are some of the people completely new to machine sewing? If so, I suggest having them do some learning exercises with scrap fabric or even paper. When I learned to machine sew in middle school home-ec class, we did some learning exercises with paper as our "fabric" (no thread in needle or bobbin) - with lined paper we stitched along the lines to the hang of straight line sewing, and with some pages from a children's coloring book (simple large drawings), we learned how to handle curves and points. (If you don't want to use paper, you could do the same excises with using a pencil to mark lines on light colored scrap fabric.)

SuzzyQ

I figure pj pants or boxer shorts using a woven cotton perfect for learning to handle a sewing machine and understand patterns and fit. I have do projects where members sew tote bags and puppets but I want them to be introduced to garment sewing.
BTW - this is why I also lead quilting projects. So they are introduced to the sewing machine.
You can't understand mending and repair if you don't understand how things are made. And have had great success having my members make pj pants from cotton or flannelette. They learn to read a pattern, lay out the pattern, all about fabric grain etc. They construct the garment by sewing the long mostly straight seams first then the curved crotch seam. They press and sew the casing for elastic - learning all about wearing ease in the process. Then they press and sew the hem. And they are usually delighted with their pants! And go onto sewing more for their family.

juliasb

I may not have any suggestions for you but do want to say thank you for teaching the next generation of sewist and quilters. 4-H is a great program and a good way for young and old to show off the great work they do. Thank you so much.