Sewing
Manuals:
4-H 924 Let's Sew - $6 - Grades 3 - 9
4-H 925 Sew Simple (Level A) - Grades 3 & 4
4-H 926 Sew Smart (Level B) - Grades 5 & 6
4-H 927 Sew Fine (Level C) - Grades 7, 8 & 9
4-H 928 And Sew On (Level D) - Grades 10, 11 & 12
General Rules
1. Clothing projects will be judged prior to the Fair at a county judging session. Dates will be announced.
2. Projects will be judged by grade with girls and boys combined.
3. Grades 3 - 7 will be considered Junior Category for construction judging.
4. Grades 8 - 12 will be considered Senior Category for construction judging.
5. See "Fashion Revue Rules" located in the Rule Book for age.
6. Members should complete as many of the “Learning Activities” in the manual as possible. Be sure to date and complete the check list and the one page record sheet in the back of your manuals. Turn in your completed manual and record sheet.
7. Members should bring their completed Sewing Skill Card (4-H 925c-W) with them to Sewing Judging. The Skill Card will be mailed to each member in June with all the Sewing Judging details.
Level A - Grade 3
Include at least 2 skills in the exhibit:
Insert elastic or drawstring
Sew & trim a crotch curve
Machine topstitch hems
Use a simple seam finish
Stitch in the ditch
Choose one or more of the exhibit options:
Wearable: Elastic waist shorts, pants OR skirt with fold over casing; no pockets.Attach Sewing Skills Card (4-H 925c-W) to the exhibit.
Non-wearable: Simple pillow sham with lapped back opening and purchased pillow form (following instructions provided in manual) OR simple totebag with handles or drawstring. Attach Sewing Skills Card (425c-W) to the exhibit.
Action Demonstration
Level A - Grade 4
Seam finishes are recommended on all exposed seams. Include at least two skills in the exhibit:
Use interfacing
Staystitch and understitch
Apply a facing or binding
Stitch curved seams
Trim and grade seams
Work with fiberfill
Machine topstitch hems
Choose one or more of the exhibit options:
Wearable: Shorts, pants OR skirt with partial or full sewn on waistband, or waistline facing OR simple shirt or top OR BBQ apron. Attach Sewing Skills Card (4-H 925c-W) to the exhibit.
Non-wearable: Shaped pillow with curved seams, stuffed and sewn closed OR hanging pocket organizer OR bound edge placemats (set of 4). Attach Sewing Skills Card (4-H 925c-W) to the exhibit.
Action Demonstration
Level B - Grade 5
Seam finishes are recommended on all exposed seams (except knits). Interfacing, understitching and trimming should be used when appropriate.
Choose at least 3 of these additional skills for each sewn exhibit.
match fabric design
gather fabric
insert a zipper
use a drawstring
handstitch a hem
sew a simple sleeve
apply purchased trim or ribbing
sew patch or inseam pockets
use a simple lining
do a machine blind hem
apply machine topstitching
do a machine topstitched hem
sew with knit
insert elastic
apply facings
sew buttons
apply binding
use batting
Choose one or more of the exhibit options:
Wearable: Simple shirt with sleeves OR sundress OR jumper OR simple 2 piece pajamas. A similar article is permissible provided the skill set is the same as the listed articles. Attach Sewing Skills Card (4-H 926c-W) to the exhibit.
Non-wearable: Pillow lap quilt (quillow) OR structured duffle bag, tote bag or backpack OR sewn hat OR Construction Techniques sample notebook (follow instructions provided in manual). Attach Sewing Skills Card (4-H 926c-W) to the exhibit.
Action Demonstration
Level B - Grade6
Seam finishes are recommended on all exposed seams (except knits). Interfacing, understitching and trimming should be used when appropriate.
Choose at least 4 of these additional skills for each sewn exhibit:
make darts
set in sleeves
insert a zipper
hand-stitch a hem
make buttonholes
sew tucks or pleats
sew ruffles
hand sew buttons
apply trim
sew a simple lining
sew patch pockets
apply bindings
do a machine topstitched hem
sew facings
apply ribbings
sew a simple collar
do a machine blind hem
sew with knit
match fabric design
apply machine applique'
insert piping
apply machine topstitching
construct with a serger
sew inseam pockets
Choose one or more of the exhibit options:
Wearable: Two garments that can be worn together. Include the sewing skills card.
Non-wearable: Pillow sham with button or zipper closing, appliqued design, piping or ruffle. Make your own pillow form OR totebag or duffle bag with zipper, pockets and lining OR doll or pet clothes OR construction techniques sample notebook (following instructions provided in manual). Attach Sewing Skills Card (4-H 926c-W) to the exhibit.
Action Demonstration
Level C - Grade 7
Seam finishes are recommended on all exposed seams (except knits). Interfacing, understitching and trimming should be used when appropriate.
Choose at least 5 of these additional skills for each sewn exhibit:
make darts
set in sleeves
hand-stitch a hem
make buttonholes
sew tucks or pleats
apply ruffles
hand sew buttons
apply trim
sew a simple lining
sew patch pockets
do a machine topstitched hem
sew facings
apply ribbings
apply a collar
do a machine blind hem
match fabric design
apply machine or hand applique'
insert piping
apply machine topstitching
construct with a serger
apply inseam pockets
sew on buttons
use doll joints
insert a lapped zipper
insert a separating zipper
insert a fly front zipper
do machine quilting
attach cuffs
use a twin needle
Choose one or more of the exhibit options:
Wearable: School or sports outfit. Can be one or more pieces. Attach Sewing Skills Card (4-H 927c-W) to the exhibit.
Non-wearable: Dressed, jointed stuffed animal OR sewn item for holiday or special occasion OR construction techniques sample notebook (following instructions provided in manual). Attach Sewing Skills Card (4-H 927c-W) to the exhibit.
Action Demonstration
Level C - Grade 8 & 9
Seam finishes are recommended on all exposed seams (except knits and non-raveling specialty fabrics). Interfacing, understitching and trimming should be used when appropriate. Choose at least 6 of these additional skills for each sewn exhibit:
make darts
make tucks
add lining
add facings
add plackets
make sleeves
hand-stitch a hem
make machine buttonholes
make bound buttonholes
attach cuffs
make pleats
insert elastic
add ruffles
hand sew buttons
apply trim
add gathers
apply ribbing
add a drawstring
used shaped seams
use fiberfill
add a waistband
add patch pockets
do a machine topstitched hem
add boning
do a machine blind hem
match fabric design
apply machine or hand applique'
insert piping
apply machine topstitching
construct with a serger
add inseam pockets
sew with knit
insert a lapped zipper
insert a separating zipper
insert a fly front zipper
insert an invisible zipper
insert a hand picked zipper
make self covered buttons
make self-enclosed seams
sew with difficult fabric
do machine or hand quilting
add front hip pockets
make a neckband
make shoulder pads
add boning
add vents
sew buttons
add underlining
make button loops
do hand beading
add welt pockets
create bound edges
use a twin needle
use specialty thread
Choose one or more of the exhibit options:
Wearable: Same as fashion revue categories. Attach Sewing Skills Card (4-H 9275c-W) to the exhibit.
Non-wearable: Sewn items for your home OR construction techniques sample notebook OR sewing machine survey. (Following instructions provided in manual.) Attach Sewing Skills Card (4-H 927c-W) to the exhibit.
Action Demonstration
Level C – Grade 10 - 12
Seam finishes are recommended on all exposed seams (except knits and non-raveling specialty fabrics). Interfacing, understitching and trimming should be used when appropriate.
Choose at least 6 of these additional skills for each sewn exhibit:
make darts
make tucks
add lining
add facings
add plackets
make sleeves
hand-stitch a hem
make machine buttonholes
make bound buttonholes
attach cuffs
make pleats
insert elastic
add ruffles
hand sew buttons
apply trim
add gathers
apply ribbing
add a drawstring
used shaped seams
use fiberfill
add a waistband
add patch pockets
do a machine topstitched hem
add boning
do a machine blind hem
match fabric design
apply machine or hand applique’
insert piping
apply machine topstitching
construct with a serger
add inseam pockets
sew with knit
insert a lapped zipper
insert a separating zipper
insert a fly front zipper
insert an invisible zipper
insert a hand picked zipper
make self covered buttons
make self-enclosed seams
sew with difficult fabric
do machine or hand quilting
add front hip pockets
make a neckband
make shoulder pads
add boning
add vents
sew buttons
add underlining
make button loops
do hand beading
add welt pockets
create bound edges
use a twin needle
use specialty thread
Choose one or more of the exhibit options:
Wearable: Same as fashion revue categories. Attach Sewing Skills Card (4-H 928c-W) to the exhibit.
Non-wearable: Sewn items for your home OR construction techniques sample notebook OR sewing machine survey. (Following instructions provided in manual.) Attach Sewing Skills Card (4-H 928c-W) to the exhibit.
Action Demonstration
Advanced Sewing – Levels C & D
Wearable Exhibits (Fashion Revue Categories)
NOTE: Be sure to include the Sewing Skills Card.
Definition of an Outfit: An outfit is a garment or garments that when put together make a complete look - such as one or two piece dress, or one or two piece pant suit, or a three piece combination, such as pants, vest, and blouse or shirt.
Informal or Casual Wear : A complete outfit of one or two pieces suitable for school wear.
Dress Up: This is suitable for special, church, or social occasions that are not considered to be formal. It may be an outfit of one or more pieces with or without its own costume coat or jacket (lined or unlined). This is not an outfit that would be worn to school.
Free Choice: These are garments that do not fit in the other classifications. Examples include: tennis wear, swim wear or other active sportswear, lounge wear, riding habits, historic, dance, theatrical, or international costumes, and unlined coats.
Suit or Coat: The suit consists of two pieces including a skirt or pants and its own lined jacket. It is not a dress with jacket as in "dress up wear". The coat is a separate lined coat for your wardrobe. It will be judged separately as a coat with its own accessories.
Separates: Consists of three garments that must be worn as a coordinated complete outfit. Each piece should be versatile enough to be worn with other garments in your wardrobe.
Formal Wear: This outfit may be one or more pieces suitable for any formal occasion, such as proms, weddings, and formal evening functions.
For more information, visit the Sewing Project page of the Indiana State 4-H Website.