Amanda Pevey
Elmore Autauga News
In Elmore County High School’s (ECHS’s) Family and Consumer Science class, students learn all about sewing. In October, they learn about hand sewing and then gradually progress to using sewing machines in December to make their own stockings. They get to cut their own fabric with a pattern, design it as they want, and then sew it using the sewing machines.
Natasha McMillan is the Family and Consumer Science Teacher at ECHS. This is her third year of the stocking projects, and within those three years, the students have made approximately 400 stockings.
Most of the fabric is donated by people in the community who can no longer sew but want to see the fabric put to good use. This year, some students brought in their own special fabrics to use. For example, some did memorial stockings from family members who have passed away. They also made stockings with baby clothing and blankets.
Every student learns to use a sewing machine. The students always get scared of using sewing machines at first, but they eventually learn and get better at it over time. It takes weeks to get through all the student stockings, but it is so worth it in the end to see them so proud of their skills coming to life.
“I have had so many students ask for sewing machines for Christmas after doing this project. It is special and gives them something to keep and to be proud of,” said McMillan.
For more information about Elmore County High School, please visit their website at: https://elmorecounty.ech.schoolinsites.com.
