Sew, sew, sew your tote, gently down the seam Brewer camp teaches children tools, techniques of fabric design

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Last Friday, a group of young models waited in anticipation to walk across the “runway,” which actually was more like a stretch of carpet that turned to linoleum. They took turns in the dressing rooms, sometimes together, giggling and helping one another into their outfits. Then, it was showtime.

“Our first model is Lauren, wearing a drawstring top and skirt in easy-care cotton,” announced Kim Slininger, playing the part of emcee.

Lauren Daigle of Glenburn pivoted, showing off the tailoring of her pink ensemble, and waited as her fellow models did the same. Canda Santiago of Winterport strutted her stuff in a lime-green and pineapple-yellow tropical print, while Erin Doucette of Hampden emerged in a more subdued color scheme: a periwinkle blue skirt and a blue, lavender and pink patterned top.

The fashion show continued like any other – the models went back to the dressing rooms and returned wearing a different set of outfits. But unlike other fashion shows, the 11-year-old models at this one actually made the clothing they were wearing during a week at sewing camp, held at Viking Sewing Center in Brewer.

“That makes such a difference when the kids can say ‘I made it,'” said instructor Kelly Santiago, who is Slininger’s sister and the business manager at Viking. “They don’t just learn the sewing, they learn all about fabrics, about the way their clothing is made.”

The first thing the three girls learned was how to sew a straight line, which is harder than it seems. Then, it was on to wavy lines. After familiarizing themselves with the sewing machines, they were ready to start their first project, a flannel baby blanket. By measuring, cutting, pinning and hemming, the campers learned the basics of sewing, as well as the tools of the trade – scissors, irons, hem gauges, pins, and the inevitable seam ripper.

“In my grandmother’s era, my mom’s era, people could just pop in and do these skills,” Slininger, who owns the sewing center, said. “Sewing is one of those things, a lot of people call it a dying art. They think it’s old-fashioned.”

Slininger, who studied clothing, textile and fashion merchandising at New Mexico State University, said many people consider sewing obsolete because today, they can buy clothing that fits relatively well without having to pay a tailor or seamstress for alterations. Because of that, the sewing part of home economics classes traditionally was cut when schools needed to trim their budgets.

“Sewing was the first thing they looked at because you could buy clothes that fit well, whereas child care and cooking were still needed,” Slininger said. “Cooking was still valuable because you need to eat but you could go to the store and buy ready-to-wear clothes.”

As the campers found, making your own clothes can be pretty fun. Once you get the hang of it, that is.

“Oh, no,” Lauren exclaimed to Kelly Santiago on day two of camp, holding up a pink skirt and examining the seam. “It’s only a little wavy. Do I have to do it again?”

The instructor said yes, and Lauren picked up her seam ripper. Lauren’s cousin, Erin, was sitting nearby, bemoaning the problematic sewing machine that she brought from home. Santiago and Slininger urge campers to bring their own machines whenever possible, because different brands have different quirks.

“What’s wrong with my Singer?” Erin asked, with her head in her hands.

“Well, it’s loud,” Canda answered, laughing.

Canda knows about sewing machines. Kelly is her mother, and Canda helps out during the summers at the shop.

“It’s pretty good to have a change,” Canda said of the camp.

After Erin got her machine up and running again, she finished the first side of her drawstring top, which turned out perfectly.

“This is, like, a totally perfect line – for me anyway,” she said, holding the piece up for everyone to see.

Erin has been sewing for years, first by hand, and for three years by machine. She taught herself how, but her mom thought it would be a good idea to sign her up for sewing camp.

“I’m having a lot of fun,” she said.

The camp aims to be fun for all ability levels, though. The curriculum begins with the assumption you’ve never seen a needle and thread before, but after that, campers set their own pace. The first crop of campers tore through the lessons, sewing pants, three tops, two skirts, a tote bag, a bookmark and the blanket. Each project teaches campers a new skill, and since the camp is for girls and boys alike, even boys have to sew a skirt.

“There are elements within sewing a skirt that you’re not going to find in boys clothing,” Slininger said. “Every part of the curriculum builds on the previous part.”

If the campers come back, they’ll continue with bike shorts, leggings, lessons in matching stripes and plaids at the seam, and finally, a zippered sweatshirt.

Santiago and Slininger know the campers probably won’t go on to become seamstresses and fashion designers, but they might. Even if they don’t, they’ll at least know how to hem a pair of pants, sew a button or mend a split seam.

“We have a back room full of alterations, so it’s got to be valuable for someone,” Santiago said.

Slininger said that for the campers, part of the value is educational. They’re not just making clothes, they’re measuring, calculating how much fabric to use, creating something artistic with their choice of fabrics, downloading embroidery patterns from the Internet, and learning how plastic soda bottles become fluffy fleece.

“Sewing just cuts across every aspect of the curriculum, from history to math to science and computer arts,” Slininger said.

And in teaching children how to sew, Slininger and Santiago are doing their part to make sure the “dying art” carries on.

“It’s my passion and I’m hoping to be able to pass it on to another generation,” Slininger said. “I think sewing will be around for a long time – as long as we keep teaching it.”

Sewing camp sessions run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday-Friday through Aug. 23. The camp costs $150 per week per child if campers bring their own fabric or $175 per week if Viking provides the fabric. For information or to sign up, call Viking at 989-3100.