My 4-H Sewing Journey, Part 2: From Competition to Creativity
If you’ve been following along, you know this story started with a reluctant 4-H sewing project and a very cantankerous instructor. (If not, you can catch up with Part 1 — it sets the stage for everything that comes next.)
By the time I hit my tenth year in 4-H, sewing wasn’t just something I did.
It had quietly shaped how I worked, how I planned, and how I pushed myself — sometimes more than I probably needed to.
At that point, 4-H had been more than half my life. And whether I realized it or not, it had already woven itself into who I was becoming.
In This Chapter
When Winning Becomes the Goal
By then, I knew what it took to win.
Time management. Attention to detail. Following instructions exactly. I knew how to chase that big, beautiful purple Grand Champion ribbon — and sometimes the State Fair ribbon that came with it.
I still have totes and totes of those ribbons and plaques tucked away. They made me feel special then… but now, nearly twenty years later, I find myself wondering: what do I do with them?
Good or bad, 4-H taught me how to work hard — and how deeply I tied my worth to outcomes.
🪡 Maybe you’ve got your own “ribbons” tucked away—old achievements, projects, or passions waiting for a second chance.
From “I Don’t Want to Sew” to “Wait… I Actually Love This”
Thanks to a change in the 4-H age requirements, I was actually a freshman at Vincennes University when I wrapped up my final year. And wouldn’t you know it—after all those years, I decided to pursue a degree in Fashion.
It wasn’t scary anymore.
It wasn’t forced anymore.
It felt familiar.
Sewing became a core class — and for the first time, I was all in.
I started sewing dog clothes and baby clothes for friends and family. I didn’t even have a dog—but let’s be honest, sewing for a pup is way less complicated than sewing for a squirmy human baby. Fewer pieces, faster results!
My best friend’s dog became my reluctant model when I tried selling my creations. I did okay—broke even, mostly—but the real joy came from the process.
And yes, I bought way more fabric than I needed. It was on sale! I had ideas! Have you ever walked into Joann’s Fabric store? It was like a toy store for grown-up crafters.
I didn’t buy plain fabric.
I bought shiny fabric.
Beaded fabric.
Tie-dyed fabric.
If it caught the light or whispered you need me, it came home with me.
🧶 If you know, you know.
The Dress That Took Everything I Had
For my final 4-H project, I decided to go all out.
I made a long, flowing black dress — dramatic, shiny, absolutely not subtle. But it didn’t feel finished until I added something that made it mine.
So I hand-sewed peacock feathers along the hem.
Every. Single. One.
It took hours. Days. And more patience than I knew I had at the time.
But it worked.
I won Grand Champion locally.
I advanced to the Indiana State Fair.
And I placed 1st Runner-Up out of all of the categories.
That project closed out my 4-H career — and earned me a week-long trip to Washington, D.C.
What Sewing Gave Me (Beyond the Ribbons)
Looking back now, the ribbons weren’t the point.
Sewing became an outlet. A way to express personality, mood, and creativity — even when things felt demanding or overwhelming.
Fashion is the ultimate expression of who you are.
Sewing is how those ideas come to life.
Once you understand the basics — how to follow instructions, trust the process, and let things be imperfect — sewing stops feeling intimidating.
It starts feeling possible.
Almost like a treasure map.
Once you understand the key, your imagination does the rest.
Looking back, this part of my story feels full — full of effort, ambition, and learning how to push myself toward a goal.
It’s also the part where I didn’t yet understand how much life can change… or how quietly creativity can slip into the background when other things take over.
At the time, I was still stitching toward achievement.
I just didn’t know I’d one day be stitching my way back.
Sew What’s Next
This chapter is about growth — learning skills, chasing goals, and realizing that creativity can surprise you when you give it time.
But life doesn’t always stay neatly stitched.
If you’ve ever stepped away from something you loved because life got full, heavy, or exhausting — the next part of the story is for you.
👉 Read Part 3: Sewing Through the Chaos — Reclaiming My Craft After Motherhood
You don’t need to know what comes after that yet.
Just know you’re not alone in the pause.
💌 Want to Stay a Little Longer?
If you’ve been enjoying this story and the slow unfolding of it, you’re always welcome in the Sew What Circle.
It’s where I share gentle encouragement, beginner-friendly guidance, and reminders that creativity doesn’t have to be rushed or perfect.
No pressure.
Just a soft place to land.
👉 Join the Sew What Circle
