Sewing is both a valuable life skill and a powerful tool for child development, encouraging independence, focus and creativity. Rooted in the Montessori philosophy of hands-on, purposeful work, sewing invites children to engage their fine motor skills, practice patience and experience the satisfaction of creating something with care.
One way Grace Montessori School nurtures the skills of our students is through our sewing enrichment program, which is designed to show students that sewing is a meaningful skill for all by encouraging creativity, critical thinking and independence.
Led by instructor Lorna Flowers, this hands-on,12-week program marks the first time sewing has been integrated into Grace Montessori’s curriculum since before the pandemic closed schools in 2020. Flowers began her career with Grace Montessori through her church, which is affiliated with our school. With a background in fiber and fashion, Flowers has been teaching people how to sew for over 15 years, including both adults and children.
Skills required for sewing align deeply with Grace Montessori School’s core values, emphasizing:
- Problem-solving: Sewing projects encourage children to find solutions, promoting creativity and perseverance.
- Dexterity: Sewing activities enhance hand-eye coordination and strengthen the small muscles in children’s hands, which are essential for writing and other tasks.
- Concentration: When students practice their hand sewing, they are taught the importance of slowing down and focusing closely on their work.
- Self-expression: Sewing provides an outlet for children to design and develop their own projects, allowing them to express their unique styles and ideas.
- Practical life skills: Sewing in itself is a practical life skill for children to learn.
Students at Grace Montessori practice basic stitches, including the back stitch and cross stitch, and use these stitches to complete various sewing projects. Student-completed projects include: stuffed hearts, doughnuts, hamburgers, fabric constellation maps, and butterflies and leaves for button sewing practice.
Outside of classroom projects, students are encouraged to utilize the sewing skills they’ve learned in their everyday lives. Students can bring in clothes that are ripped or missing a button to class and learn how to mend the garment themselves as an empowering way to practice their skills.
“I think one of the beauties of the Montessori method is pride in your own work,” said Flowers. “While I could certainly mend those things for all those kids, and I would love to, I want them to see that they can do it.”
Since the start of the course, each student has discovered their own source of inspiration, whether it’s mastering a specific stitch or diving into one of the many hands-on projects. Even students who were initially hesitant have now become some of the most enthusiastic participants, fully embracing the creativity and focus that sewing encourages.
The sewing enrichment program is one of the many ways Grace Montessori nurtures independence, creativity and a lifelong love of learning.
