More Than What It Seams: What Your Child Could Gain from Learning to Sew

When I went to middle and high school, (many years ago when dinosaurs roamed the Earth), public schools offered not just home economics classes but actual sewing classes. I even took a tailoring class in high school. Today, most schools don’t offer home economics classes, let alone sewing classes, opting instead for core classes emphasizing STEM learning.

But activities like sewing and pattern making help children develop good spatial skills. According to Elizabeth Gunderson, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology at Temple University and a Learning Sciences Exchange fellow at New America, such skills tightly linked to children’s achievement in science, technology, engineering and math. In her article “How to Foster Spatial Skills in Preschool and Elementary Students” on the educational website Edutopia, Dr. Gundersen says, “Spatial skills help students visualize math problems that are new to them (e.g.,, imagining three apples and two apples to solve 3+2), develop an accurate mental number line, use a ‘mental sketchpad’ for arithmetic, visualize dynamic scientific processes and interpret maps, graphs and diagrams.”

Children and teens in Redding Fashion Alliance classes gain crucial spatial processing skills through garment pattern alteration and design while creating their own unique fashions.

How sewing develops essential spatial awareness

Sewing and patterning stretches children’s brains, requiring them to imagine a three-dimensional object (for instance a dress or pair of pants), work with a two-dimensional pattern and visualize how pieces are cut from the pattern and sewn together to create a three-dimensional object – in other words, spatial awareness! Fine motor skills, as well as patience, are learned along the way as pieces of fabric are pinned and then carefully sewn together to assemble a garment.

But without classes like sewing in public schools, where can children go to gain these essential spatial and fine motor skills? Fortunately, here in the North State we have a great resource for learning sewing, patterning and clothing design in the Redding Fashion Alliance (RFA), located in the heart of the Redding Arts and Culture District at 1616 Market Street.

Children learn critical thinking through RFA classes

RFA offers classes for children and adults, from beginning sewing through more technical sewing to fashion design. “We help students match critical thinking with creativity,” says RFA executive director Abi Young. “Sewing, patterning and designing is a constant learning process. Design techniques are ever evolving. For instance, we currently use Cricut tools to create digital print designs on fabrics. Kids can create authentic clothing and upcycle inexpensive thrift store finds into fashion-forward clothing they can make their own.”

Redding Fashion Alliance executive director Abi Young.

Nurturing the North State fashion design community

Beyond offering sewing and design classes, Abi says RFA’s mission is to “bring the community closer through fashion and enrich our community through a diverse culture of sewing.” RFA offers its fully equipped facilities for daily rental to anyone who wants to work on a sewing project but lacks the space and equipment to realize their dream fabric project. RFA also has a separate lower floor, The Atelier, where local fashion designers can rent studio booths to develop their brands. “They feed off each other’s creativity,” Abi says. “They have different strengths and they build on each other’s strengths. This is a really valuable space we have in Redding and I want to see more of these types of spaces and grow the space here at RFA.”

Students develop work skills and opportunities through the Redding Fashion Alliance

RFA offers local fashion designers opportunities to show their work at RFA fashion shows, trunk shows and designer showcases. “We have at least 30 local fashion designers in Redding,” says Abi. “By keeping them here we can build a fashion district so that someone who comes fresh out of high school who wants to be a fashion designer – it’s realistic here. We can offer them training, find them jobs in the industry, help them get connected to people who can train them.” Students can learn to do alterations at RFA, a great skill that is always in demand and a way to earn money while they work their way up in the trade.

“Our classes and mentorships are affordable. Students can get straight into it and learn exactly what they need,” Abi says. Technical classes, such as resident instructor Deb Portelance’s class in historic corset construction, are usually only available at expensive arts colleges but can be accessed at RFA for an affordable one-time fee.

Bringing sewing classes to North State students

Red tape and other barriers currently prevent RFA from offering classes to public schools, but they do offer sewing and garment construction classes to home schools and charter schools. And all children are welcome to take RFA classes offered in the afternoon after school hours. To learn more about Redding Fashion Alliance and current classes, visit Redding Fashion Alliance.

Whether your child needs to prepare for a STEM-based career, wants to scratch a creative itch or hopes to find clothes that fit them and their fashion sense, sewing classes might be the key to unleashing their true potential.