The 4-H clothing and textiles project will help you acquire the skills and knowledge necessary to plan, select, make, assemble and care for suitable clothing for work, school and social events. If you have already signed up for this 4-H project, come on in and get started. If you haven’t signed up yet, contact your county 4-H office and become a member today. So, get ready to have fun and learn a lot as you participate in your project.
Learn what you can do in this project area.
- Beginning: 1-2 years in Project (W 446-A)
- Intermediate: 3-5 years in Project (W 446-B)
- Advanced: 6-9 years in Project (W 446-C)
Project Area Guides
- Beginner
- Intermediate Unit 1: Selecting What’s Right for Me
- Intermediate Unit 2: The Economics of Clothing
- Intermediate Unit 3: Global/Ethnic Fashion
- Intermediate Unit 4: Caring For My Clothes
- Intermediate Unit 5: Creating Clothing and Accessories
- Intermediate Unit 6: Understanding Textiles
- Advanced: Careers in Fashion, Textiles and Design
- Advanced: The Economics of Clothing Purchases
- Advanced: Let’s Plan a Fashion Show
- Advanced: Creating a Fashion Trend Board
- Advanced: Selecting What is Right for Me
Additional Resources
Looking for ideas for hands-on projects in Clothing and Textiles? Follow these links to fashion, clothing, and textiles ideas and activities from other states:
- Beginning Sewing Projects (Kentucky) (http://www2.ca.uky.edu/agcomm/pubs/4jd/4jd01pb/4jd01pb.pdf) Includes fun simple projects with instructions.
- How to Remove Stains from Fabrics (Illinois) (https://web.extension.illinois.edu/stain/) Lists stains and strategies for removing each.
- In-Touch Science: Foods & Fabrics Cornell University (https://ecommons.cornell.edu/handle/1813/11460) A Hands-on science program emphasizing giving the 4-Her an opportunity to manipulate materials and equipment, test ideas.
- Clothing Quality Standards (Texas) (http://texas4-h.tamu.edu/wp-content/uploads/Resources_Fashion_Show_clothing_quality_standards.pdf) Lists the qualities of a well-made garment, breaking down each aspect (Ex: Seams, Hems, Fit, Collars)
- Being Creative with Nature (Cornell) (https://blogs.cornell.edu/garden/lessons/curricula/plants-and-textiles/) Includes ideas for using nature and natural substances to create interior and clothing items.
- All about Interfacings (Kentucky) (https://fcs-hes.ca.uky.edu/sites/fcs-hes.ca.uky.edu/files/ct-mmb-183.pdf). Explains the purpose of using interfacing, different types and where to use in garments.
- All about zippers (Kentucky) http://www2.ca.uky.edu/agcomm/pubs/fcs2/fcs2842/fcs2842.pdf Explains the different types of zippers and how to apply them in garments.
- Quilting for Fun (North Dakota) https://www.ndsu.edu/fileadmin/4h/Curriculum/cb111.pdf Basic information about quilting, supplies needed, types of quilting and resources.
- Style Engineers: Fashion through Science (http://styleengineers.org/) 4-Hers will have fun while learning all about fabrics and designs. Modules include: Marvelous Materials = Explores the exciting world of fabrics and how each affects designs; Smart Clothing = How to light up fabric using LED lights; Pattern Making = the nature patterns including simple projects totes and bags and draping.
Follow these links to some great online resources from companies and individuals well-known for projects and ideas that will elevate your learning and provide you with additional resources. Some of these resources offer membership, but you can find great information without becoming a member, including free project instructions, sewing tips, videos and “how-tos”.
- Sewing with Nancy Sewing how-to videos
- Home Sewing Association Free patterns, educational information
- Cotton: the fabric of our lives (https://thefabricofourlives.com/) Cotton: Benefits, qualities, care tips and news
- The Sewing Directory (https://www.thesewingdirectory.co.uk/) free sewing projects, sewing techniques and news
- So Sew Easy (https://so-sew-easy.com/) A sewing blog focusing on free sewing patterns and easy sewing tips and tutorials for new and improving sewers.
- It’s Sew Easy https://www.itsseweasytv.com/ the place for creative and contemporary sewing with instructions, videos, patterns and projects presented by leading sewing experts
- The How To’s of Laundry (https://www.maytag.com/blog/washers-and-dryers/how-to-do-laundry.html?driver=contentCard) Explains steps in getting your clothes clean and how to make them last longer and stain removal tips.
- Tennessee Make It With Wool Contest Information about how to enter the make it with wool contest
- Express Your Personality Through Your Clothing Information about expressing your personality with your clothing choices
- Make and display a poster about caring for your clothes
- Donate gently used clothes to a needy family or local charity
- Repair or alter clothing for your family and friends
- Make an autograph bear; donate to a fire station, children’s hospital, etc.
- Make a simple fleece scarf; donate to a homeless shelter or give to senior citizens
- Make a small decorative pillow; give to organizations working with foster children, nursing homes, etc.
- Make a pillowcase dress with pillowcase or fabric and ribbon; give to international mission or Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Outreach
- Make finger puppets out of fleece or felt and give to Operation Christmas child Shoebox Outreach
- More Community Service Project Ideas
