From Reluctant Beginner to Ribbon Chaser
My 4-H Journey | Part 2
In Part 1, I told you how a reluctant trip to the elementary school basement—and one very determined 4-H sewing instructor—introduced me to sewing.
Something unexpected happened during those two weeks. The sewing machine stopped feeling intimidating. The patterns started making sense.
And before I realized it, the project I had been dreading became one I looked forward to every summer.
I still wouldn't have called myself "a sewist." But I was definitely hooked.
When Winning Became the Goal
The longer I stayed in 4-H, the more I understood what it took to do well. Projects weren't thrown together the night before. They took planning. Practice. Patience. And usually a few late nights wondering why I had volunteered for this in the first place.
By my tenth and final year, 4-H had been part of my life for more than half of my childhood. I knew how to prepare for judging. I knew how to follow directions carefully. I knew that little details often made a big difference.
Looking back, I also realize I became pretty competitive. Let's just say I wasn't entering projects simply for participation points.
There was a beautiful purple Grand Champion ribbon waiting somewhere, and I intended to give it my best shot. To this day, I still have boxes filled with ribbons and plaques tucked away in storage. They meant everything to me then.
Now they mostly make me wonder where exactly you're supposed to store twenty years' worth of accomplishments.
Somewhere Along the Way, I Started Loving Sewing
One thing surprised me more than any ribbon ever did. I genuinely started enjoying sewing. Not because someone expected me to. Not because it was another project on the checklist.
Because I liked making things. After high school, I enrolled at Vincennes University to study Fashion. That decision would have completely shocked the younger version of me who wanted absolutely nothing to do with sewing.
By then, though, sewing no longer felt intimidating. It felt familiar. My sewing classes gave me a much deeper understanding of garment construction, fabrics, and fit.
Suddenly I wasn't just following directions. I was beginning to understand why the directions existed in the first place. That shift changed everything.
My Side Hustle Had Four Legs
Like many creative people, I eventually decided I should probably turn my hobby into a business. Naturally, I started sewing baby clothes.
And dog clothes. Actually...mostly dog clothes. I didn't even own a dog. But dogs are wonderfully forgiving clients.
They also have significantly fewer pattern pieces than tiny humans, which meant I could finish projects faster. My best friend's dog became my very patient—and occasionally confused—model while I photographed my creations.
Did I make a fortune? Not exactly. I mostly broke even.
Mainly because every time I earned a little money, I immediately spent it on more fabric. In my defense... It was on sale. And I had ideas.
If you've ever wandered through a fabric store and convinced yourself you absolutely needed that beautiful print for a project that didn't exist yet...We should probably be friends.
The Dress I'll Never Forget
For my final 4-H sewing project, I wanted to create something memorable. I made a long black evening dress with a flowing skirt. It was elegant. Simple.
And then I decided it needed peacock feathers. Naturally. Not one or two feathers. Lots of them.
Every feather had to be hand sewn onto the hem. It took hours. Actually...Let's call it days.
There were definitely moments when I questioned every decision that had led me to this point. But stitch by stitch, feather by feather, it came together.
That dress earned Grand Champion at the county level and advanced to the Indiana State Fair, where it received First Runner-Up in the costume category.
As a bonus, I earned a week-long trip to Washington, D.C. Not bad for someone who originally wanted absolutely nothing to do with sewing.
What Sewing Really Gave Me
Looking back now, the ribbons aren't what I remember most. They're wonderful memories. But they aren't why I still sew.
Sewing taught me patience. It taught me how to solve problems instead of giving up when something didn't work the first time. It taught me that creativity isn't something you're born with. It's something you build one project at a time.
Without realizing it, I was also learning something that shapes how I teach today. Every successful project started the same way.
One instruction. Then another. Then another. Nothing happened by magic. It happened because each step built on the one before it.
That's still how I believe beginners learn best. Not by trying to memorize everything at once. By understanding the system.
Because once you understand how sewing works, it stops feeling mysterious. And that's when the fun really begins.
Looking Back
Sometimes I think about the girl who reluctantly walked into that basement classroom because her mom signed her up for sewing. If she could see where this journey eventually led, she'd probably be shocked. She might even laugh.
But I think she'd also be proud that she gave something unfamiliar a chance. Curiosity has a funny way of changing the direction of your life. Mine just happened to begin with a spool of thread.
Sew What's Next?
For years, sewing was a constant in my life. Then life grew busier. College ended. I got married. Became a mom.
And somewhere between diapers, deadlines, and daily life, my sewing machine became quieter.
In the next chapter, I'll share what happened when creativity took a back seat—and how I'm finding my way back to it, one stitch at a time.
👉 Read Part 3: Sewing Through the Chaos—Finding My Way Back to Creativity
A Note from Winter
People sometimes assume I've always loved sewing. The truth is, I learned to love it because someone gave me the chance to understand it. That's why I created Sew What by Winter.
I want beginners to know that confidence doesn't arrive before you start. It grows every time you learn one more piece of the puzzle.
Because sewing isn't random. And neither is the journey of learning it.
