Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, January 30, 1994 TAG: 9401280071
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: JOANNE ANDERSON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
But four teen-age sewers from Floyd, Roanoke and Bedford have found they can have beautiful clothes for a fraction of their retail price.
They make them.
Not just simple skirts and dresses. These teen-agers have created suits with lined jackets, prom and bridesmaid dresses, shorts outfits and reversible capes.
Jenni Wimmer and Brooke Lucas of Floyd, Jessica Vest of Roanoke and Julie Johnson of Bedford County have been sewing since age 8.
These high school students have each won multiple ribbons and awards at county and state fairs, the Make It With Wool competition sponsored by the American Sheep Industry Association, and the 4-H Fashion Revue Awards Program.
Wimmer, Lucas and Vest learned to sew from Margie Cahill of Roanoke, who is Wimmer and Vest's aunt. The two girls are first cousins.
Lucas is a friend of Wimmer's from school.
Johnson learned most of her sewing skills from her mother, Judy, although she has also taken a couple of sewing classes.
Cahill and her siblings, now in the 40-something decade, grew up in the Vest family in Floyd County and were active in 4-H along with their parents. She started sewing around 8 or 9 through a 4-H program.
"As an adult, I realize the value of the 4-H experience," said Cahill, who has watched the programs change over the years to be up-to-date for teen-agers today.
Some of the finer techniques Cahill requires her three pupils to put in all garments include dressmaker's hems and hand-picked zippers. The hems are finished by hand with binding made from the lining material. They don't show, and the fabric hangs more evenly than with standard hems.
Hand-picked zippers are put in by hand. Sometimes more than once. Sometimes more than twice. It's not unusual to hear "I'll never sew again!" as the girls struggle to put in a zipper.
"One of the nice things about Margie," said Wimmer, "is that she'll offer to rip something out if she's making us do it over again."
"And she's really patient, even though she insists that we do things perfectly!" Vest said with a smile.
But Cahill repeatedly credits the girls and their patience.
Johnson never threatens to quit sewing. "You just keep taking a zipper out and putting it in, and eventually, it gets easier," she said.
The girls rarely use one garment pattern. Most of the time, they peruse magazines and pattern books, taking something from several outfits and creating what they want. And, yes, they wear the clothes.
The teen-agers make unique outfits by carefully covering buttons to match collars and pocket flaps, sewing in shoulder pads and adding whimsical touches of embroidery or different buttons to their blouses and skirts. Some of their clothes could even be called wearable art.
Johnson and Vest attended the 1993 72nd National 4-H Congress in Chicago in December. Johnson won a $1,500 college scholarship for her bright blue wool crepe jacket and white wool crepe shorts outfit in the National 4-H Fashion Revue Awards Program.
Winners are judged half on modeling and speaking about their clothes and half for their records of volunteer activities, music lessons, animal projects, citizenship and personal growth experiences.
Vest attended the national congress for her records achievement book. She was one of the top 50 out of 350,000 entries nationwide.
To be photographed one day recently - a chance to show off their best outfits - Johnson, a junior at Staunton River High School, wore an award-winning jacket in bright blue wool crepe with a green blouse, gray wool slacks and blue and green accessories.
Lucas chose a sleeveless pink wool dress with a matching, fully lined box jacket. A 9th-grader at Floyd County High School, she completed her outfit with a white brim hat and cream-colored pumps. Her mother, Rachel Lucas, commented that if she could find a pillbox hat, she'd have the 1960s Jackie Kennedy look.
The two-piece outfit Wimmer wore consisted of a long-sleeve green dress and matching vest. On the back of the vest, she created an unusual crazy quilt, oval in shape with buttons, lace and exquisite hand embroidery.
It was this workmanship that qualified her as finalist in the National Make It Yourself with Wool competition, being held in Reno, Nev., last weekend. She is a 10th-grader at Floyd County High School.
The reversible wool cape Vest modeled was solid burgundy on one side and a burgundy and gray plaid on the other. The plaids matched at every seam, and the snap was covered with burgundy thread to match the fabric. A junior at Cave Spring High School, Vest has made money sewing bridesmaids dresses.
In addition to designing and creating custom-made clothing, the four have also learned through their 4-H programs about wardrobe planning, consumer issues, personal grooming and fabric selection and care.
The girls have learned real-life skills through their sewing and modeling, Cahill said. She's seen them grow from "awkward youngsters to young women who can narrate and participate in a fashion show with grace and poise. Even as teen-agers, they serve as excellent role models to younger girls."
by CNB