It’s hard to believe that it’s already been a year since we first announced Janome Canada’s partnership with the I Love First Peoples organization which shares the love of sewing through their Sew & Sew program with remote Indigenous communities across Canada.
We put out the call for donations of sewing supplies, which you can read about in the many blog posts HERE, and HERE, and HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE – see, I told you there were many, lol!
The other part of Janome Canada’s commitment was to donate brand new beautiful Janome 2030QDC machines, and I’m SEW thrilled to share some photos of some of the school kids using them!
The Janome 2030QDC was chosen as the model to donate to the schools as it offers many convenient, easy-to-use push-button controls, without being too overwhelming. There’s a speed control slider to slow the machine down whenever desired, which some new sewists may prefer, but we can see in the photo above, that this young lady sews as I, and many of us prefer – full steam ahead! lol!
In the photo below, we see a young boy quilting layers together before constructing the garment. It was wonderful to receive so much batting during the donation drive! You can see the kids are putting everything to good use!
On a personal note, I’m thrilled to see young boys sewing as well. When I started sewing over 30 years ago, schools still were divided into “boy” classes and “girl” classes, so you can imagine the scandal when I showed up to learn to sew in high school. Sewing is such a useful and creative outlet, one which shouldn’t be defined by gender – like most everything else these days – so it’s wonderful to see everyone sharing in the fun.
We can all relate to the young sewist in the photo below. How many of us have, or continue to cut out our garment or quilt patterns on the floor? Any flat surface will do! lol!
The pants in the photo below are truly unique; one-of-a-kind designer originals! Yet another benefit of sewing; you can express your creativity while making something practical; making it “You”. The fabric was already quilted and embossed with the pattern, then the pants pattern was cut from it and the contrasting waistband and drawstring added. Combine patterns, prints, fabrics – there are no limits when you sew, which is something these kids are learning.
Below, a very proud recipient of the kind of garments the kids will learn to sew. In our frigid Canadian winter – which seems to last longer and longer each year – one can never have too many warm clothes, and how fabulous these new young sewists can add some fun fashion elements, as well.
A huge THANK YOU for all those generous sewists who donated to our I Love First Peoples Sew & Sew donation drive. It’s so rewarding to see some of those items put to good use! We’ll definitely share more photos as we receive them!
We’ll soon be announcing dates for another donation drive this year, so be sure to FOLLOW Janome Life so you don’t miss a post!
Happy Sewing!
Janome Life 
I love reading about boys and girls learning about sewing. What were they thinking in the old days? I guess we know the answer to that.
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Happy to see these students have been given the opportunity to expand their creativity through sewing. Looks like they’re well underway working with their new machines. Great garment making!
Thank you for the update!
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Wonderful post – thanks for the update and photos of the students’ creations! Jane ________________________________
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Thank you sew much, Jane! We were sew excited to receive photos of the machines in action at the schools. It’s wonderful to see the next generation of sewists sharing in the love of sewing. We’ll definitely share more photos as we receive them, so more blogs to follow.
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