6.Blog

Month: **September**

Working Title: Dress a Girl Around the World

What have I done this month: During the month of September I have been very busy. Throughout the month I have gathered most of the materials I will need to complete my project. I thought I would need to buy more things than I actually need to. I found many things I will use around my house. I am yet to have all my materials. I will need to buy elastic and find a sewing machine. My mom, grandma, and aunts all have sewing machines so I don't think I will have a problem finding one.

Indication of progress: I pretty much have all my T-shirts and pillow cases rounded up. I printed off all the patterns I will need to complete this project.

Met with Mentor: I showed my mentors the patterns we will use to sew the dresses. Although they are experienced in the sewing department, they admitted that the pattern would be somewhat difficult. I am excited to get started on the sewing process and see what we can come up with. Date: 9/30/11

Purchases:None Total:

Month: **October**

Working Title: Dress a Girl Around the World

What I have done this month: Throughout the month of October I have done a few different things. While I have mostly been focused on my research paper, I have gathered more materials that I will be needing. Mostly I have been thinking how I am going to do this. Before I do anything I like to picture in my mind how I am going to do it. I have been researching my topic very heavily. Mrs. Rahn wants us to have our outline done by November 1st. Once volleyball is over I will have much more free time after

Indication of Progress: Mrs. Rahn has seen my progress of my research paper. I have done a lot of note cards with my research on them. I plan on starting my sewing very soon. My mentors are unable to start sewing until November, so I am hoping everything falls into place around then. I have still been rounding up old pillow cases and tshirts. Also we have a couple of sewing machines that I am planning on using. My grandma has lots of elastic and thread laying around, but I might have to buy a little more.

Met with Mentor: My mentors are very busy this time of the year, so I am hoping to start sewing very soon. My mom told me that in early November we should be able to get the ball rolling. I am very disappointed that we are not able to start sewing right away, but there is nothing I can do about it right now. Once volleyball is over I will have much more time after school to work with my mentors. Now that our garden is winding down my mentors will also have much more free time.

Date: 10/19/11

Purchases:None Total:

Month: **November**

Working Title: Dress a Girl Around the World

What have I done this month: Once again I still haven't started sewing my dresses. My aunts, mom, and grandma have all been very busy. We have everything set up and ready to go, all we need to do is start sewing. Because I have no experience sewing, I am hoping to further my skills in that area. I know I said in my October log that I will be sewing in November, but that just couldn't happen this month. I am really sure that by Christmas break I will have several dresses completed.

Indication of Progress: Like I said before I have no actually begun sewing the dresses, but it took a lot of preparation to get to the point I am at. Everything is lined up and ready to go at my grandma's house. My t-shirts and all I will need have been found or purchased.

Met with Mentor: I meant with my mentors a few times throughout the month. We actually decided to go with a different patter that we initially had decided. The pattern we will use is much simpler and we feel that we would be more successful at. The top of the dress will be a t-shirt and the bottom will be a pillow case.

Date:11/13/11

Purchases: 5 t-shirts

Total: $11.05

Month: **December** Working Title: Dress a Girl Around the World

What I have don’t this month: During the month of December I finally got to start making my dresses. My mom and I went over to my aunt’s house at the end of December to get started. Quickly I realized that sewing would be much harder than I thought. I never thought that it would take so much preparation. While I was there I made two dresses. My second dress was much better than the first, since I learned how to do things as I went. I tried on the first dress and it was rather snug so I think it will fit a little girl much better than it would fit a teenager.

Indication of progress: Like I stated earlier, I made two dresses this month. I didn’t expect them to be so complex to make. The first dress I made is a pink shirt with a white and red striped skirt. The second was a teal shirt with a yellow skirt with some beautiful orange embroidery. I took a few pictures of my progress while I was at my aunts, but unfortunately my camera died before I could finish taking pictures. The most difficult part of the sewing was doing the gathering stitch. This was the stitch where the t-shirt and pillowcase met at the waist. First, you stitch all the way around twice very loosely. After that you have to pull the stitches tighter and tighter until you get it gathered, as you desired.

Met with Mentor: The time I spent with my mentor was the day that we started on the dresses. Although I have visited with her unofficially many times throughout the month at family gatherings and such, I made the most progress on the 30th. Date: 12/30/11

Purchases: None

Month: **January**

Working Title: Dress a Girl Around the World

What have I done this month: During the month of January I finished a couple more dresses. I feel like I'm really starting to get the hang of sewing. My aunt has been a really big help. Sewing was a lot harder than I thought it would be. Without her I would be in a world of hurt. She is a wonderful teacher and was very patient with me. I have had no experience in sewing whatsoever, so she was a great help. My mom is also a big help, even though she has a little less experience in the sewing department.

Indication of progress: Most of my dresses are smaller and would fit girls that are about 10 or 12. I did recently make a dress that fit me, so there will be a variety sizes. I tried on one of the smaller dresses and it was very snug! My aunt also had a great idea to make belts for the littler girls. We just put a matching piece of fabric that was left over from the pillow case around the waist. My aunts sister in law has also done a project like this and she informed me that the girls enjoy the brighter colored dresses, so I made sure to get the brightest shirts I could find.

Met with mentor: I have been very busy with basketball this month, so I only went over to my aunts once. It was during Christmas break so it worked out really well. This visit went more smoothly than the first one. My aunt has a great sewing machine at her house so we decided to keep all of my stuff there and she agreed to it. I think it is a great bonding experience for me and my family. Date: 1/2/12

Purchase: None

Month: **February** Working Title: Dress A Girl Around The World

What I have done this month: In the month of February I basically just finished making my dresses. My goal is to have five dresses made by the time I present my project. I have three done right now, and now that basketball is over I am hoping to get two more done in the next couple of weeks. Five dresses seems like a good goal considering I am very busy throughout the school year.

Indication of progress: Like I stated earlier, I have three dresses already made. I spent many days at my aunt's house with her sewing machine. My dresses are very brightly colored and vibrant. I think the girls will be excited to wear such neat dresses. Most dresses are big enough to fit girls around ten or twelve. Some are big enough to fit me.

Met with mentor: My aunt Arla has been an amazing help to me. Without her and my mom, I don't think I could have done it. She guided me through all the steps I needed to finish the dresses. I basically know everything to make the dresses on my own, but every once and a while I go through a rough spot and need assistance. Date:2/12/12

Purchases:None