Sewing Ministry

The FBC sewing ministry started as a mission endeavor to teach women to sew, but it has evolved into a project-based ministry of sewing to meet the needs of various ministries in our area. The leadership is shared by Joanne Massengill and Sarah Pitzer.   If you are not confident about your sewing skills, help abounds! Donations of sewing machines, notions, and fabric are accepted.  The sewing ministry is open to all church members, and all supplies are provided for the sewing projects.  The group meets on the second Saturday of the month at 9 a.m. at the Rec Center most months, and the fellowship is delightful! 

Sarah Pitzer, JoAnn Massengill, and Shar Garrett work diligently on a sewing project.

The sewing ministry has been busy with projects for worthy causes. Church members Pat Ludtke and Jane Wilmot have suggested ideas that turned into sewing projects. Pat Ludtke provided fabric panels for prayer quilts to give to shut-ins. She also provided materials to make Kool-ties, neck scarves filled with crystals which become cold when soaked in water, which were sent to every soldier in Delta Company. Jane Wilmot suggested the idea of making cloth drawstring bags to put in Operation Shoebox boxes.

On Saturday, December 8, 2007, the Lexington Manor apartment ministry and the sewing ministry teamed up for a morning of fun with the children at Lexington Manor.

Mamie Medlin, Jo Ann Wright, Joanne Massengill, Sharon Erskine, and Nancy Darnell took sewing machines and supplies which allowed eleven children in grades 4 - 8 to sew cell phone holders to give as Christmas gifts. The response was so good that residents are requesting sewing classes for ladies at the complex.  Mamie Medlin provided lunch for all who came.

Joanne Massengill and Nancy Darnell joined Joann Wright and Mamie Medlin at the Lexington Manor Apartments twice a week for four weeks in June, 2007. We taught four teenagers, and each one completed a tote bag and a throw pillow.

On Saturday, July 21, 2007, we met at the rec center and sewed prayer blankets from materials donated by Pat Ludke. Joanne Massengill coordinated the event, attended by Joanne, Valerie Hanlon, Jackie Morehead, Frances Leal, Shar Garrett, and Nancy Darnell. Plans are to meet one Saturday each month to work on sewing projects, and we are planning a trip to Mission, Texas, to sew with ladies from Journey Church. Anyone who is interested in sewing with us may contact Joanne Massengill.
 

With her sewing training, Carole and the other team members are now ready to teach sewing at mission sites.

Valerie thinks Halya's jacket is just her size! The members have learned to use their own measurements to alter patterns so that their creations fit well.

Precise measurements are a must for correct fit. Joanne Massengill and Nancy Darnell are trained as Texas Master Sewing Volunteers through the Texas agricultural Extension Agency and are training the other sewing ministry team members in the methods they learned.

Our conversation always includes testimony of God's goodness in our lives. As we teach others to sew and share God's message of love and salvation, we empower those women to teach others to sew and to witness to them as well.

Joanne and Carole look on as Halya sews. Each member shares what she knows, and encouraging each other is part of the fun.

Halya shows Joanne her jacket pieces. The purpose of the sewing ministry is to prepare team members to teach basic clothing construction to women, so that they can save money and earn money for their families.