LUSK – The hum of sewing machines and murmurs of Donna Hanson and Vivian Fahy accompanied the first Cloverbuds meeting of the new 4-H year. Pre-4-H kids, ages 5-7 bent their heads over their pillow case projects as Hanson, Fahy and helpers Helen Olson and Sarah-Jo Goddard showed them how to pin their sewing projects and then sew them, iron them and flip them right-side out.

Hanson and Fahy have done a pillowcase project with the Cloverbuds for many years. They have the process down and this year kids were able to pick from fabric with puppies or fabric with kittens. The fabric was already cut and pieced together. They then guided the kids through the pinning and sewing process. The completed projects were wonderful travel-size cases. Fay also surprised the kids with a pillow to put inside their cases.

The November meeting of Cloverbuds found the kids learning about wool and fiber arts. They discussed how wool is harvested and the steps it must go through in order to be turned into fabric or yarn. They looked at samples of different types of wool and discussed by-products like lanolin. 

The members then crafted their own “God’s Eye” hanging decoration out of year. This is a woven design made with sticks or twigs and constructed by wrapping yarn in a consistent pattern around the sticks. It originated in Central and South America.

Members also made woven friendship bracelets out of yarn. Friendship bracelets also originated in Central America and the pattern used is an adaptation of a weaving process using straws.

Anyone aged five to seven can join Cloverbuds. They meet once a month on the third Monday of the month from 3:45 p.m. to 5 p.m. Kids are introduced to a variety of project areas and participate in crafts, STEAM activities and making snacks. Contact the Extension office at 334-3534 if you are interested in enrolling your child.