Which is the best home (school) made cushion?

So my year 7 students (11 years old) have been learning about sustainability and treating the environment right etc. As a project, we decided to learn how to sew (by hand as well as by machine) and to use our ideas to make a cushion with recycled fabrics, buttons etc. Well, now that the cushions are mostly done, we would like you to help us decide on the best one by mid-July. All you have to do is to leave a comment in the box below about which one is your favourite. Each cushion has a number.

 

Before you look at the pics below to choose your favourite, let me remind you of a little of what we covered in lessons each week. I am happy that my students have embraced the frugal lifestyle.

What is sustainability?

We learnt about the fact that the earth’s resources are limited and therefore we must be careful how we use products and dispose of waste. You can learn about other ways to be frugal here.

The six R’s

We learnt that we can use to reduce, reuse, repair, recycle, refuse and repurpose. We watched some videos about what happens to clothes and other textile products after we dispose of them. We agreed that some of them could be given to charities or used to make other items.

Super heroes

It is fair to say that most of my students were excited when I told them that they should look for ideas to inspire them to design and make a cushion using recycled and repurposed materials. They had to use a superhero them. Some chose to use the ideas to create their own super heroes.

Sewing Skills

Most of my students had never sewn anything before so it was interesting to teach them all the basics from the tools we use, to how to thread a needle, and then how to do some stitches such as running stitch, blanket stitch, and back stitch. The boys did just as well as the girls, and that was pleasing.

Tie and Dye

We all made tie and dye samples and some people dyed bits of fabric that they wanted to use for the front of their cushion. We learnt that if a t-shirt has a stain on, instead of discarding it, we could be frugal and tie and dye it instead! No one would even know that it had a stain on!

The sewing machine

Most of the work done in lessons was done by hand but then they were taught the basics of how to use a sewing machine. It was certainly fun (but a little bit tense at times). Thankfully, there were no major injuries and students used the machines to stitch the front of their cushions to the back.

New skills

Next year when they get to year 8, we will do more computerized work for example using SVGs, computer-aided designs, and even the 2 computer embroidery machines we have. I am sure they will be impressed with the possibilities that they can create and also that they get an idea of how things are done in the real world, in industry.

Now for the vote!

Have a look at the photos and then choose your favourite cushion. Just tell me in the box below which one is your favourite. You must vote before mid-July so that the winner can get their gift voucher before school closes for the summer break! Thanks so much in advance.

Ps. Please only vote once but you may ask other people to vote.

Cushion 1                                                   Cushion 2

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Cushion 3                                                              Cushion 5

            Cushion 4

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Cushion 6

 

 

 

 

 

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Cushion 7

 

 

 

 

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Cushion 8

 

 

 

 

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Cushion 9 

 

 

 

 

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Cushion 10                                          Cushion 11                                      Cushion 12