Every 4-H’er has a story. A unique, encouraging, empowering story. This is Hopkins County 4-H member, Penelope Deterding’s story.
Penelope Deterding has been buying chicken feed and chasing pigs around for years, but running the pedal on a sewing machine isn’t as familiar.
Participating in the Hopkins County 4-H Sewing Fun Day event every year was the extent of her involvement in the Fashion & Interior Design project for five of her six years in 4-H. Visiting that event was simply a way to try something new for Penelope, but in 2020, evolved into the unveiling of raw talent with a purpose that extends beyond our country’s borders.
At the 2020 4-H Sewing Fun Day “Quilts Around the County” workshop, FCH CEA Johanna Hicks challenged each participant to complete two or more blocks to make a pillow, lap quilt, or something larger. Not only did Penelope do that, but with the help of a committed volunteer, she created an entire quilt top in one day!
Following that experience, she was further taught by another 4-H volunteer who led her to creating a twin sized quilt completely on her own. Penelope entered her first quilt in the Hopkins County Fall Festival Creative Arts Contest and the 4-H Project Show, winning Best of Show in both contests. However, blue ribbons aren’t all she sews for.
To date, she has completed two large quilts and a number of other items like scarves and hats. However, she works tirelessly with a group of women at her church who craft together quilts to send to third world countries.
So far, the group has equipped less fortunate families in 44 countries ranging from Greece to Zambia and many places in between with handmade quilts. Based on the testimony from a current preacher in Dallas, Texas, who grew up in Tanzania, the quilts have been influencing people in a big way ever since he was a child, when he recalled receiving a quilt that brought him and many others the purest of joy.
This fashion and interior design project area has become so popular because quilting not only creates a tangible output, but also involves math, design, creativity, cognitive skills, color analysis, and precision, according to Johanna Hicks, the Hopkins County Family & Community Health County Extension Agent. Penelope enjoys this project because it is quite structured, yet allows for creativity in the selection of patterns, colors, and designs.
Penelope said she will continue to participate in her animal projects, food and nutrition projects, and of course her sewing projects next year in 4-H, her last year as a member. Penelope reiterated that not only does she enjoy making quilts for herself, but she enjoys being involved in her community to help her neighbors in Texas, in the USA, and across the world.
After high school Penelope has her sights set on a couple of different options for college, potentially studying to become an engineer. When asked if she advice for other 4-H’ers, Penelope said, “If you want to try something new, just go for it. If it seems like a daunting task, like ‘I’ve never seen a sewing machine before in my life,’ just listen to what the instructors have to say. If it seems scary, like you press the pedal and it goes way too fast, just put your hands up and take your feet off, and then maybe call for some help if you think you messed up really bad, but just try again and you’ll do fine. You’ll get the hang of it.”
To learn more about the Family and Community Health project area in Texas 4-H, visit: https://texas4-h.tamu.edu/project-category/fch/.