With buttons for eyes and a lopsided smile, each of junior Kenna Allen’s sewing creations carries its own charm and personality.
“I really wanted to start sewing so I could make my own clothes and be able to wear stuff that I had made,” Allen said. “Eventually, I [moved away from that] and gravitated more towards what I do now, handmaking stuffed animals.”
Sewing has countless uses and styles, from fashion design and quilting to embroidery and upcycling–it stood out to Allen as one of the most versatile crafts. Whether seaming (the practice of joining two pieces of fabric with thread), pressing (using an iron to press seams into fabric) or basting (using a loose thread to temporarily hold together fabric), there is no end to the skills that come along with learning to sew. Despite the craft’s wide range of styles, and her original goal of making clothes, the area of sewing that caught Allen’s eye was a unique one, crafting stuffed animals.
“I really like to make weird-looking stuffed animals and embroider faces on them,” Allen said. “I just like how unique they are because most people who sew aren’t making things like that. [Instead] they’re making clothes or bags, and I have these little animals I can put around my room.”
While Allen previously had an interest in learning to sew, it only became a hobby when her grandmother introduced her to the craft hands-on a year ago. After learning how to use a sewing machine, threading a bobbin for the first time and being gifted materials from her family, Allen quickly caught on to the basics and began exploring her own creative direction.
While making her first creations, Allen faced many challenges. Small road-bumps seemed overwhelming, whether due to technical malfunctions or not having enough experience.
“I struggled really hard with rethreading my needle and I accidentally messed up my machine for a minute and had to get it fixed, so there’s always something that might set you back when it comes to sewing,” Allen said. “I’ve gotten a little better but I definitely need to practice more.”
Not having free time to improve skills has been another struggle for Allen, as frequently practicing stitching, threading, hemming and other techniques is essential for improvement. Without consistent repetition, Allen has had to relearn certain skills, and struggled to learn more advanced techniques.
“To get into sewing, make sure you have a lot of time and motivation on your hands, because without it, it takes a long time to progress,” Allen said. “I’ve felt held back because I couldn’t practice when I wanted.”
Despite a busy schedule, Allen has remained committed to improving her skills. Allen has made five different stuffed animals, each different from the last. Her favorite so far, a stuffed rabbit named “Dirt Rabbit,” was made using three different fabrics with white thread making eyes and a mouth. Allen has also made a stuffed bear, penguin and dog, some the same color, while others are decorated with floral fabrics and sewn-on stars.
While she loves piecing together her stuffed animals, her goal is to one day venture beyond and learn to sew her own clothes, while still continuing to make her stuffed creatures.
“I want to practice my sewing a lot,” Allen said. “That way I can sew my own prom dress and make my own clothes. If anyone asks, I can tell them I made the clothes I’m wearing, just like I do with my stuffed animals. It’s another way to be able to use my creativity in the real world.”
