LEWISTON, Neb. (AP) - Lewiston sophomore Abel Gonzalez and freshman Ty Arena are learning to embrace embroidery through a school class and business.
The duo are using a professional-level embroidery machine to make patches, monogram towels, and put school and local business logos on shirts and hats that sell for $5-$15 based on the amount of stitching.
The year-long class is taught by family and consumer science educator Nancy Barr.
Barr said students do the marketing, designing, running and maintaining the machine and getting feedback about their products.
Barr said the school purchased the machine because administration saw value in the program. In the four years it has been at Lewiston, six students have learned how to use the machine.
“They’re future entrepreneurs,” Barr told the Beatrice Daily Sun. “If they want to do this - there’s embroidery businesses in town - they’re getting prepared for a job like that. It also teaches them customer service skills, where they have to go out and do some marketing…I think this is a well-rounded class.”
Gonzalez explained that the machine works by connecting it to a computer and selecting a design. The program then allows them to select the size, speed and color sequence, and after oiling the bobbin the embroidery can begin. The designs take roughly 15 minutes to make.
“I saw this thing, and it was basically calling my name out to work on it,” Gonzalez said. “I got really hooked on it once I first tried it…I like the work.”
“A lot of people, they use this as a base machine and then they line up several machines,” Barr said. “This can run up to 1,100 stitches per minute, but we don’t run it that fast.”
Orders are open to the community, and Barr said the object being embroidered can either be brought in or ordered by the students.
Orders can be made by calling 402-865-4675 or emailing nbarr@lewistonschool.net
More information and examples can be found at the Embrace Embroidery website, sites.google.com/lewistonschool.net/lewiston-embrace-embroidery
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