Inspired by Sewing – Flathead High Student Heads to Nationals with Repurposed Sewing Project

Flathead High School student Cassidy Hanson has a creative flair for her approach to sewing, baking and art projects.

Recently, she was the first FHS student to attend the National Leadership Conference of Family, Business and Community Leaders of America, held in Seattle this year.

To earn a spot at nationals, she first competed at the state level in March, where she showcased her fashion and construction skills with an outfit made from recycled clothing.

“When they called my name, I had to go back to Mrs. Strong and ask her if it was me. I was so nervous. It was like a crowd of different kids, and I had to get up on stage,” Hanson said in an interview on June 25, just days before heading to nationals in Seattle.

To design the outfit, Hanson took inspiration from a previous college project where she repurposed volleyball jerseys, cutting them in half and sewing the halves together to create a new top.

For the outfit presented at the state and national championships, Hanson used two different styles of football jerseys. This time, she decided to create a jacket after spotting a zipper long enough to sew to the front. She then found a denim jacket and cut off the sleeves, connecting them to the jerseys by sewing them to strips of gray sweatshirt fabric. Using the leftover denim jacket, she created a button-up denim skirt.

With an asymmetry in the top, different color combinations and a mix of fabrics, the resulting piece is a fun outfit with a punk vibe.

“You don’t always have to buy the item,” Hanson said of owning a unique piece.

For Hanson, what matters is the sewing process, from idea to finished project.

“At every step of the process, there’s a different process to follow,” she said. “And it’s okay to make mistakes. Sometimes you can hide them. Sometimes you can’t…and that’s what makes a piece special to people,” Hanson said, noting that what might be considered a flaw to one person is the perfect imperfection of a unique piece to another.

Hanson’s eye for garment construction also translates to alterations. During prom season, she helped a relative by altering the bodice of a prom dress to improve the fit. When she added fabric, Hanson said she wanted to hide the extra fabric and thought about its placement.

“I personally like to try to hide the added elements of the fabric, so I figured the best place to hide them was the armpits,” Strong said.

When selecting fabrics for an outfit, Hanson is drawn to materials that shine or sparkle.

“Anything that really shines attracts me,” she says. “And then I have to check if I like that feeling of the fabric.”

“But sometimes Cassidy just likes to look in the fabric bucket and she could just create… make all kinds of things,” Strong noted. “She’s super smart.”

PARTICIPATE IN THEThe national conference was a big decision for Hanson. It was her first trip out of state, so she and Strong invited a friend to accompany her for support. In addition to the competition and conference, the itinerary included a tour of the Space Needle, a harbor cruise and a visit to an aquarium.

Hanson works hard to overcome his anxieties and seize new opportunities.

After her state win, Hanson was named Flathead Athlete of the Week for her performance and was interviewed on the radio. She donned her repurposed outfit and returned to KMS to present her experience to students in the Life Skills program she had participated in. Hanson also gave advice to the middle school students about attending high school, which Strong said was a highlight of her life.

“You said, ‘Be brave and try new things,’” Strong said, turning to Hanson.

Hanson also advised students to find a teacher they trusted and could turn to if they had any difficulties or concerns. For Hanson, this proved to be a success.

Strong has been a key person in Hanson’s support network since she attended middle school with her grandfather.

When Hanson started her freshman year at FHS, Strong happened to transfer to the same high school. When Hanson found out, she was thrilled. It meant there would be a familiar face at her new school.

In addition to sewing and fashion, Hanson is active in culinary and fine arts, taking as many classes as possible.

“She just has a very creative brain,” Strong said.

Strong, who owns some of Hanson’s artwork, removed it from a wall and arranged it on a table, noting that she was surprised to learn Hanson hadn’t taken an art class before this school year.

Hanson also brought examples of other artworks. One was a realistic depiction of her cat, Mr. Kitty, on a scratchboard. Typically, the scratchboard is black, and the artist scratches with a sharp tool to reveal the contrasting white underneath. Another piece was an acrylic painting where she used loose brushstrokes to create a tree-covered mountainside.

“On the way to the (state) competition, Cassidy had this assignment where she was supposed to take a nature photo, so the photo actually happened as we were driving around Flathead Lake,” Strong said.

Flipping through the pages of her sketchbook, Hanson stopped at a pencil drawing of a bridge over a river connecting empty fields. She explained that the drawing was inspired by the movie “Bridge to Terabithia,” based on the novel of the same name by Katherine Paterson.

“My grandfather has the movie. I used to watch it a lot when I was a kid and my favorite part was at the end, when he’s building the bridge for his little sister so she doesn’t fall in and die.”

There are other examples of his art, including those using alcohol-based and water-based markers, the latter resembling watercolor.

“I like the challenge of working in a new medium,” Hanson said.

Strong also showed a sheet of printed labels Hanson designed for cookies she made as part of a fundraiser. Hanson incorporated a blue butterfly to represent her grandmother on the label.

“My grandmother loved butterflies…and she was one of the first older people I trusted,” she said. “Her name was Emily.”

She said her grandfather, Wayne William, was one of the first to notice her love of drawing when she was about 5 or 6 years old and has continued to encourage her in her efforts ever since.

DO WHAT IS NECESSARYThe academic, artistic and personal gain she has achieved by building her self-confidence is something she had not previously imagined.

“I never thought I would be able to do something like this,” she said.

She shared how she took that first big step toward overcoming her anxiety about talking to new people, taking her brother as a model. She thought, “I should try.”

“I tried,” Hanson said. “I finally got out of that state about halfway through eighth grade. It was a tough time for me because when I was younger, I was bullied by all my classmates and even some teachers. I was pretty reserved.”

“I always loved you,” Strong said, smiling at him.

Academically, Hanson made tremendous progress in high school, particularly in reading. She began her freshman year at a second-grade reading level, but after spending most of the following summer reading, she reached a second-grade reading level.

“Yeah, she’s in really good shape,” Strong said, nodding. “Things are going pretty well for her.”

One of his motivations was an incentive offered by his grandfather.

“I’ve loved cooking since I was young,” Hanson said.

After moving in with his grandparents, his culinary horizons expanded. Strong asked him to talk about his grandfather’s cookbooks.

“He told me that as you learned to read, you could go through all my cookbooks. And you and I, or other family members, would cook from that cookbook,” she said.

Strong added: “I love my grandfather because he’s a foodie. He always gives us great recipes. So the goal was to read the cookbook.”

Despite her difficulty reading recipes, Hanson’s baked goods are among the top sellers at school fundraisers. Strong said the cupcakes she makes and decorates with edible glass have been a hit at school performances of Disney’s “Frozen.”

She said her grandfather encouraged her to take woodworking classes so they could work on projects together, but that doesn’t mean she’ll put sewing on hold.

“I would like to continue sewing because there is so much to learn,” Hanson said.

As of July 3, the results of the national conference were not yet available, but regardless of the outcome, it was an experience she won’t soon forget. She also wanted to thank all the teachers at KMS and FHS who helped her get to nationals.

Reporter Hilary Matheson can be reached at 758-4431 or [email protected].