Stitch by stitch students at Maidstone High School are reaching out to others.

Members of the Grade 10 Home Economics class recently completed a module in their clothing, fashion and textiles unit called “Charitable Sewing.”

The students were asked to make three projects to be used locally, nationally or internationally. They began to do their own research and chose two different projects.

They made dog beds to donate to the SPCA in Lloydminster and girls’ dresses for a project called “Little Dresses for Africa.”

“My 83-year-old Baba was sewing dresses and the girls thought it was a good idea,” said teacher Hiedi Bodnarchuk.

“The girls worked hard to find something they felt passionate about. They did a really good job,” she said.

The patterns were found online and the materials were collected from community members. The little dresses began with a rectangle of material in bright colours.

“It was simple but it was something you could do to give back,” said Angie Boggust, one of the students.

The pattern for the dresses and more information can be found at nancysnotions.com .

If anyone else wants to make dresses to send with the students’ they can be dropped off at the school.

“I offered the project to the Grade 10s this year. I’ll probably do it again,” said Bodnarchuk as the girls proudly displayed their work.