PP: A Pattern for Life

The theme for our Young Women in Excellence this year was, "Personal Progress:  A Pattern for Life".  Our Personal Progress Leader, Emily, found the idea here, I believe.  I also found some great decoration and cupcake ideas here, after the fact - of course.  All cute ideas!

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THE INVITATION

The invitation was a miniature pattern packet.  Information was printed on the back.  Each invitation was personalized with a miniature pattern placed inside the packet, with each Young Women's name on it.  Let me know if you'd like the template.
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THE PROGRAM

Opening Hymn:  #89  "The Lord is My Light"

Opening Prayer:  ____________________

Skit:

I still need to get a copy of the script our YW President put together for this skit. She had two of the young women sitting at sewing machines. One of the girls was disorganized, sloppy, chewing gum, hair all messed up. While the other girl was dressed niced, hair in place, her work station was organized. They were each making the same item of clothing, a blouse. The first girl was lazy and didn't want to use the directions. She simply flew by the seat of her pants. The second girl loved following the pattern. She new exactly what tools needed to be used. At the end of the skit they each held up their blouses. (Our YW President had made these beforehand) The first blouse had only one arm hole, was lopsided, etc. The second one was a perfectly sewn blouse.

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UPDATE:  I have the skit script!  Thank you Amy!

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Molly My Way & Polly Personal Progress

• Scene opens to two girls sitting at separate tables with sewing machines, scissors, fabric, pins and patterns.

• Polly: Is  “over the top” put together, perfect hair, apron, skirt and blouse,  white socks, shiny or sparkly shoes.  BIG bow in hair.
• Molly:  Messy hair (such as lopsided and messy ponytails.  Too big shirt, half tucked in maybe ripped pocket on front.  Chewing bubble gum and blowing bubbles loudly and chewing loudly.  Two different colored shoes.  Smudge of dirt on her cheek, (but cute).
• Each girl plans to make a blouse.
• Polly:  (Opens pattern and reads instructions out loud.)  “Use pattern pieces  A, B, &C.”   Looks for pieces and finds each one.  “Here we go.” “I just LOVE following directions.”
• Molly:  (Opens pattern and reads instructions out loud).  “Use pattern  pieces A, B and C.”  Looks for pieces but only finds B & C.  “Where is pattern piece A?”  “I guess I can just use B twice.  It’ll be fine.  Who needs directions anyway.  How hard could it be?”  I’ll just do it MY way.
• Both girls pin pattern pieces to fabric.
• Polly:  “I just LOVE pinning.”  (Proceeds to perfectly pin pattern to fabric)
• Molly:  “Hmmm now where did I put my pins?  I know I had them last week.”   Whatever, I guess I’ll just use this gum.”  (Sticks gum to back of pattern piece and sticks to fabric)”My way is soooo much better.”
• Polly (reading pattern directions out loud).  “Pin right sides together. “
• Molly: “Pin right sides together”  “now which is the right side?”  Hmmmmm
• Both girls continue to sew then each holds up their finished product. 
• Polly holds up a perfect blouse.  “I just love sewing.”  “It’s so much fun to make something all by myself.”
• Molly holds up a blouse that is messed up.  “What????”  “This really stinks!”  I’m never going to sew again.  What a big waste of time.”  “Nothing ever turns out like the picture.” 

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Presentation of YW Values:

The Young Women Values were presented on bolts of fabric. The girls made these beforehand. I gathered empty cardboard bolts from a local fabric store. Our YW President choose fabric to represent each value. The girls used felt letter stickers to spell out the value on one side and I placed an index card with the corresponding scripture on the other. During the program the girls pulled out the bolts one by one to introduce each value.

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Musical Number:

Talk:  (Personal Progress Leader)  I don't have a copy, but I am sure I can get it from her if I ask.  :)

The following scripture references were found on HenHouse, a Christian based website. I believe it was put together for a mother-daughter "Pattern for a Princess" themed dinner. Someone put in a lot of time to find these pattern related scriptures from the Bible. Thank you!

• General Directions: Proverbs 3:6 "In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths."
• Study First: 2 Timothy 2:15 "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needed not to be ashamed, rightly diving the word of truth."
• Planning Layout: 1 Corinthians 14:40 "Let all things be done decently and in order."
• Cutting Instructions: Ephesians 4:31 "Cut out 'all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking."
• Seam Allowance: Philippians 2:3 "Let each esteem other better than themselves."
• Stay Stitch: Isaiah 26:3 "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee.."
• Ruffling: (not called for in this pattern) Psalms 119:165 "Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them."
• Darts: Ephesians 6:16 "Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery dart of the wicked."
• Facing: Isaiah 50:7 "For the Lord God will help me... therefore have I set my face like a flint."
• Zipper: Proverbs 17:28 "Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding."
• Binding: Proverbs 6:20-21 "My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother: Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck."
• Pressing: Philippians 3:14 "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."
• Gathering: Isaiah 40:11 "He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young."
• Instructions for Yoke: Matthew 11:29-30 "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
• Running Stitch: Hebrews 12:1-2 "Let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith."
• Finishing Details: 2 Timothy 4:7 "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith."
• Ornamentation: 1 Peter 3:3-4 "Whose adoring let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price."

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YW Project Spotlights:

The girls were each given a place to display projects they have worked on during the year, as well as time to explain/talk about one of their projects. Parents, leaders and the Young women themselves were given time to see up close what everyone had accomplished (after the closing prayer).

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Closing Comments:  Young Women President or Bishop
Closing Hymn:  #229  "Today While the Sun Shines"
Closing Prayer: ____________________
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CUPCAKE TOPPERS

Front:  Cut out "Sew Sweet" circles.  Back:  Cut out slightly larger circles  from your choice of card stock (maybe even the value colors).  Place a lollipop stick inbetween the two circles before glueing or double side taping them together.  After your cupcakes have been baked, cooled and frosted...  you can then place the lollipop sticks into each cupcake for display.  ("Sew Sweet" side up) :)

TAKE-A-WAY

To keep with the pattern/sewing theme, I found this adorable Fabric Bird Pattern on Spool Sewing.  Each of the girls was given the pattern along with all the supplies to make their own bird.  Everything was placed into a cute bag tied up with white ribbon and a tag (below).

You can also use the birds to create a Bird Mobile. 

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DECOR IDEAS

Sewing machines.  Jars of buttons.  Maiden forms.  Patterns.  Lots and lots of patterns.  Piles of patterns.  Bolts of fabric.  Scissors.  Fabric flower centerpices. Did I mention patterns?

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