MISSISSIPPI STATE – On the first day of the Apparel Design I class at Mississippi State University, most of the students had never threaded a sewing machine, much less made clothes. By the end of the semester, they had each created a dress destined for an orphan somewhere in the world.

Charles Freeman, instructor in MSU’s Department of Apparel, Textiles and Merchandising, said he searched for a project that would incorporate service learning into the clothing design course.

“I heard about this project when the founder of the nonprofit organization Little Dresses for Africa was on the ‘Today’ show,” Freeman said. “The final project for this class is usually a dress or a skirt and blouse, but I wanted to integrate social responsibility into the curriculum.”

Little Dresses for Africa is an organization that collects homemade dresses for girls and sends them to children in need around the world, primarily those living in orphanages. Frequently, to cut down on shipping costs, the clothes are taken by missionary groups traveling internationally.

Freeman contacted the Michigan-based charity, which sent a DVD and brochures to promote the project to his students.

“The students were very receptive to the idea of doing a project for a goal greater than the grade they’d receive for it,” he said. “They’ve had their ups and downs and frustrations with sewing, but overall, it has been a good learning experience.”

Freeman’s students had no sewing experience when they began the class. They learned to sew on paper first, then progressed to cutting out a pattern and creating a dress from scratch.

“The relaxed environment helps, and the students have been very supportive of each other,” he said.

For the project, students selected patterns and picked out the fabric and notions needed to complete the dresses. Some patterns used zippers while others required buttons. Students were free to embellish the final product with their choice of trims.

Carrie Anne Biffle, a senior from Tupelo, said she underestimated the complexity of the pattern she chose.

“I loved the fringe and thought I’d just cut the fabric to make it, but I had to create the fringe by removing one thread at a time with a stitch ripper,” she said. “I spent hours on the fringe alone, but I like the meaning of the project, so it was worth it. I know this dress is going to go to someone who needs it.”

Hattiesburg native Constance Crockett, a sophomore, said sewing was harder than she thought it would be.

“We got pictures and patterns, but it’s not as easy as it seems, especially the tucks, zippers and button holes,” she said. “It’s for a good cause and purpose, though, so we all stuck with it.”

Thoughtful touches, such as pockets cut from coordinating fabrics, made each dress unique, though pink dresses far outnumbered other colors.

“I took my time because it’s a dress for a child somewhere,” said freshman Lindsey Traylor. “I wanted to do my best.”