Capability Through Freedom

This is Devin's design! It is the "Utilicloak." 

Devin is sewing his own clothes! He has been modifying his clothes for years now, especially through his creative passion of Steampunk. Now he is actually making them from fabric to garment using his sewing machine. He made these fleece pants this week.

Devin wants one of these types of sewing machine for his birthday. He loves anything old fashioned that were run by man-power, before electricity was so widely utilized.

What I love most about how Devin learns, is his willingness to be persistent and try and try until he gets something right, and the way he wants it. These pants were a great success for him and he plans on making all of his clothes in the future. He gains amazing satisfaction and a sense of pride from learning to do things that allow him to be more self-sufficient. He has a great interest in homesteading right now, and making his own clothes falls under one of the skills that he wanted to perfect to be that much closer to his personal goals in life. 

Children are so capable, when given freedom, time and the tools to learn and grow with their ever-evolving interests. Devin has life skills that very few teens in our culture have today. He knows how to sew, make bread, build a survival shelter, blacksmith, woodwork, and so much more than I could even list here. He truly enjoys mastering crafts that are a lost art.