4-H Visual Arts is where you can: express yourself, be creative, make an impression. Explore different fiber arts as you learn to use diverse materials and apply principles of design in a variety of finished products.
Show Your Skills
- Exhibit at your county fair
- Exhibit at the State Fair
- Participate in a local craft show
- Create a 4-H video demonstrating how to create a visual arts fiber item
Service and Leadership
- Knit scarves for a local school
- Make macramé and donate to nursing home residents or senior centers
- Donate an item you created to a fundraiser
- Make quilts for a local shelter
- Teach another person a skill you have learned
- Give a talk or demonstration about your fiber project at your club
- Plan a 4-H club trip to a craft or fiber arts show
- Work with your Extension office to hold a Fiber workshop
Entrepreneurship
- Sell your items at a local craft show
- Job shadow a local artist or craft store owner
- Ask a local restaurant/business to display your art
Technology Connection
- Incorporate LED lights into your needlepoint pieces for a fun twist
- Create a QR Code and make a hand woven tapestry of the code
- 3-D print your own custom crochet hook or embroidery hoop
- Learn how to convert any picture into an embroidery pattern for a more realistic look
Connecting with a Mentor
- Contact local Art Center
- Visit with your school’s art teacher
- Visit with the owner/ manager of the local craft store
- Contact your local Extension office
Events
- 4-H workshops
- 4-H show / state fair
- Local craft shows
Project Manuals & Exhibit Requirements
- Getting Started in Art (Beginner)
- Level 1: Sketchbook Crossroads
- Exploring Fiber Arts
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Duct Tape Crafts PDF utah4h.org/discover/
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4-H Crochet PDF utah4h.org/discover/
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The 4-H Crocheting Handbook PDF
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Knitting Made Easy PDF https://www.yarnspirations.com/searchcontent?q=knitting
Purchase manuals on the Shop Illinois 4-H Store.
View exhibit requirements and scoresheets on the Illinois State Fair page.
“4-H Fiber Arts Project Guide” Oregon State University Extension
Authored by: Beth Chatterton, University of Illinois Extension, 4-H Program Coordinator, McDonough County
4-H Spark Sheets are a collaborative effort of 4-H staff, volunteers, alumni, and teens from across Illinois. A big thanks to the many contributors and reviewers!