Who taught you to sew?
 

As I was ripping out a seam that I sewed too late last night, I remembered my Grandma and Mom telling me to stop sewing when I got tired or I'd just make mistakes that I had to rip out the next day. (I think I heard "told you so" being whispered in my ear this morning.) I've been sewing since I was 5 and was taught by my Mom and Grandma (my Dad's mother.) I remember spending a week or two at Grandma's every summer and we'd go pattern and material (we never called it "fabric") shopping on the first day and then I'd make the outfit under Grandma's watchful eye. By the time I was in Junior High, I was making all of my own clothes. Who taught you to sew and what tips do you remember and use to this day?

I first learned to sew in Girl Scouts when we made doll clothes for a Goodwill project. Our dolls and their clothes were on display in the local Goodwill store and people voted for the best outfit. Both of my grandmas and my mom also showed me things. They all told me to take my time.

I learned to sew in Home Ec class. Too bad they don't have Home Ec any more in schools. That was such a great class, also learned to cook and bake in Home Ec. My mother knew how to sew and did sew alot; but it stressed her out to the max. Perfection seeking. I love sewing.

I was taught by Miss Sutherland, a little old lady of at least 110 years, in 8th grade home ec. -- a 12 week course. Never finished my blouse, learned how to make horrid hot chocolate from unsweetened bakers chocolate squares (Give me Nesquik any day!), and I think we peeled and cooked potatoes to mash. Beyond that I learned by reading books, patterns, sewing machine manuals, and trial and error. I still don't make clothing for myself, though I sewed some truly lovely dresses for my little girl many years ago.

Jan in VA

My mom got me involved in 4H when I was 8. I think she was smart because as I got older we would butt heads on just about everything - If she told me it was white, I'd try to convince her it was black just because.....LOL!! I call it Stubborn, First-Born Child Syndrom :) My mom is truly a wise woman!!

My paternal grandmother taught me to sew when I was very young, around age 6 or 7. She hand sewed all the hems in my dresses (yes, when I was a child, girls wore dresses even to play in) and repaired my grandfather's clothes, and she made me learn how to hem handkerchiefs. She had a very fine hand since her father was a ladies' tailor and she learned from him. I learned to sew on a machine in 7th grade Home Ec. My mother also sewed beautifully, but had no patience to teach. She had a treadle sewing machine that we were forbidden to touch as children so, unfortunately, I never learned how to work hands and feet together. I am the last of the line of sewers in my family, since neither of my sisters (now deceased), nor my daughter were interested.

My Mom taught me.. saying "make it or go naked"! so by 8th grade it was a no longer an option for her to make any of my clothing . It was just understood , I was on my own now for making my clothing. Up till that point she would suppliment my efforts with some items she made for me.
I can still recall begging her to put in an invisable zipper in my prom dress, as I so wanted the dress to be perfect.

A neighbor walked me through the basics a long time ago but I'm mostly self-taught. Anything I learned was either from the school of hard knocks (rip-it-rip-it) or I learned A LOT from the assorted forums along my quilting path. Needless to say I am still learning.

My mom taught me all the domestic sciences. She taught me how to sew, crochet, hand embroider, and cook, all before I was 10. I did take Home Ec in jr high, but by then I knew more than they taught, so I aced the class. Mom went back to work full-time when I was about 7 or 8, so I helped out by cooking a lot of the family meals. I sewed blouses, dresses, choir outfits. I crocheted lots of afghans and blankets. Now that my mom is retired, she does a lot of embroidery and crocheting in the winter, when her garden is sleeping. And it's my turn, I'm teaching her how to quilt!

It always amazes me and makes me chuckle when so many of my friends think opening a box of Bisquick or Hamburger Helper is cooking from "scratch".