mighty

Home ec class, and myself.

tngal22

I made a pillow in Home Ec in High School. My mom had a sewing machine but it was more for hemming or patches. She didn't use it much. I didn't touch a sewing machine for probably 20 years until this past November. And since then, I have taught myself how to do things....well YouTube and the wonderful ladies here helped. I am one that likes to jump right in and figure it out on my own so I have enjoyed the journey and hope to continue it for many years to come. My 4 year old seems to want to learn as well as she is always asking to sew or cut up fabric.

feline fanatic

I learned in high school. I think it was my senior year. It wasn't home ec but a class devoted just to sewing for one semester. I made a skirt and one piece jumpsuit (they were very popular in the 70's LOL) I immediately fell in love with sewing. (and yes we called all fabric material then as well!)

I was already working at the time in JC Penney catalog dept. Someone returned a sewing machine so I set it aside for myself and bought it. It was my graduation gift to myself. There was absolutely nothing wrong with it, I guess the person just decided they didn't want it? I still have that old sewing machine. It is my backup in case my Bernina needs to go in the shop.

cowgirlquilter

I was lucky enough to watch my mom use her treadle machine, and then years later, saw my daddy buy her the exquisite machine she still has. Se made all our clothes, took us to the local JCPenneys store to pick out materials and patterns.
The one tip I totally remember we when I took some great caramel colored corduroy material to make a pair of hip huggers....yes back in the day! she explained about the nap of the fabric and to make sure I told my teacher it wa corduroy. I told my teacher but she guided me to cut the pattern incorrectly......lesson learned!
Momma has dementia now and has not used her machine, but I love her so much. I take care of her during the weekends nd make sure she always has a smile on her face.

HillCountryGal

My Mother taught me to sew. Also, took home-ec in high school. Since then, I've taken Stretch-n-Sew classes (a long time ago)... that and just "doing". Trial and error.

The best memory I have of sewing was my sister and I using my Grandmother's treadel sewing maching to make doll clothes. I'd sit on my knees in the chair guiding the fabric while my sister rocked that treadel back and forth.

DeneK

Didn't anybody else have sewing lessons at their local Singer Sewing Machine store? Besides sewing machines, they also sold "material" and patterns. Ours gave lessons every summer and I went either 2 or 3 years... My mother thought every girl ought to have the basics (and better that someone else teach me. I never could do anything well enough to suit her).

Quilting I learned on my own -- books, mags, the internet, and obviously -- most of all -- right here.

ShabbyTabby

My Grandmother started me sewing by first sewing on buttons. She could look at a dress, cut a pattern from newspaper and duplicate the exact dress. She could take a man's suit (bought at a rummage sale) cut out a vest and skirt and viola, I had a new outfit. I also learned from my Mom and my Aunt, all accomplished seamtresses. They grew up in hard times and learned out of necessity. I used to make clothes for myself but gave that up long ago and started sewing for all the grandchildren when they were pre-teens. Now I just quilt, make repairs, make pillowcases and decorator pillows, and pot holders and placemats.

Dyan

I learned to sew in Home Ec, my first project was a A line skirt, that I constructed so badly, you could see the hemming stitches across the room.

In high school I did much better, but the end of my Jr. year, I was making lined blazers matchiing the plaids, I never cared for making clothes, started on Quilts when I had my first daughter.

Grandma Peg

Took a sewing classing in school. Made alot of clothes for myself and my young sons. Didn't start quilting until my youngest was a senior in high school (took a beginners class at aLQS) and once the house was empty really started quilting to take up a lot of my time.

redmadder

I was always messing about with some rag by hand. My mom may have shown me something, she never had time to really teach me anything. So I'm self-taught. In high school I got a C for my skirt which is really funny now. There have been so many times when sewing was my fall-back living. I've sewn hundreds of replica uniforms, costumes for museums and shows, a hotel canopy, old-fashioned dresses and maids uniforms, kids clothes, seat covers. I'm a cross between seamtress and mechanic