Who taught you to sew?
#11
For me it started when i was in Home ec in the 8th grade however it was my aunt who really taught me the ins and out of sewing outfits and then i pick up quilting as a hobby because it look interesting to do. Now it really has become an obbession and if i don't get to quilt then my chi is off for the whole day. =)
#12
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: So Plymouth, NY
Posts: 2,502
My Mom taught me the basics; hand sewing with needle and thread, some embroidery stitches. In Junior High, I learned to sew by machine with pattern. Absolutely HATED it. Especially hated putting in zippers. Wouldn't touch one now with a 10 foot pole, would rather go naked and that's saying something. Around 1977 or so, there was an adult enrichment class at our public school. A southern lady was teaching quilting. The rest is history. She taught to hand piece, make your own templates from scratch, etc. No machines or rotary cutters to be found. In fact, think rotary cutters were just coming on the market about that time.
#13
I was taught in Home Ec class in the 7th grade. My mom made most of our clothes. My mother got out her sewing machine and told me I was going to make my own maternity top (I didn't know much about sewing.) when I was pregnant with my son. I hadn't sewn for about 10 years after that. Then I went and bought a sewing machine and started again. I have been sewing off and on for about 20 years now. My mom (before she passed) and my sister sew, so I thought why not. lol
#14
Power Poster
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Northern California mountains
Posts: 12,538
My mom was a lousy cook and a poor seamstress, although she did teach me hemming and French knots, 2 skills my grandmother disliked. My home Ec teacher taught me a great deal, over my strenuous objections. Dad was an excellent tailor. During WWII, he brought home a huge amount of Australian wool, which had been used as cauking, and which he got from the shipyard where he worked. After Mom got to wash it (!!!!!), Dad spun, wove and turned it into a fine brown tweed 3 piece suit. When I was ready to learn sewing after my skillful sister moved away, Dad helped a lot.
#15
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Fox Valley Wisconsin
Posts: 1,920
My mom tried to teach me to sew, but didn't have the patience and it was frustrating for both of us....but I spent my summers from age 14 up at my aunt and uncles house...would help prune Christmas trees during the mornings, and afternoons were either spent at the beach or learning how to sew from my Aunt Dorothy....who was an excellent seamstress, and also knew a lot of shortcuts that she passed on to me. That was a good thing, but it made it really hard when I went to college, and the teacher there didn't allow shortcuts, which was frustrating and I dropped out of sewing class there.
I am mostly a self taught quilter....took one afternoon class through our Embroider's guild, was hooked immediately and bought a couple of books and kept learning....and then teaching others.
Can't imagine my life without quilting...or cooking which my mom was able to do.
I am mostly a self taught quilter....took one afternoon class through our Embroider's guild, was hooked immediately and bought a couple of books and kept learning....and then teaching others.
Can't imagine my life without quilting...or cooking which my mom was able to do.
#17
Power Poster
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Northern Michigan
Posts: 12,861
i started sewing doll clothes, replacing buttons ect. when i was about 4 with my grandmother. when i was 8 (in 1965) i started sewing in 4-H by the time i was 13 i was making 3 piece suits for my brothers for Easter. I made my own clothes and clothes for my siblings including winter coats until i had my own children to sew for and my siblings wanted (store-bought) clothes- i would make a quilt once in a while when someone was having a baby or getting married- i did not really become serious about quilting until 2002...now it takes an act of congress for me to get around to sewing on a button
#18
8th grade home-ec class. We made a tote bag then a skirt. I can still remember shopping for the pattern. My mom chose one that had a waist band and was cut on the bias (she had a sick sense of humor) I struggled with that darned skirt for 6 weeks. By the time I brought it home the fabric was soiled, wrinkled, and let's not talk about the construction - I got a C minus. She didn't give me a D because I really did try to make it. I threw it in the washing machine and it came out in pieces as if it was never sewn. To this day I have never picked up a clothing pattern. It left such lasting scars I am still afraid to open the washing machine after washing a quilt - I expect them to be in pieces.
#19
Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Sonoma County, California
Posts: 132
My mom taught me when I was 8. The first thing I made was a striped sleeveless dress with BOX PLEATS!! What was my mother thinking? I made all my own clothes beginning in junior high all the way through high school. My mom made my wedding dress. After my kids were born I sewed a lot...outfits for both kids, a dress for every holiday for my DD prom dresses, dolls, and other stuffed things, purses, totes, baby blankets etc. I really didn't like quilting and avoided it for years until I discovered the Modern Quilt Guild philosophy and now I am hooked. I have made 7 tops in 3 months 4 of which are quilted and binding sewn on.
#20
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Texas, USA
Posts: 5,896
My mom introduced me to sewing, when I was around 5 or 6. About the same time, my grandmother showed me the basics of crochet. I learned to do more than just the basics, on my own. I studied patterns and made a lot of mistakes but back then, fabric was pretty cheap.
I took Home Ec., in 8th grade, to be with my friends. Since I already could sew, I was allowed to skip the first year of it and go straight into the second. What I remember most about it, is making a pineapple upside-down cake and that Jello does NOT freeze well (we ran out of fridge space). Sewing was a straight dress, with zipper and darts; mine was a green flower print.
I took Home Ec., in 8th grade, to be with my friends. Since I already could sew, I was allowed to skip the first year of it and go straight into the second. What I remember most about it, is making a pineapple upside-down cake and that Jello does NOT freeze well (we ran out of fridge space). Sewing was a straight dress, with zipper and darts; mine was a green flower print.
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