I remember doing hand embroidery when I was about 5 or 6 and my mother and sister both tell me that I was using the treadle machine even before that (I don't remember - I was very ill at age 6 and "lost" some stuff from fever)
I don't remember a time in my life that I haven't sewn or done some kind of hand work..
I used babysitting money to buy fabric for school clothes (also for eyeglasses, dentist, etc)
I still have my "antique" embroidery hoop around here someplace!