Like so many others, I started in Home Ec. I was in the 8th grade and we made a dirndle skirt which I hated. Didn't care much for sewing then. I took Home Ec again in the 12th grade. I made my first dress and was hooked. I had an independent study in English that year, and if I was caught up my teacher didn't mind if I went to the home ec room to sew. My grandmother gave me her treadle sewing machine that summer. Can you believe I didn't know what I had, and sold it for my first sewing machine which was only straight stitch and zig zag? What would I give now to have that treadle back?!