I was about 8 when my grandmother taught me how to hand embroider on flour sack towels. My mother always sewed on the machine for us four children. When I was about 11 she started me cutting out patterns for her. Soon I was sewing however she said I didn't like to follow the directions. So in 7th grade I took homemaking class. Unfortunatly I was kicked out of the class. First project was to make a gym bag. Was suppose to take 6 weeks. I took it home and finished it that night, the teacher accused me of having my mother sew it. Then for the test of threading the machine, I showed all the kids the secret sewing guide on the inside cover of the machine, that was the last straw, she kicked me out. My mother continued to make me sew while my brothers were playing baseball. I was mad. It wasn't till I had my own daughter at age 20 that I took it seriously. The rest is history.