Originally Posted by Caroline S
My first sewing experience, age 8, was a class at the local Singer store. The fabric was purchased at JC Penny. That was 1952. I still have some scraps in my trunk. Is that stash hoarding or what?
My mother entered me in a sewing contest at Singer. We selected the fabric and pattern there at Singer. It was in 1967, and I was 13. We went every day for about 2 weeks maybe 3. After about 3 days I realized it was more like a class because the instructor/moderator kept telling me how to sew. By 13 I had already learned a lot of shortcuts and she would tell me to go back and do it right, like marking darts with thread tacks. I used chalk marks or pins. My mom chose my pattern - a dress I could wear to school. The girl who won made a formal/prom dress. I wanted so much to win and wanted to try again the next year, and make that prom dress, but the program ended, or so my mom said.