For me it's a hobby, craft, or art, and as in any form of relaxation, there will always be an interest from folks to acquire the skill. What has died is the necessity. It was a skill acquired out of need years ago, therefore, possibly more people with the skill of sewing, quilting, etc. When I was in elementary school all of my school clothes were hand sewn, nothing purchased from a store until I entered high school. Only because it was more economical. Now you can't make a shirt yourself any cheaper than you can purchase a ready made shirt, and truth be known, it'll probably cost a lot more than the store bought one, just for the cost of fabric. Possibly why its not as common as it once was?