My mother sewed all of the dresses for my sister and I when we were growing up, even our special Easter outfits, on Singer treadle. She taught me to sew a few stitches when I was about 7 or 8 yrs old (I'm 62 now). My best friend and I would raid our moms' rag bags and make dresses for clothespin dolls. I began teaching myself to embroider at age 10 when I sewed my mom's initials on a pretty hankie as a gift. About this time, she also taught me to knit. In junior high home ec class I learned to make clothes for myself and continued to sew my own dresses and skirts all through high school (my mom would knit my sweaters). I didn't like clothes off the rack; I wanted to be different. Then I sewed my own wedding dress; then clothes for my first born, a girl. In my 20's, I taught myself crochet and crewel embroidery. I subsequently had 4 boys, so I turned my skills toward more crafty sewing (dolls, toys etc). Made my first quilt when I was expecting my 3rd child, and I have lost track of how many I have made since! So I feel as if I have been sewing all my life. I love it.