Yep - Jr High. Made clothes for myself and my little sisters for years. Made my own holiday dresses, new years eve formals, graduation dress, etc.
Talking about the hemlines going up and up.....I had a boyfriend whose mother worked in a dry cleaners at one point during that time. I had made myself an empire waist, dark blue or purple velvet dress for Christmas and took it to her to press it for me. It had those puffy sleeves that had elastic at the cuff. When I picked it up, she said that was the first time she had ever pressed a dress that had sleeves longer than the dress! lol
Carol B