I was taught to sew by my Great grandmother, Grandmother and Mother Before I was in school I worked a hand sampler by 7 or 8 I could handel a machine. When I hit my first Home Ec class in High School I knew more about sewing and my machine than the teacher did. LOL My first project was a pants suit for myself with bound button holes, an lapels on the jacket a hidden zipper in the back pants seam. Jacket and pants were lined with that new fabric RAYON!!! what a mess it all had to be stay stiched before sewing pieces together. She gave me a C on it boy was I pissed because she gave another girl a A on her apron that didn't have an even width on any of the seams. Teacher said I got a C because I took shortcuts, and did not follow the instructions word for word! That year I also beat the same Teacher at the County fair, (Mom entered my pants suit in the adult division), I took overall grand in the garment division, my teacher got a red ribbion. Great Grandma said, Don't let it go to your head you still need to shorten your stiches when doing hand work! LOL I never did get those stiches short enough for her.