I was in Home Ec - but didn't learn to sew... hated it. I had a willing grandmother who helped me cheat a lot to pass the class. We made 2 of each of the projects (a. a pair of pajamas and b. an apron where the top folded down.) I would sneak one project home, and leave the other at school - until grandma helped me rip seams and show me how to correct mistakes. She had an electric machine, but we worked on her treadle.... now I really miss that machine and her, too.