My little brothers and I played with the treadle when the machine was closed. Our family did the feedsacks for clothes. We kids would pick out the patterns we want and the parents would dig through the stack to get them. We all knew how many bags it would take to make our garments. I remember Mom chain piecing for quilts she gave as wedding gifts. I got to cut the chains and stack them up for the next step in the process. I was about 7 when I tried to make a stocking hat for my baby brother and sewed through my finger...Mom was outside helping Dad with chores. It didn't deter me although by the time I was about 10 Mom bought a Phaff 203 and I thought I had died and gone to heaven. It had a zigzag stitch and I could make buttonholes! Like an earlier post, I made most of my own clothes and later those of my family until it was cheaper to buy ready made and life just got too busy with my family of 5 children. About 30 years ago I took a quilt lesson and set out to make quilts for all of my children. I got one top pieced and another started plus a couple of others for my husband's parents. A little over a year ago, I picked up challenge of making a quilt for each child but it now includes 7 grandchildren. I'm having soooo much fun! I'm finishing those 30 year old UFO's and have projects and plans for most of the family plus a few for me to enjoy myself. How thankful I had a creative Mother...even it it was a matter of neccesity. It's a rich heritage.