My mom was a lousy cook and a poor seamstress, although she did teach me hemming and French knots, 2 skills my grandmother disliked. My home Ec teacher taught me a great deal, over my strenuous objections. Dad was an excellent tailor. During WWII, he brought home a huge amount of Australian wool, which had been used as cauking, and which he got from the shipyard where he worked. After Mom got to wash it (!!!!!), Dad spun, wove and turned it into a fine brown tweed 3 piece suit. When I was ready to learn sewing after my skillful sister moved away, Dad helped a lot.