My mom taught me when I was 8. The first thing I made was a striped sleeveless dress with BOX PLEATS!! What was my mother thinking? I made all my own clothes beginning in junior high all the way through high school. My mom made my wedding dress. After my kids were born I sewed a lot...outfits for both kids, a dress for every holiday for my DD prom dresses, dolls, and other stuffed things, purses, totes, baby blankets etc. I really didn't like quilting and avoided it for years until I discovered the Modern Quilt Guild philosophy and now I am hooked. I have made 7 tops in 3 months 4 of which are quilted and binding sewn on.