I have 3 children, (all boys), and 2 step-children, (one of each). My "stock-in-trade" is clothing designer/seamstress, (yes, I know what a ham is...AND I own one, as well as a sleeve roll ;) ). Any time my boys wanted to know how to do something with fabric, I would teach them. All 3 took home-ec for one year in school. As a single mom, I also had them turns making a meal, so now as young men, they are all very good cooks, (even without a microwave!!!), and all can do their own mending. The youngest owns his own sewing machine. My step-daughter will be away to college next year, so we bought her a sewing machine last C'mas. She is going to come to quilting/sewing day at our church once we get the time organized.
One of my co-workers wants me to teach her some basic sewing skills. I suspect I may have a couple of the other gals join in. These gals did not have home-ec offered in school. So, even tho' they didn't have the opportunity to learn in school, they are keen to do so now. And I know I will have fun teaching them!!!
Oh...I am Canadian, and unless it has changed in the last couple of years, the schools "back home" do still require students to take at least one semester of home-ec. My step-daughters' school in ND does not offer it anymore.
Patti