nanna-up-north,
I never had the choice of home ec in school. During my time in school home ec was for the girls and shops were for the guys.
But like your DH I watched my mom and later my wife sew and was fascinated by the assembly of bits and pieces of fabric into a garment or what ever.
I learned much more than I realized I'd learned and two years ago when I started fixing them it was really a lot easier than I'd imagined to actually start sewing. I've only made bags, whacky bags, and a couple quilts but eventually I want to take up making clothes.
I like the machines themselves as well as the sewing.
Joe