My mom taught me to sew clothing items as a child, but I am self-taught as a quilter, so I never say "I was taught to" as a reason for doing something. I always have a good explanation for WHY I do WHAT I do. An example: I never press my bindings in half before sewing them to the quilt. I was never "taught" to, and I think they look much better and feel fuller than ironed bindings.