I learned to sew by buying calico prints at the Franklin 5 and dime, for 39 cents per yard in 1966. When i got skilled, I bought fabric at JC pennys who had a small fabric department. When Fabric World came to Lynchburg VA (as big as a Grocery chain, like half of a walmart) I though I died and went to heaven. I would babysit every Fri and Sat night at 50 cents per hour so I would have enough fabric to make a dress or skirt. My family had moved from NJ where I wore uniforms to school and now I had to wear street clothes to my new school and Mom and Dad had no money for any clothes. I learned to sew real fast from a neighbor for my first 3 dresses and then I was on my own because she did not like the pins that fell in her deep carpeting. I never saw a real cozy fabric store like we are use to.