I am a seamstress, 55 years plus, thanks to my mother in law. My mother in law was a seamstress for 85 years plus. She started sewing when she was 5. I knew how to sew from age 10, because of 4-H but never was hit by the bug until after I was married a couple of years. I have made everything from skirts to mens sportsjackets and pillow cases to quilts. My maternal grandmother was a sewing teacher and taught machine embroidery starting back in the 40's (with Necchi and Elna machines). My paternal grandmother was a farm wife and seamstress. There wasn"t much she didn't make for her family of 8 and then grands and great grands, from clothing to home decor. That included quilts or comforters as she called them. All Christmas presents were homemade, usually flannel shirts for all. That was lots of shirts.