Great topic and I have enjoyed reading the stories.
My mom's mother (Grandma) sewed and quilted. My mom did not.
Had jr high Home Ec, and one year of High School Home Ec. But since I was on a "college prep" track didn't take more. (I had plans to go to medical school some day.)
Made almost all my clothes from the time I was in High School. In College I started out as a Biology/Psychology double major, for 2 years. because of some health problems I ended dropping some classes and finally transferred to the School of Home Economics. Got married. Graduated with a major in Clothing and Textiles. Almost finished a Master's in the same, plus coursework towards a Master's in Adult Education. <G> Along the way worked as an alteration's tailor for one of the department stores. Learned a lot about altering clothes, especially men's wear.
Separated from hubbie and there were no jobs to be found in Tucson. Came to Phoenix to visit a friend, checked out job opportunities and had a promise of a job as soon as I moved. Found an apartment that weekend, moved the next.
Ended up doing alterations for a fine women's wear shop for a while. Then after I remarried took some time off.
During all this I was doing a lot of sewing of different stuff.
And I mean "different". Ex was a square dance caller so I made a lot of matching outfits, including a couple of western style jackets for him. Had had tailoring in school and made a wool jacket too.
Also did some sewing of Science Fiction/Fantasy costumes and got involved in the Society for Creative Anachronism, which is a group that "re-creates" the better parts of the Middle Ages. (And where I found my current DH, who is also a science fiction writer.)
Made and sold a lot of "medievals" for a few years. Got my teaching certificate, after tutoring math at one of the community colleges locally. Was hired to teach half time at one of the schools. So I was a Home Ec teacher (but now called "Life Skills". One summer I got a part time job at House of Fabrics. Which turned into fulltime and assistant manager after I quit trying to teach. <G>
That was such a blast. Loved the work and being around fabric all the time. But there was a buy out and yadda, yadda....... In order to not be totally taken advantage of I ended up signing up for some quilt classes. Wonderful and i have been quilting ever since.
And teaching. And joining guilds and on line groups and more.
Pati, in Phx