Okay, I'll answer first.
I used to watch my grandmother as she happily sewed on her old black Singer. As a very little girl, who loved dolls, Grandma made my doll clothes and gave me scraps to cut up for "dresses" (without sewing).

The first time I used a needle and thread was to make a "nut cup doll hat". We took a tiny, paper cup (used for mints at her Canasta parties), used a beautiful maroon taffeta, covered it with a ruffled brim and embellished it with a feather. I sewed with a thimble and "real" needle. It was the first of many doll hats - even Barbie wore them!

55 years later I still sew, quilt and dream of Grandmother and the "nut cup doll hat".

My grandmother and mother both taught me from about age 8. Still sew with mom but grandma left us many years ago.

Before I ever started school, I played sewing on a toy Singer machine that you turned the hand crank to make it go. I made a chain stitch. I don't really remember what I "made" but I remember a set of children's encyclopedia that had patterns and instructions for sewing. In the 5th grade at school, we actually had homemaking classes twice a week. We learned to make a potholder,apron, and headband, and then we had cooking class and had to use those items. We had those classes through 8th grade, and in high school I continued with homemaking classes. From 7th grade on I made a lot of my clothing. I made clothes for my mom, sisters, daughter and sons, and for my grandchildren. Sewing has always been something that I loved doing. When I was little I got to play sew on my grandma's treadle, and my mom was always, making clothes for her 4 daughters, so I guess it just was something that was a natural thing for me to do. I remember making clothes for clothespin dolls using hollyhock flowers and acorn caps for them.

I learned in Junior High in Home Ec. class. Sewed lots of my own clothes in high school. When I got married and had kids I sewed most of their clothes. My daughter still talks about the doll clothes I made for her. It was a surprise so I stayed up at night after she went to bed to sew them. Then one morning she found a wrapped package in her room and it was full of cute doll clothes for her Sunshine Family. I really had fun making them, too.

I made a dress for my doll when I was six, and my Dad taught me. He couldn't thread the needle, so I did that part on my own, but he taught me how to make a running stitch and to back stitch every 3 stitches. My Mom is left handed and said she couldn't teach me so my Dad did it. :D

Mom taught us (myself, my sister and my brother). I then took more than a few years of sewing (and other stuff) in school and learned more. Stopped sewing for a long time, picked it up again when I first got married and got a sewing machine as a wedding gift. Sewed more garments for a good number of those years then dropped it again. Started sewing again a few years before my second marriage and again I got a new sewing machine as a wedding gift.

7 years later, "Spare" Sewing machines #3 and #4 fortunately came without spare husbands!!

My MOM and GRANDMA taught me,use to treadle on grandma's
treadle. I learned on an electric when I was 8, made my first
skirt and blouse. They both quilted. They've been gone a long
time.

Taught myself in 2010 :-), galloping horses are my friends. Everybody ride :-)

My mother had a Singer but rarely sewed. I do remember her asking me to thread the needle for her a few times, though!

I think my sister showed me how to thread the machine, and then I read the manual for the rest. Wanted to sew doll clothes!

Both my grandmothers sewed. My Grandma Gann had a huge bag of scraps and button box she would let me play with all the time. She showed me how to thread a needle and sew patches together. She had a treadle sewing machine that had been her mother's, and let me sew on it. It is now mine. My Grandma Miller sewed her own clothing and sometimes did some for us. She had mounds and mounds of fabric. She was not always the most patient but she showed me how to use an electric machine. I am grateful for what they taught me and that is where my love of sewing and fabric comes from. My Grandma Gann would make tulip quilts that were appliqued. I made 2 of them, one for each daughter. She was so pleased and tickled to see them when they were completed.

My mother was a wonderful seamstress, but she didn't have the patience to teach me to sew. I learned in junior high. I had a wonderful Home Ec teacher. I remember picking strawberries and beans to earn enough money to buy a sewing machine. Besides my teacher I learned from doing and making mistakes.

my mom sewed since we were little.... (not so much now)
but form 6-8 in school we had home ect, (everyone, even the boys) 1/2 yr sewing 1/2 cooking......

Both of my grandmothers sewed. Mom's mother sewed baby clothes by hand for a company in New Orleans and she taught my mom. Mom is 86 and still sews the baby clothes by hand. She's sewn clothes for hundreds of babies in her life. I learned to sew by hand from her and by the machine on Dad's mom's treadle machine. I was in 4-H and had to make an apron for my first sewing project in fifth grade. Sewed from then on and made a lot of my clothes and my daughter's. Quilting was started so I could make hand made gifts. I don't have the patience to do the hand work my mother does. After she's gone there will be no one that I know of to do this kind of work.

I only vaguely remember learning how to use the machine. I was probably 6 or 7? When I was 4 or 5 Mom used to give me a piece of fabric, a threaded needle, a jar of buttons and her pinking shears to make "clothes" for my Cabbage Patch doll. I'd make sure the fabric could go all the way around the doll, then make armholes and a buttonhole (sometimes they were in the right place, usually they weren't) and slap on the biggest, gaudiest button I could find.

My first real sewing project was a pillow I made for my first year in 4H. It was black satin with a purchased filet crochet picture of a horse stitched to the front. That stupid satin wouldn't hold the stuffing in the corners, and I've hated satin ever since.

In junior high, we learned to sew in Home Ec class. Our first project was tote bags; I proved to the teacher that I was good enough to choose my second project from the "advanced" section of the project catalog (everyone else had to choose a "beginner" project). I made a stuffed banana with floppy peels and a lot of hand-embroidery. My mom probably still has it.

I did a lot of costuming in college, and I continued making clothes for myself afterward. I like sewing clothes, but I don't like how commercial patterns don't do a good job keeping up with modern fit. I usually have to lengthen tops and shorten the rise in most pants. And I'm kinda chesty, so I almost always have to alter patterns to nip in more below the bust. I don't sew clothing near as much as I used to for those reasons.

My mom taught me to sew, but it's been so long since she's done any herself that I had to give her a brush-up lesson on using the machine when I loaned it to her last weekend. ;)

I learned in the 7th grade in Home EC.

i started sewing in 4-H when i was 8- by the time i was in high school i made all my own clothes-including winter coats- and when i was 13 i made all 3 of my brother's 3-piece suits for Easter (that year my mom made sister & my dresses- i was busy making suits.
i really fought off the quilting bug for years- made one for each of my children as babies- but did not want to quilt- still made everything else- clothes and home decor--
about 12-15 years ago i guess (boy time flies) i saw a bom quilt at an on=line shop in Arizona and fell in love with it- read about what a bom is- signed up and by the 3rd block i was signing up for classes at the lqs- and going bonkers!...and that bom---the 12 blocks are done- have been for years---in a box- on top a cupboard---i've tried to get it out and finish it a number of times can not seem to do it- i tried last year to package it up and send it away- but gosh i still really love the fabrics- the quilt- and it was a very expensive lesson- haven't been able to part with it yet---and i did (unload) about 22 ufo's last year by sending them to other quilters who may like to finish them- but this one...can't finish it- can't part with it- so it lives in a box ... anyhow---sorry got a bit (off-topic)

My Home Ec teacher taught me to sew in 1969! I am so sorry we no longer think this class is "necessary" in American education!

I, too learned to sew in Jr High Home Ec. I took Home Ec again in high school as an elective & had a great teacher who really sparked my interest. She taught me how to sew on knits (stretch-n-sew) & from then on I made most of my clothes. I think my interest in quilting was a natural progression from sewing- especially after my kids were older & I wasn't sewing for them anymore.

The neighbor ladies.

The story is that my grandma was babysitting me and my 2 younger brothers. I was not quite 4 yet and I liked to hit my brothers. She gave me a scrap of fabric and a button and taught me to sew it on to give me something constructive to do with my time. Then my other grandma gave me sewing cards and I would match the color of the strings to the picture and carefully stitch them in and out in a running stitch. Both Grandma's ran into each other inthe grocery store and they each asked did you see what she did? The 2 of them decided that I would learn to sew from them. I learned things from each one of them and I think of them often when I'm makling something. My mom sewed too so I was around sewing my whole life. I still love it! Neither of my grandmother's quilted except one made a crazy quilt and I have that. Its a treasure to me!

My mom taught me to sew when I was about 5. I have been sewing ever since. I learned to sew on a Singer Fashion Mate 237 that I have in my closet. I used to make clothes for my daughter and a shirts for my son when they were younger. Now I quilt for the grandgirls.

My Mom taught me a little, when I was probably 8-9 years old. I made a dog head and a cat head that were sort of circular pillows with the face embroidered. I remember having a really hard time sewing the front and back together!

Then my Grandma had me make a mumu when I stayed over at her house once. Mom and Grandma always had a project on the sewing machine. We made a lot of garments.

I almost forgot to add Home Ec! Taught by nuns! We made the manditory apron, then several garments. I tried unsuccessfully several years later to make quilts a couple of times and never finished them. I worked in the fabric department in a large dept. store for a year- that was the time of polyester double knits, so I made a lot of garments then.

When my friend had a baby, I made him- the baby- a quilt from a pattern, probably Simplicity, that was in the shape of an elephant with the ears and other details in big appliqued shapes in bright colors. I actually was in a sewing class when I made that.

I started quilting in the 90's and really got into it. I ran into a teacher in my first quilting class at the Ben Franklin store in Monroe, WA, who became my best friend. We sewed together with my DM for many years and took many classes and went to lots of retreats together until we lost our dear friend Rhoda to cancer.

I really must thank the Quilting Board which got us both sewing again. DM is 84 this year and still quilting!

My mom let me loose on her Pfaff. She patiently untangled everything over and over. She did not teach me but let me use her good machine. I was about 8 years old. I learned to cook the same way.

I think I must have been born with a needle and thread in my hand. I remember I had the treadle machine needle through my finger when I was 4. Apparently any time my Mum was sewing and left the machine unattended, I was right there trying to sew on it. My Gran was a dressmaker and told the story about me getting the scraps as she was cutting out, placing a doll on them and trying to trace around the doll with pencil as a very small toddler. This Grandmother was my Dad's mother and she always would give you her time to show you how to do whatever it was you wanted. I visited her lots as she was a widow and I had my own treadle machine to sew on whenever I was with her. I remember making dolls clothes for pocket money for some of her customers grandchildren at a young age.

At school we learned sampler hand sewing in third grade and progressed to sewing by machine in 7th and 8th grade. I started making my own clothes when I was 12. I did do Home Economics at high school and learnt to draft patterns as well as clothing sewing.

I progressed to patchwork and quilting when it was no longer the "in thing" for my daughter to have me make her clothes when she became a teenager.

Guess I will probably die as I was born...with a needle and thread in my hands.

I remember once when I had surgery and still in hospital, my daughter asked my husband about my progress. He replied that I was sitting up in bed, hand sewing, so I must have been doing fine. My daughter replied that the fact that I was sewing was no indication as she was sure I would be sewing if on my death bed.

My great grandfather on my Mum's side was a saddler and with dressmakers on my Dad'side, I guess I have stitching in my genes.

I started sewing doll clothes when I was about 8. I imagine my mom taught me how to sew. I sewed all through Jr./Sr. High and actually helping the teacher in high school. When I got married I made all of my own clothes and for my 2 children. Made clothes for my girlfriends 2 girls too. She would buy enough fabric for her girls and my daugher as payment. Continued making my daughter's clothes and dance dresses throughout her high school years. Went into business for myself for about 8 years doing seamstress work for a local bridal shop, dry cleaner, and several dress shops. Most of those were alterations. For the bridal shop I was also called upon to make gowns in "special" sizes. I also made uniforms for our high band auxiliary. (majoroettes, color guard, and drill team, even a band uniform for a "special sized" band member. One summer I made 100 shirts, cummberbands and bow ties for the band to wear as summer uniforms. Made alot of dresses for my granddaughter until she became a teenager. I made too many to count bridesmaids and flower girl dresses. Several wedding gowns too. The only clothing I sew now are sleep pants for the 5 grands. After all of that sewing, I no longer have the desire to sew clothing. My dream when I was working in the fabric store was to able to one day have the time to quilt. I taught classes at the fabric store on various subjects including quilting. I started quilting about 2 1/2 yrs ago when I retired.

I don't recall that my grandmother ever sewed. She did tatting to put on pillowcases. She tried many times to teach me. Not sure if I couldn't learn or just didn't have the interest at the time. Sure wish I had paid attention then.

My Mom always sewed. She made our dresses, patched my Dad's and brother's pants, turned the collars around on their shirts to get a bit more wear out of them, sewed for Grandma (who never learned to read a pattern but could make her housedresses from whole cloth).

I am the youngest of four children and did not have a 'bought' dress until I was 16! I was never taught how to put two or three patterns together to have this neckline and that sleeve and the other skirt, but I absolutely know how to do it!! I was the one who was outside doing chores and helping Daddy. But somehow or other, all that knowledge seeped into my brain anyway. I just cannot remember a time when I did not know how to sew, even tho I also cannot remember sewing anything before leaving home.

Guess it was osmosis!

And I have my middle sister to thank for infecting me with the Quilting Bug. Thanks Sis!!

I too learned to sew in Home Ec class in 7th grade. My Dad was stationed at the Navy Shipyard in Boston I think. We lived in Danvers, Mass for 2 yrs. first time I was ever in one place that long....We did an embrody sampler with french knots and lots of stitches I don't even remember. We had to make a pair of flannel pjs. I picked out a clown pattern with ruffles around the neck, sleeves and ankles. I made them and they were so hard tomake...in 2 years we moved back to South Carolina and I got rid of the jammies. too hot for the south...but then I did not sew until about 7 or 8 yrs later when a friend named taught me the real meaning of sewing. of taking out even a slight mistake, of using other than cotton for dressy clothes, to make childrens clothes. I sewed a lot then. I thank her so often for making me rip out seams. I think she really was a quilt police. LOL my mom made all my younger sisters clothes and did not use a pattern, never saw her buy one, she would cut it out of newspaper. I have one sister that makes messianic jewish costumes and she does the same way. always wished I could do that. If I don't have a pattern, I can't do it...

Before I was 5, I would go visit my Grandmother Calaway. She had 4 sons and no daughters. I was the 3rd granddaughter and the first to want to sew. She started teaching me. My mother continued, and my Aunt Fan continued. I was making my own clothes by the time I started junior high school. I am so thankful for the time those wonderful ladies shared with me to teach me so much. I have also had several mentors since who have encouraged and helped me grow in my sewing ability.

I took Home Economics in grade 9 and 10. That is where I first learned to sew. My teacher's name was Mrs Dodge. My Mother did a bit of sewing but not much.

My Grandma started my brother and me out with a square cut out of a grocery bag and a table full of scraps, we would cut squares for quilts she taught us how to get them most sqs out of each piece no waste, then she let me cut out clothes patterns telling me what all the symbols meant then just before first grade we pieced together a very easy quilt from all those scraps we cut up and it was 13ys before the back was put on that quilt still have is 30 later, loved to sew mom would teach me things have sewed clothes for friends and love to make ties for hubby (he loves to pick out fabric for them) now I am quilting again and being more adventurous with patterns and colors. Love it all, sewing, cross stitch, crochet, wood work, etc.

I learned to sew from my mother at age 9 for 4-H projects. I remember being very fussy and pulling threads to get on the straight grain.....wow....sometimes I wish I had the time to be fussy now.

My mother taught me to sew and do embroidery. She told me my stitches were very tiny like my great-grandmother's. I remember embroidering a pot holder in first grade. Mom would buy pillowcase tubing or pre-printe pillowcases and I would embroider them. I started making aprons when I was about 8 or 9 with no pattern. We had a family friend called Aunt Kate who sewed quilts, patchwork aprons that looked like an upside down tulip (I'm trying to duplicate this from memory, but I'm having a hard time), as well as clothespin hangers that looked like dresses. Mom couldn't read a pattern, so I had to wait until my sophomore year of high school to take Home Ec. Apparently the principle thought that freshmen girls weren't old enough for Home Ec. I was the Betty Crocker Homemaker of Tomorrow in my senior year and made it to the final 10 candidates. I made all of my own clothes, even after leaving high school. I took a break for a few years, then gradually picking it up again. I taught myself to quilt using a Georgia J. Bonesteal Lap quilting video and her Spinning Spools pattern and templates that came in two binders. I finally took a quilt class and learned to machine quilt and I've been doing it ever since for over 25 years. Quilting keeps me sane for the most part, I have made dozens of baby quilts to give away, raffle quilts for church and then started making family reunion quilts about 12 or 14 years ago, can't remember how many. Hubby and I are "retired" on SS, although he gets disability, so I had to purge a lot of my fabric when we moved to an apt., but I stiill plan to make quilted items and try to sell them at craft shows on online.

I was also tought by my mum , she tought herself during the war years , she lived in England and had 3 young ones to clothe , she would get coupons to go to a trade place , where they were given tickets to exchange for second had clothes.She would get mens coats and cut the down to make coats for the children, all by hand. When it came time to usize the coats she would get a good amount of coupons back , her sewing was so beautiful.My dad saw how well she did and bought her her first mchine as soon as he could get one .I was born in 52 , and as far as I can remember mum made clothes for 5 of us and herself.The first thing I made for my self was a shift type dress, with a frill around the bottom, and a hair band to match , I was about 8.I started with a treddle machine , and got my first janome for my 16 th birthday from my dad.I have recently been delighted to show my 8 year old grand daughter Annaleise how to make a skirt, I gave her a small Brother maching I got with free rewards points ,she quickly took it up to her room so her younger siblings could not get their hands on it.

All 6 of my grands have loved to sit on my knee while I was sewing .

My gm & my mother about age 6. USed machine & hand sewed.

My Mom taught me to sew when I was nine. We made all my clothes.

My grandmother, who raised me, was a well known dressmaker in St. Louis. Ladies would bring pictures of the dress or suit they liked and grandmother would make it to match the picture. She insisted that I learn to embroider, knit and crochet from about 4 years old on. Every afternoon, we had our stitching hour. I loved working with beads and was very good at it and grandmother had me do designs which she would put on elegant jackets and suit coats as was the style in the late 40's. She made my clothes clear up into my married years while I made my children's clothes. I have always sewed for my home.

I knew my grandma quilted..but she would not let us kids near her sewing room...but teaching me was my cousin in the year 2000... :?

Hmm.. still in the process of teaching myself. Youtube and the quilt board have made pretty good mentors though!

I remember my Mom teaching some very basic sewing on a Singer threadle. I remember making doll clothes (I loved playing with dolls). I think I was around 10. Then my close friends Mom taught me some, and also how to knit.I think there might have been years I didn't sew until Home Ec in HS. I always remember sewing since then. After getting married I made clothes for my kids and really got into quilting when my youngest was in elementary school. Even that has been on and off. My first sewing project was hand sewing an apron in Brownies.

My mom taught me to sew everything from aprons to wedding gowns. Grandma taught me to knit and crochet. And a very old lady in Canada at camp taught me to quilt by hand. Taught myself machine quilting. Most lessons took place over 40 years ago!