nannyquilts

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.

luckylindy333

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!

Annaquilts

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.

Betty J

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.

sunflower126

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.

GingerK

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 go To The Sea To Breathe

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...

collady

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.

canmitch1971

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.

sherrykae

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.