Yes that was the only time Mother would let me use the sewing machine

no 4 h-r here, self taught out of neccesity for sure, but still learning.

Yes, I did learn to sew in 4_H. Some of the happiest moments I remember from childhood are of 4-h.

4-H was a major part of my childhood and helped me in so many ways! Been sewing since age 8 and had the machine all to myself since no one else in the family used it! Started with a triangle scarf! (Showing my age!) and a green tote bag that lasted nearly 40 years.

In fact, it is still a part of my life since I'm an alumni of 4-H and the International 4-H Exchange program. Still support both programs whenever possible. In fact, my license plate is a 4-H plate!

I taught myself to sew but I also took sewing in jr. high as well.

I learned to sew from home ec in the 5th grade. We started with a stitch book and then an apron. My first pattern was a one piece zipper up the front jumpsuit for my toddler sister. It was blue with big flowers on it.

An aunt showed me one summer how to sew on a sewing machine.

I didn't get to join 4-H or Girl Scouts or anything like that.

I learned to hand sew before I was in kindergarten and then took sewing in 7th grade.

I got married when I was 16 and my mom gave me her old machine when I was 18. For years after that I tailored my clothes that came from the second hand store and made my dressy clothes. I made all of the boys shirts and pajamas until they were about 7 to 8 because by then I could buy them cheap t-shirts and they both wore the same size.

Wow, so many things coming back to me. I actually learned to sew by sitting at the drop down extention of my mothers sewing cabinet and watching her every move. My brother even learned.

Then as a freshman in high school, in 4H we made pillows using fleese, with the school initials appliqued on them and sold them. Wow, I really did applique back in high school. haha Thanks for reminding me! haha But no quilting until years later. Then only placemats.

Yes. I enjoyed being in 4H. I made dresses and was in the dress reviews and was so proud of the ribbons that I won. We also did cooking demonstrations and received ribbons for that. Did anyone else make a lamp in 4H? 4H really taught us a lot! Oh, the first thing I made in 4H was a skirt with an elastic waist band. My mom is the one who continued to teach me to sew and is responsible for my love of sewing. My grandmother and great grandmother were quilters and responsible for my love of quilts.

Boy is this subject bringing back mamories!! When I first started 4-H, the sewing leader asked, "does anyone know how to pull a thread?" Of course, eager beaver here, says, "I do" and proceeded to take hold of a thread laying on the table and pulled it!! I was really embarassed when I found out the 'real' way to "pull a thread". :oops:

Yes, I made lamps in 4-H. I even made a light to go over my bed and it wentto the state fair. I won a trip to Washington DC and New York in the electric project, which I thought was great. I was just off Times Square when Eisenhower won in 1956. A lot of noise.

No 4H where I grew up but girls had sewing in 7th and 8th grades, while the boys had shop. In 7th grade we made pj's and had to model them at a school assembly in June, boy was that embarassing for 12 year old girls. 8th grade we made our white graduation dresses. Graduation dress had French seams, you can imagine how that white dress looked after being handled from Sept. to June of 8th grade. It was difficult sewing these items together as there was only one sewing machine in our sewing class and at home we had a treadle that I never really mastered, good thing we had all term to make them. My MIL gave me her old White sewing machine in 1960 and I began sewing a little, mostly simple curtains and repairs to clothes. I didn't begin quilting until 1999.

We also had cooking in those grades. I'm the oldest of 7 children and had been cooking since I was six years old so cooking class was easy for me. We recorded the recipes in note books that we had covered with oilcloth. One thing new to me was using measuring cups and spoons, at home we used and coffee cup and regular spoons, no wonder my cakes came out so heavy. May in Jersey

I still have my pin, all my ribbons, and beanie. Was thinking of using the ribbons to make a wall hanging or something. All the pictures and momentos from the National 4-H congress.

I'm a 4-h'er too. Many years ago. I was on the Indiana State Fair website and someone advertised making collage of ribbons, etc. in a wall hanging.

I have a grand daughter in 4-h and quite a sewer. In our area, 4-h is making a comeback. Non-livestock members can exhibit in multiple areas in a project. ie Photography...they can take black & white prints, color prints, and salon prints in their level. In other words, 3 projects. Last year my grand daughter won overall fair achievement with 21 projects. She is hooked.

Someplace in a basement box lies ten years of 4-H records and photos of not only my sewing projects but also my conservation, rabbits and dairy foods projects. I just cannot throw away those ribbons, pins and trophies especially since I believe the entire success of my life today stems from the confidence and leadership I gained from 4-H. While I also took Home Ec in high school and participated in Make It With Wool too, traveling with the 4-H club to State Fair and State Conferences gave this gal an opportunity to think outside of my county. Let me see here--the Pledge: I pledge my Head to clearer thinking; my Heart to greater loyalty; my Hands to larger service and my Health to better living for my club, my community and my country.

Now here is a twist for you.....recently I was asked to speak before a 4-H group. During the pledge, I quickly learned how life has gotten so much bigger than the 1950s and 60s. The 4-H pledge now ends with the following:

...for my club, my community, my country, and my world.
A thank you is extended to all my Leaders and County Agents! May they all rest in peace because their job was well done.

You know Marty Mitchell and Nancey Zieman are both 4-H er's, and quickly give credit to those times in their lives.

Yes. I made a white blouse and green gathered skirt. We didn't have much money so didn't get a real pattern. My aunt drew the pattern from another blouse. Collar & all & showed me how to make a gathered skirt. The fabric was some that we had on hand. I struggled with it & sort of envied the girls that had real patterns to work with but it came out fine. I won a red ribbon & was quite happy! I learned more in Home Economics in school. My grandmother & aunts also taught me a lot.

I also grew up in Southeastern Indiana. We lived on a farm about 7 miles down the river from Hanover.

No, I did not know that. Thanks, it gave me the opportunity to quickly call up their website and have a lot of new things to read.

I sewed a scarf in 4-H - that was my first project. I'm self taught, though. I sewed a wedding gown when I was still in high school. Our home-ec classes were a complete joke. I better not say anything else. I don't sew clothing any longer - just mending and quilting!!

It's wonderful that you started this way. I started with my mother teaching my sister and I. We were making pj's at about 10 years old. Over the years everything was made on the machine when fabric was CHEAP. But, when I saw a quilt on the cover of a Family Circle magazine I GOT HOOKED. How's about other people and how they got started having fun with fabric?

Yes I started sewing in 4-H and my mother was the one that was teaching us all.

Never did 4-H. My mom taught me to sew when I was a kid, but it was my husband's sister that got me hooked on quilting. Three years ago, after I had retired, she drug me to a quilting class with her and I was hooked. Now she and I get together to quilt and it has given a whole new facet to our relationship, which I am thankful for. I feel truly blessed.

Wow, 7 pages of replies! I too started to sew in 4-H at the age of 9. Our leader said she would teach anyone in the group how to drive except me....my foot was too heavy to the pedal. First project was a wrist pincushion, then a laundry bag that hung over a coathanger, those aprons with a plastic sort of clip waist band. I've made plaid winter coats, lined velvet long gowns annnnnd quilts! I also have a home for wayward machines. Counting 11 so far. :thumbup:

piney

Second the "wow on 7 pages of replies"!!

I am also a 4-H'er...My first project was a tote bag. I've been sewing since i was 7 yrs old. I sold my clarinet while i was in college to buy a sewing machine.

I spent my summers working on fair projects, demonstrations...and we spent a week at Cook's Forest PA...A couple years ago, I went to visit a friend - their camp is just outside the Forest - and we went by where I stayed as a kid.....

No, I wished I had though. I learned from my Mom (who to this day if she touches a sewing machine, the tension goes all screwy) I also took home ec in school and learned alot that way. Knitting and Crocheting I learned from my Grandma.

Just a salute to all 4-H ers past, present and future. National 4-H week has just gotten over.

What great memories! My mom and dad met in 4-H... and got me and my brothers and sister into it. The lady that shared in teaching the sewing gave me some tips I still use today - like the "tentering".... how to match checks ...check the quality of the plaid material ...and determining the repeat in the print.

The club is still going strong in our area, but I could never seem to get my children interested. However, both learned to sew and quilt and are pretty handy with a pair of shears.