Although I learned to sew from my grandmother, the first projects I made were in the 4-H club. Two other members of our small club are also quilters now. I wonder if others began this way.

I began sewing in 4-H. Then when I took home-ec in high school I learned a lot more and really got into sewing. I didn't start quilting until was about 45.

I did learn to sew in 4H. Made an apron and gathered skirt. Mother was my greatest inspiration though. She made quilts but for utilitarian uses. I still remember the scraps from my clothes that she put in them. She also told me people would bring scraps to my grandmother and she would piece quilts for them. She just loved to piece and didn't have the fabric so made them for others. Wonder why I loved my Grandmother so much???

I think my 1st projects were doll clothes. I must be losing memory as I can't remember who taught me to crochet. My mom & grandmothers did not crochet. Mom made "all" our clothes when we were little "war babies".

I learned to sew in 4-H. I loved it. We had a "dress review" once a year where we could model what we made and we were judged and we got ribbons i.e. blue, red, white. I think I started with an apron and then progressed on to full 3 piece outfits. So much fun, and a skill/hobby that has lasted me a lifetime.

4-H was a huge part of my life growing up. somebody recently posted a picture of slippers from wash cloths. i had a flashback! :lol:

I was not in 4 H. I lived in the middle of Atlanta! I learned by making doll clothes, and my grandmother taught me to quilt. I started making my own clothes at 11 on the old treadle. I could really make it fly!

I was a 4-H'er also, loved it. Summer camps they were great fun still have my autograph book < I took so many pictures of that time in my life. Thank for being it back up. Good times then as a child.

I also learned to sew in 4-H. I have been sewing ever since. I always made my daughters halloween costumes. I don't hear too much about sewing in 4-H in our area.

I sure did! We had a great leader. We did cooking, wood working, sewing, and showed cows. She was absolutely the best!

Thanks for helping me remember some wonderful times.

4H was my life growing up thanks to a dear Aunt. My mom crochet but did not sew. We made aprons and gathered skirts. We also entered them in our local fair and they were judged and we won ribbons. We also learned cooking in 4H. I continued into my adult life to sew for my kids and myself-even did my husband's flannel shirts. He loved the fit!

Is say "Thank you" to my dear Aunt (although she is no longer with us) for all she did for me.

So glad to hear the stories of others.

No 4-H. I learned when schools still taught Home Economics.

Learned to sew from a Singer sewing class,took that for 2 summers. 4 years of Home-Ec classes and 4 years of 4-H. Oh and don't forget Girl Scouts made my first quilt when I was 7. Learned crochet from my Grandmother and Mother, also cross-stich. Made all my own clothes until I had kids and discovered Goodwill fashions.lol My grandmother-in love and mother in love taught me to piece and quilt.

No 4-H, My mom tried to teach me to sew and did teach me embroidery, but was not a patient teacher, wanting everything as perfect as she would do it. I learned most of my sewing in Home-Ec (3 yrs jr high, 3 years high school). Taught myself cross-stitch, crochet, and a few of the other crafts I do, or learned from friends that were a little more patient.
My Dad said I had to learn to cook out of self defense, as my mother worked nights, and he was in charge of the evening meal a lot of nights. I don't remember thinking I was being poisoned, but I am a fairly decent cook, if you don't mind my saying so...

Nope -- gramma was a home ec teacher!!! BUT, she couldn't cook worth a darn! ROL!

Yup a green blooded 4-Her here! I come from a sewing family, too. GGF was a tailor and my GR apprenticed as one in Sweden, but he loved the outdoors and couldn't stand to be in. My favorite childhood memory of him is his white head of hair bent over his treadle sewing machine. Mom, aunt and sisters all learned to sew. One sister does lots of clothes sewing for grands, one sews only out of necessity, one manages a calico dept of a large retail fabric shop, and I do most of the quiltmaking.

I took sewing in Home-Ec in 7th grade....got a "C" (lmbo)

I sewed by hand quite a bit by never touched a machine until 9 years ago. I wanted to learn to quilt so I just dove in. I'm self taught as all the classes around here are in the evenings, can't drive to them because I have night blindness and we live in a rural area so it's really not convenient for anyone to pick me up. So I read techniques on the internet and get tons of info here on this board.

I never took sewing in 4H. I had to take a mandatory year of Home Ec and the first semester was sewing. We made a skirt out of two squares of fabric, a casing in the top and elastic. I'd made my own winter coat the year before at home and a suit. It was the most hideous skirt, the most boring few months, and the worst class I ever took. My oldest sister taught me to sew on mom's machine when I was 3.

No 4 H here. Just home Education.

I didn't take 4-H and wouldn't have been caught dead in any home ec class in high school. LOL I didn't start sewing until after I was married.

Flashbacks of the old "Stitch-n-Stew" 4H in my rural little town. I remember making an apron. Then took a couple of years of Home Ec (but still can't cook) and made myself a prom dress and knit a baby blanket.

I did learn to sew in 4-H and started with an apron. I did get to where I was making clothing and did model a dress and smock shirt, it was the 70's. I also took home-ec in school. My mother was a sewer but she is not a good teacher but could help solve problems when I had them.

Not in 4 H. Camp Fire Girls. Loved it and just kept on sewing when ever the the time allowed.

Ah, yes, memories. I learned to hem in 4H and darn a sock.Learned crochet from my oldest sister and embroidery from my mama. She gave me a basket for my birthday or xmas or something with everything I needed when I was about 10. I was thrilled. She made lots of quilts (scrap type) but my first was when I was almost 60 -- a pineapple in a class where I worked because they needed one more person to do the class..

yes i sure did start in 4-H when i was 8, stayed active in 4-H through high school along with home-ec in school. pretty much made all my own clothes (and lots for siblings) all through school. continued to make clothes for my children. made a couple quilts when the kids were little but did not get seriously into all consuming quilting until they were grown up and out of the house.

What is 4H ?

4-H is a club for youths aged aprox 10 years old to 18. It is usually in farm country. Boys and girls raise animals and girls do different projects such as sewing. Winners projects go to the county fair. 4-H stands for hands, heart, health, and home.

Thank you for clearing that up. We had nothing like that growing up in The Netherlands

I was a city girl no 4H in our area. Learned everything from my wonderful Aunt. She was still hand quilting at the age of 82.

My mom taught me to sew but I was in 4-H for years. I watched mom quilt but have just recently, after retirement, started quilting and now it is a passion. I have even upgraded to my second longarm, a HQ18 Avante and love it. A goof friend got my HQ16 so I have a buddy quilting.

I was in 4-H and learned to bake and sew. Made an apron and hemmed tea towels. 4-H and church was my summer as I was an only child living out in the country with no close neighbors. I had sewed rug rags on my mother's treadle since we didn't have electricity. After it came through, I loved sewing on the electric sewing machine. I sewed a lot of my and my daughter's clothes and after I got into quilting, I seldom make any clothes, except wearable art. Have been quilting 25 years, and have enough projects in my head to last me until at least 150 years old. Don't think I'll make it. I am now a 4-H sewing leader and have a quilting club through Extension Homemakers.

I did learn in 4-H and then carried it on into Home Ec in high school. They don't do any of that anymore and it is sad in a way. Those were the good ol' days.

4-H, Grange and Home Bureau. I did alot of garment sewing in high school and college. Eventually got more into crafts. Then the kids needed nap blankets for kindergarten and that pushed me back to quilting. Now I have WIP's for grandchildren and great-nephews.

I began sewing in home-ec in Jr. high school.

4-H was a given at my house. Thanks for a great flashback. Maybe that's where I was given the idea that I could do anything I set my mind to. My mom was a leader for our group and we did everything we possibly could, from sewing aprons at 7 to showing the calves. It was a great way to grow up. Maybe the "techie" kids of today could use a little 4-H.

Yes, I learned to sew in 4-H. We had a great leader and teacher. We made the standard apron and gathered skirt. When my daughter was young, I started a small group at her school. I admire all teachers and leaders.

We moved from Ohio to Nevada 6yrs ago and before that I never sewed. Mom moved with us and had a Bernina that needed to be cleaned. Took it to local Bernina shop and she ended up buying a new machine. I had to take her to classes and thought it looked like fun. So I tried my hand at it and am now hooked and also working part time at the same Bernina Shop

I made an apron too. I found all of my record books the other day just before my hubby and I went to judge the speech contests. All I remember is our teacher made me rip alot!! I learn excellance from 4H. NEVER thought I would use it for quilting!!

I grew-up in 4-H, started when I was 7years and my kids whom were raised in town were also in 4-H. And just to clear something up, from finishing a degree in Home Ec and art......and presently an Extension Educator, 4-H isn't just for country and farm kids. You won't believe how many city kids do participate in 4-H (check out Chicago and New Your). As the old saying goes, 4-H isn't just sewing and cooking, cows and horses anymore. 4-Her's learning about technology, finiance and starting your own business. And to top it off.......there are loads of music artists, a couple presidents and other famous people who were in 4-H. 4-H is "learn by doing", and as someone else said "4-H is in my blood". 4-H and their "after school" programs will teach the needed area's that schools neglect and money is short.
I also took Home Ec's in school and when in Jr and Sr year I assisted with teaching topic of the day, many times. I knew then, that this was going to be my area in college and masters.
Just need to get some of this off my chest...........

yES! me too.