Sewing is almost a thing of the past, so is needle work, no one does crafts anymore. I hear people say you can but it cheaper than you can make it. I guess you can on some things but I love making my own things. Just saying!!!

Thanks..... it's so good to hear that times are a changing..... I remember going over to WMU for FHA state conference so many years ago.... Yes, I know the name has changed. So much excitement in those days about doing the life skills contests and watching the changing of young people's lives. It was very rewarding but now I love to work with my granddaughter and great granddaughter..... and they love the lessons with their Nanna

My great neice Kassidy, in my avatar, always went with me the fabric store and we just loved to touch and feel the fabric. She was so cute as she ood and awed over the colors. She moved to Oregon last year and her mom told me that she created her own dress to wear to a father daughter dance that was held in their little city. She used a choke chain,( her dogs collar), and pulled the material through and fashioned a dress out of it! I have to say she it was really cute! Maybe she'll become a quilter some day!

It's all about change. Remember a few years ago the tv shows about modern people trying to live in the clothing, home and actual cleaning and working conditions of the 17th and 18th centuries? Just think, one day there could be shows about the quaint activities of quilters and fabric artists of the 20th and early 21st century!

Awe, sew sad!

I took my spinning wheel to our preschool a few years ago and showed the children how to make yarn from wool. I had some wool that was right from the sheep, full of lanolin and some dirt, and had some wool that was washed and that I hand carded for them. Then I had some fluffy white wool that had been washed, carded and was ready to spin. They were fascinated by the whole process. I know none of them had seen anything like that in their lives. Probably their parents hadn't either. It was great fun.
This year one of the teachers is retiring. I ironed white fabric to freezer paper and cut it into 6-1/2" squares and had the children each draw their own picture on a square. I took these home and just used sashing and corner stones to put them together. Then I used that wonderful binding that Charisma told us about with the two colors that you sew to the back and then topstitch on the 'flange' color on the front. Turned out well and I plan to use that binding again and again. We will present it to the teacher at our 'graduation party' this evening. I think she'll be pleased. Sure was fun.

It says we are getting old. When we were young, there were the same concerns from our elders about old cultural things we were not being exposed to, and when these kids are old they will voice similar concerns over the upcoming generation...

Be happy!

That indeed would be a sad experience, thankfully my grand daughters know all about sewing ! LOL been making em quilts since they were born ! same with clothes and they love it !!

So glad you were able to show 9 more about sewing ! Thank you for letting the sewing/quilting move forward and maybe just 1 or 2 will take up a dying art !

Funny this thread. My daughter asked on Mother's Day, why I had never taught them to sew? I don't know. I sewed so they wouldn't be naked, not for the love of it. I really don't recall if they were interested. They are both, extremely creative in other areas, just not sewing. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

We recently cleaned out my aunt's home and our 8-year-old DGD found a rotary phone. She had no idea what it was. It was hilarious. She does know what a sewing machine is and loves to use mine.

"It's a shame that our schools find that computer work is more important than the skills we learned to survive back in the stone age! "

Being one of the "elderly": it is not a shame that they are learning computer skills. If kids are to function in the working world they do need to know how to use computers. They are a fact of life. The skills from the "stone age" will not suffice any more. Even designing and sewing for a living requires computer skills (ever watch Project Runway and the use of tablets to draw and design fabric?)

By the way, when I was in parochial high school there was no such thing as Home Ec and I have managed to survive these many, many years!

I am teaching my niece to sew and she likes it. I tried with my great-niece and she had no interest. Like any other hobby, it is not for everyone.


"It says we are getting old. When we were young, there were the same concerns from our elders about old cultural things we were not being exposed to, and when these kids are old they will voice similar concerns over the upcoming generation..."


Amen!

"We recently cleaned out my aunt's home and our 8-year-old DGD found a rotary phone. She had no idea what it was. It was hilarious."

Show them a record album - that really confuses them!

Thats a wonderful story, maybe they will become sewers someday...I remember teaching my gd's to sew on buttons they too were so excited, kept em busy for a couple hours...then I taught them to make simple quilt blocks, they loved it...now teenagers not interested, but they will come back someday to it....I hope...

It is sad. I would volunteer time to teach kids to quilt, but it would never be allowed in the schools here!!! Most of the public schools will not allow anything that will not help them to pass the TESTS. I have a friend who still teaches, and she is not even allowed to do an art project unless it is written into the reading or math curriuculum. No Child Left Behind has really changed the schools here, not always for the better.

My DGD was over with a friend. She loves to take fabric, drape it, and "dress up." The other little girl asked her what "those things" were. DGD explained that they were sewing, embroidery, serging, etc. machines. Her friend then asked her if Mimi had a sewing machine store. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry!

We have lost - or misplaced - many skills and much knowledge that previous generations had.

(Reading Jean M. Auel's books - Clan of the Cave Bear was the first in a series - really helped me appreciate how much we have lost in knowledge of things like herbal medicine and basic survival - and also inspired amazement at how new things are/were discovered)

Many of us are still 'behind' on the new things.

Most of us manage to somehow survive in the present.

A few years ago my BFF and I did a class at her daughters school on a quick little card holder with a button sewn on for life experience class. They sewed the card holder then turned it right side out pressed it and then had to thread a NEEDLE! and hand sew a button on. They were wowed with the project and we had 2 hand cranks and one mechanical and one computerized machine so they were able to see the progression of technology. The hand cranks were a smash hit since they only sewed as fast as they turned the crank.

I've been very disappointed because I tried to teach our kids how fun sewing is & not one of them ever developed a passion for it. They do other crafts & have many happy memories of our projects together, but my hope of having a fun sewing day with one of our girls has been dashed. At least one of them owns a sewing machine & even bought an older treadle besides, but doesn't sew much. :-(

I sewed my girls dressed when they were little and di some other sewing. My girls could care less about sewing or any crafts. Where did I go wrong????????? Now my only granddaughter (almost 8) loves crafts and if I lived close by I think she would pick up the sewing. (Australia is not close) I would love to buy a sewing machine for her in Australia and her mom would use it for repairing things but I am not sure she would use it for anything else. I wish my daughters were crafty so I could have some pals to share with that are related to me. SIGH. I think about my sister-in-law who has two daughters and they all quilt. What a joy that must be for her.

Barb

I just have to mention on this No Child Left BEhind. I am a retired Junior High teacher. Here we also had the No Child Left Behind syndrome and of course your state curriculum and standards to meet. Well I marched to a different drummer and di what i thought my students needed to learn. We did art projects and other fun stuff that all reinforced the skills they were to learn without too much pressure on my behalf. I felt that kids needed to learn but we can make it interesting along the way. I never taught to the tests. I figured that if I was doing my job and meeting the standards that all was all right. We made paper quilts.....I wasn't brave enough to bring in my expensive sewing machines and let 30 kids use them. It was enough having computers in the class room that i was always trouble shooting on. My kids tests scores were as high as everyone else and some even higher, so I figured that I was doing ok.

When I taught elementray school way back in time.....I did bring my machine in and we did make quilts..........almost every year that I was there.

I have never in my life been embarrassed that I could sew, or knit, or cook. I was one of several kids who wore clothes in the style and colors I WANTED. And I was always proud of my sweaters that I wore to school. Befroe I was even in high school, my baked beans were requested at dinners around here. Can't even imagine being embarrassed about my accomplishments------------and I did it without one single home ec class.

Who here remembers the aluminum "wave clips" we used back in the 50's? My sis in law, who grew up in California and is a couple years older than me, had no idea what they were.

I beg to differ. Knitting, sewing, crochet, crossstitch, quilting, rug making and I don't know what all is more popular than ever, IMO. Now people do it because they WANT to, not because they have to. I know very, very few women who don't do some sort of handiwork.

What's more, nowadays with JoAnn's and even libraries offering classes, anyone wanting to learn usually can. Sure didn't happen when I was a kid. You learned from a family member or friend back then

I sadly agree that this is the case for 90% of the children.

Yes, they must learn computers for today and their future, BUT this is the first generation where 85% (at least) of children raised in Daycare, then school. Few have "quality time" with their mothers. Traditionally, Mothers taught their children to sew at home. Now when they get off work, gather their offspring, drive home, cook or get take home, eat, take jr. or sis to soccer practice/dance/gymnastics, etc. and finally get home. Then it's time for baths, finish up homework, read out loud and bed. Some lucky ones have husbands that help out, yet some are single mothers who have to try and do it all.

It's a different world than the one we grew up in. Two parents, grandparents nearby. Progress? Not so sure.

I think one of the worst things to happen in the school systems is doing away with Home Ec. No wonder fast food places make so much money and children and adults are overweight the past 2 generations have not really learned cooking and sewing. My granddaughter took "Life Training" and had all of 3 weeks of cooking. I asked what she learned and she said they made ambrosia I laughed and siad ok what did you put in a pan on the stove? She did not sew anything that I know of. She graduated 5 years ago, so wonder what they teach now? And talk about other thing missing from schools is P E. again goes towards the weight problems. I think they should all go thru the humiliation we went thru taking showers and lousy at sports every day. OK stepping down from soap box. Take care.

My two girls had to learn to thread and sew on a sewing machine, hand sew a hem and button, make basic crochet or knitting stitches, crosstitch or embroider their name, iron and crease a dress shirt, and make bread. I didn't ask them I told them they were expected do it and I showed them how. They didn't have to keep it up but it's like riding a bike, they know how to get started.

I've seen a lot of young women at my LQS and there seems to be a resurgence of interest. But my son's GF doesn't even know how to sew on a button.

But then again, my mother didn't teach me how to sew, knit, crochet, etc. It was a babysitter old enough to be my grandmother. I'm the only girl of three who has these skills. Must have been the right babysitter at the right time.
:)

What about metal ice trays you had to fill with water and the break your arm trying to get the ice out once they were frozen.

thanks for the laugh! the post about the iron made me laugh. Can't imagine being without one

Yay!! Now because of your help, we now have (maybe) nine more plus their mothers sewing. Good job!!!

My granddaughter chose sewing and cooking for extra curricular classes this year in 6th grade and is loving it!!! We are impressed with how well rounded the students are in their area. Music - reading - math - science, etc etc

I took HomEc back in the late 40s. My mom sewed like a professional, canned almost everything we ate, milked a cow, churned our butter, made my clothes, but after the divorce we moved to a big city and she worked outside the home. I made a skirt and vest in class - made an A. Took it home & mother made me take the skirt band off and re-sew it. I learned to crochet from my sister-in-law when I was 18, learned cross stitch from a book, and started quilting on my own. The only really useful thing I learned in class was how to read a pattern and set a proper table. Mother taught me to cook early at least by 8. Seems I've always known how to cook.

I'm not surprised that very few of our children are not exposed to such skills as sewing and cooking. When my oldest son was about three and I was sewing on the machine, I gave him a piece of fabric and a large threaded needle. He sat on the floor beside me and and took stitches until the fabric was "gathered" into a mass. I would just cut the thread and straighten it out and he began again. When he left for college, I included a small sewing kit and he earned a few quarters by sewing on buttons....

What a nice project for you to do with your preschoolers and I bet the pillows were appreciated.

It reaslly is sad, isn't it? I taught my son and daughter to sew and then my two granddaughters. My grandson made a quilt on my FW when he was 6. He loved the process as much as the girls. So many young people today make it a point of pride to say "I can't cook" or I can't run the vacuum cleaner or I can't (you fill in the blanks). They'll be sorry one day!

i worked in the welfare dept for nearly 28 years. you would be surprised how many young adults(20-30 yrs) were being treated for depresion issues. Most of them had no life skills to be able to find and keep a job to support themselves. Many of them didnt even have a high school education. Maybe if they had a hobby like quilting they wouldnt need to be depressed unless if ws over the fact that they needed more money to support their hobby. At least changing from drugs to quilting as a habit would be more encouraging.
I am glad my dd has decided to try making some quilt blocks to see if quilting could become a hobby. She loves picking out patterns and fabrics so its a step in the right direction.

I learned to sew when I was in 4-H; took Home Ec. but I learned more from my 4-H
leader and my grandmother when it came to sewing. I taught 4-H sewing when my
DD was in 4-H and I have taught both of my GD's how to sew, they haven't finished
their 1st baby quilt, yet....but I have hope that someday they will find the time to do
it. They found boys and then forgot about sewing. When I did ISS (in school suspension)
I could work on anything I wanted while they had to do homework. I was hand piecing an
apple core quilt, so I sometimes was hand piecing or cutting out the apple cores with
a rotary cutter. Those boys were so interested in what I was doing....I even let one of
them cut out a few apple cores...although I made sure they did it slow and easy. Another
time I was writing out my Christmas cards and they wanted to know if they would get a card too,
so I gave each of them their own Christmas card. I never had trouble with any of the kids
while they were in ISS except one time and I asked the Principal if I had to listen to the
bad language....boy did he let them know they couldn't use that language in ISS or around
any of the substitute teachers. They don't teach sewing right now in our school, due to lack
of funding or the teacher doesn't want to teach it. They do learn to cook some. They need to
learn how to sew up a rip or sew a button on at some time in their life.

Different time and place, I suppose. I wanted to be taken seriously for math and science skills. Domestic skill seemed girly to me and at that time the last thing I wanted to be seen as was girly. I also learned by about age 7 to NEVER admit my mother or I had made my clothes. I lived in a small town and was teased unmercifully about wearing "home made".

I, too, learned to cook and sew without home ec classes. Part of the embarrassment was because it took so LITTLE to win that award. I wanted to be seen as far more accomplished than THAT.

Different time, different place.

My mother and my Aunt (her twin) both grew up knowing how to sew and cook. My mother never passed it on. I learned in school. She even made her own wedding dress. I never even saw it until I was about ready to get married.
She only passed on the passion for books, which I passed to my daughters and crafts.

There is hope though! I just got home (feet still hurting!) from taking 3 8th grade girls who helped me after school all winter with a Quilts of Valor project to the International Machine Quilters show in Overland Park, KS. As expected, they were jaw-dropping AWED by the quilt entries--racing around trying to figure which was their vote for viewer's choice! I could not keep up at all. Quickly became apparent that one was really into the paper pieced stuff, one had stopped at a long-arm vendors booth and she hit them all--has a real knack for free motion quilting, and the other was really into the design and colors. when we finally left I asked if any thought they'd continue with quilting--and got a resounding YES from all 3--all 3 looking into lessons this summer and getting their grandmothers to loan/get them a machine. These girls had very little experience and could not find that 1/4" seam to save them before Christmas--so putting together a snowball and 9-patch quilt was quite the challenge!

On a funny note--when my daughter was about 3yr she was the "guinea pig" for being given an Stanford Binet IQ test by a friend--it uses little objects and asks what they are to that age group. When shown an iron, she promptly said "sewing machine"--because that is the only time she ever saw me use the iron!