I have that happen all the time, I have to remind people that it really does hurt me to sew, and that I have to much to do. I do mend things for my boys and mom, but I have a friend that lives at the beach, that wanted me to shorten all her shirts. I had to tell her I just could not do it. She was upset with me, but I just had to be honest with her, because she is always wanting me to make something for her. Maybe that makes me bad, but I just don't want to be a seamstress, I want to learn to and make quilts. God bless.

ds in two weddings, altered pants, mended pants, altered skirts, etc. Now I work very slowly so I'm not asked to do to much anymore.[/quote]
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Hehehe...perfect way to cooperate and still not be asked so
much!! Love it.

I have had at least 3 people ask me to make curtains for them. Two didn't even have a size needed - oh about yaaaaay big... The other one wanted the pleats for hooks and the works. While on unemployment my case worker tried to get me to go for a job interview for making draperies. I had to explain to her that is not the type of sewing/quilting I can do.

If it is one of my three boys or my close friend Nancy I will do it but the boys come first and the others can wait as I am not will ing to be a mender.

I just usually say, I don't have the patience for mending or alterations anymore. Especially when they have a sewing machine gathering dust or they can tell you exactly how to do it. At my age now I can say no and it isn't like when I was younger and couldn't say no. Now it doesn't even bother me.

I have had people ask me to make curtain for them, since I sew. I just tell them I quilt not sew

When we moved here the guy down the street found I can craft and quilt. Said his mom made dresses for his 3 girls and wanted me to make easter dresses for them(free and no materials to work with And his wife wanted a African theme quilt. I offered to help his wife and to teach his daughters the basics so they could make their own. Never heard from them again about it That was 3 years ago. Guess they really didn't want it bad enough to do it themselves. Tired of that attitude with people. If it isn't impotant enough for them to try or learn then why is it important for me to do. Especilly strangers you just meet? Now since I didn't do it they just stick their noses in the air and don't come around unless it was to ask for money. I can live without those kind of people just fine.

Too funny. I was just asked by a young lady at work if I could do a "simple" alteration to her brand new dress. I tried to explain that I haven't made clothing in over 30 yrs. I like to quilt because it's all about straight lines. Then she said she could do it but she didn't have a sewing machine. So I offered to loan her my old sewing machine!!

I don't get the mending question so much as "Oh, why don't you make a quilt for me?" I usually do 3-4 quilts a year, and I have plans for my next 50 quilts. I told my kids that when I die, they aren't getting anything from me because I already spent their inheiritance on fabric for my quilts.
nanac

I hate mending including my own. I just pretend I didn't hear them. Sometimes I give them the name of the alteration lady I use. My girls sew and they can take care of their own family. My husband usually takes his alterations in to the store because he knows by the time I get motivated to do the mending he will have forgot he owned it. I am a petite and I have been altering my clothes all my life or making from scratch (which I Prefer)so mending and sewing for someone else doesn't even get to last place.