I learned to sew in Home Ec in grade 7 and made a bright orange corduroy jumper with daisy trim around the neck and bottom. (I am a redhead and no one told my mother that orange and red don't go together) My mother used her old Kenmore machine just for mending. I made clothes for myself throughout high school and then made clothes for my DD. My ex husband and his mother quilted so that is how I started quilting. That was the one good thing I got from him! LOL