It has been so much fun reading all the posts about who helped you learn to sew. I learned from my older sister. Mom doesn't sew... she will be 92 this month and still mends. We only had grandma's treadle when I first started sewing at 5 and I had a hard time working the treadle and sewing a seam but my sister was really patient. Mom bought a new Elna when I was 8 because my sister did a lot of sewing and I was learning. The one trick my sister taught me that I still use to this day is how to set in a sleeve without ever a wrinkle..... it's pretty neat! I grew up to become a home-ec teacher and I hope I taught many a student. I hated the apron and gathered skirt I had to learn in jr-hi home ec and I taught how to do certain skills and the students had to pick a pattern that they could use those skills. It was kind of hard on me because every student had a different pattern but we all managed. I loved to teach sewing. I have 1 daughter that I taught to sew in 4H. She hated it at the time but now is so glad that she knows how to sew. And I have 1 granddaughter that I helped make a dress and a quilt for 4H. She got blue ribbons for both. Then, they moved 750 miles away and I don't get to sew with them. Now I have a greatgranddaughter that is 3 and I love making dresses for her and her older step-sister. I took a class to learn to smock so I could make those beautiful dresses. When they get to come for a visit I hope to work with them to help them learn a little about sewing.
My quilting love came mostly from my husband's family. His grandmother and aunts all quilted and I thought it was so beautiful. So, I started quilting about 40 years ago.... before rotary cutters, etc. I hated the first quilt I ever attempted and threw it away.... stopped quilting for quite a few years. But now, I'm back to quilting... full force.... love it... it's my passion. I still sew for the babies, knit, spin, tailor, etc., but I love quilting the best.