Where Did You Learn Your Sewing Techniques?

re: Where Did You Learn Your Sewing Techniques?

LL Howard — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 06:08:13 GMT

I learned to sew from my Mom and my two Grandmas. Mostly my Mom, until I got in Jr. High, and High School. At that time ALL girls took home ec, learning basic skills in sewing, cooking, and babysitting. Boy! were we ready for the world! By then with years of sewing behind me, I was well versed in clothing, which helped get me through as a young wife and mother. Back then, it was a luxury to go to JCP and buy a ready-to-wear item. Now, it's a luxury to buy fabric.

re: Where Did You Learn Your Sewing Techniques?

czwomack — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 03:35:49 GMT

I learned to sew from my mother, on my grandmother's treadle machine. My first projects were clothes for my Ginny doll. I never took a home ec class, so I missed out on a lot. I can't remember when I startred making my own dresses, but Mom was always there as my consultant. I was introduced to quilting after I graduated from college, and now I have enough fabric to open my own shop!

re: Where Did You Learn Your Sewing Techniques?

Mary T Grady — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 01:31:06 GMT

My first teacher was my mother, a truly wise woman because given my personality, it wasn't likely that I would want to learn to sew. She tricked me into learning! LOL How dare she!!!??? When wrap-around skirts first became popular, I came home absolutely dying for one. You know how tweens are - if they can just have the latest new thing, their lives will be perfect. I was 12 and wanted that skirt more than life itself. You can imagine my disappointment when Mom explained that since she sewed for me, my 2 sisters and for herself, there are a lot of demands on her time so she could only sew garments that she believed would be worn for several years. Unfortunately, she said, wrap-around skirts were probably only a fad. I was crushed. I understood her reasoning, but that didn't make this any less painful. She allowed me to "stew in my own juice" for a couple of hours, but as we were fixing supper that night, she looked off (as if thinking hard about something) and said that those skirts didn't look too difficult. Perhaps, with her help, I could learn to make one. Sucker for fashion that I was, I jumped on that idea and as we finished cooking, we planned how she would pick me up after school and we'd go to the fabric store. By the time we left the store the next day, she'd gotten me so excited about this plan that I'd agreed the skirt should be lined AND a blouse should be made from the same material as the lining for a complete outfit. I never looked back. I had great Home Ec teachers who encouraged me and who welcomed learning techniques I already knew. By high school, I was making my own prom dresses.

It wasn't until many years later, as I was telling this story to someone, that I realized the whole situation had been a set up to trick me into sewing. I remembered that Mom eventually had a half dozen wrap-around skirts so obviously she never thought they were only a fad. If I had any regret, it was that I didn't realize all of this until after my mother had passed away so I never got to thank her for doing this to me. I'm sure she knew how much I loved sewing, but I would have like to tell her just one more time that she was right.

re: Where Did You Learn Your Sewing Techniques?

susiehamlin — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 00:41:44 GMT

While my skills were honed by my 7th grade Home Ec teacher, Elaine Berge Hillyer, I learned to sew and use a machine from my mom - Eleanore Hadley in 5th grade. We made a turquoise gingham apron - complete with gathers and rick rack. I am still in touch with Elaine - she is the reason I am a middle school FACS teacher to this day. I do miss the days where we learned more than "how to sew" in junior high - but am so happy to see sewing coming back as a cool thing to do and know how to do.

re: Where Did You Learn Your Sewing Techniques?

cindyjk — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 00:01:00 GMT

my mom taught me how to sew. She was a perfectionist. Made me rip it out and do it again. Matching plaids was truly an exercise in frustration. She always said I was "slap-dash" Now she 's an admirer of my quilting and I still sew FAST

re: Where Did You Learn Your Sewing Techniques?

ecoviello — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 23:39:46 GMT

Both my grandmother's taught me to sew, one was a seamstress in John Lewis in London, in the days of glamourous dresses, the other grandmother was a home economics teacher. My mother hated sewing and I it was such fun to turn the handle of her sewing machine. My godmother taught me to embroider and Mum taught myself and my sisters to knit! All good female necessities!!!

re: Where Did You Learn Your Sewing Techniques?

ecoviello — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 23:39:43 GMT

re: Where Did You Learn Your Sewing Techniques?

mjr4 — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 21:53:26 GMT

My mom did! From doll clothes to my clothes and cottage curtains for my room..she was there to help me learn to cut and fit patterns and use a sewing machine.....and encourage me through my 4H projects and home-ec assignments...She has been gone for 5 years now and I miss her and her "you can do it" words so much.

re: Where Did You Learn Your Sewing Techniques?

cfr — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 03:22:06 GMT

I tried to learn how to sew from my Mother who made almost all of my clothes as I was growing up. She is a lovely person but had no patience with my sloppy attempts at the sewing machine. I hated changing the machine setting from basting back to a sewing stitch, changing thread colors or adding in a back stitch to finish my seams, so invariably my garment would always fall apart. As I approached college I wanted to make my own clothes because I could never find anything to fit my 5'10" height. Mom signed me up for sewing lessons at JCPenny because a friend of hers, Sharon, taught sewing there. I loved Sharon's easy style of teaching. She proclaimed she was going to show us how to read the pattern instructions so we would understand everything and not only be able to finish our chosen garments but also move on to any other sewing challenge. I don't think she ever realized the enjoyment I got out of that class and how much she helped me. I went on to art school and ended up changing my major from painting to fashion design. I have worked for a number of large clothing manufactures and still love to create with cloth!

re: Where Did You Learn Your Sewing Techniques?

maryrho — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 23:51:24 GMT

Learned how to sew? Well it did start in Home Ec, but my foster mother had a lot of influence when it came to techniques for sewing items...mostly clothes. As I grew older and needed something new...I would take something old and put my own swing on it. I made a dinner dress one time...off the shoulders and sleek. The real kicker was that it was all sewn by hand and I learned that from my grandmother. That was a first for me. I made many clothing items out of old ones due to finances, but I always was up to date and looking good! Now that I am a grandmother I still sew clothing, but have moved onto the area of quilting! Oh what a joy it is to make a quilt for someone you care about. I make regular quilts, applique quilts, t-shirt quilts, photo quilts and painted quilts. I am a member of the local Quilt Guild and proud to keep an older style of handquilting alive and well!!! I wouldn't have it any other way.

re: Where Did You Learn Your Sewing Techniques?

jdjudypudy — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 18:41:51 GMT

I was 10 and all we had was a treddle-my mother said I could pick out any material and pattern I wanted for my first piece. I picked out yellow waffle cloth and the pattern was a summer dress that required boning with an attached scarf that could be an over the shoulder wrap or tied in front. After that project, anything was easy. Believe it or not, on just a treddle, I managed to run the machine needle through a finger. Even with all that, it did not discourage me from loving to sew.

re: Where Did You Learn Your Sewing Techniques?

Barb Bulllen — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 15:04:11 GMT

My Grandma first put a needle and thread in my hand when I was four years old. My sister, who was only a year older, and I would sit with her and embroider little kittens. Thinking back I'm sure it was her way of getting us to sit still for awhile. Anyway that was the beginning for me, and now I love making anything with my hands. Home Ec in 7th grade was my first intro to a sewing machine. Making skirts with waistbands, zippers and the dreaded hem that had to be just so. It was like a whole new world to me...a world of endless possibilities. I've never stopped sewing! I may get sidetracked with other crafts for awhile, but fabric will always be my first love.

re: Where Did You Learn Your Sewing Techniques?

bluescoop — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 20:24:55 GMT

Learned to sew during the summer between third and fourth grades at the Singer Sewing Machine Store.

re: Where Did You Learn Your Sewing Techniques?

cindy4346 — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 16:37:56 GMT

Oh my! I first learned to sew in 4H too! And won a regional competiton for my corduroy wrap around skirt! I left sewing behind after junior high home ec, and rediscovered my love for fabric and fibre a few years ago. This past year, I taught a beginning 4H sewing module to my daughter and others. Fun.

re: Where Did You Learn Your Sewing Techniques?

cindy4346 — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 16:37:34 GMT