I have been sewing since 7th grade Home Ec. Class and I didn’t get any additional formal training until I was in my 30’s and signed up for classes at the local fabric store.  I have always liked sewing from the time I started making doll clothes for my Barbie, but despite all the setbacks, unfinished projects and mistakes, I was always motivated by the possibilities of sewing my own clothes

When I was in Junior High School (Middle School) I had a friend who not only made a lot of her own clothes, but she also sold her sewn creations to a trendy downtown boutique.   She was a year ahead of me in school and I was so jealous.  I not only wanted the clothes she made; I wanted to sew as well as she did so that some store would want to stock my sewn clothes, too. She was my first real inspiration

Another friend’s mother was a wicked sewer.  I don’t think there was anything she couldn’t make and consequently, her daughter was always dressed in the latest fads. In the late sixties there were lots of them and when babysitting only paid 50₵/hour it took a long time to save up money for something new and “hip”  After all these years, I  still remember the black and white tiny hound’s-tooth pant suit  she had that was complete with a matching cap.   I wanted to be her.  At least I wanted her wardrobe or even better, I wanted to sew as well as her Mom.  I hoped and prayed that 1 day I would be able to sew as well as Mrs. Morgan.  (I still am)

Finally, I got to Home Ec class in 7th grade and received more formal instruction on using the sewing machine, ironing, reading a pattern, etc.  My early ventures were not terribly successful, but the possibilities, my inspirations and my imagination kept me going.  Who or what do you remember being your early sewing inspiration?

I had been sewing for about 4 years and while looking at a Seventeen Magazine, (March, 1968) I saw a dress I just loved. Seventeen Magazine Then, I looked at the price tag.  It was out of my league combining babysitting and allowance money.  By the time I saved-up for it, it would be out of style.  The imagination and the dream of possibilities kicked in however, and I decided I could make a similar dress for a lot less and it would look just as good.  In those days the big department stores had a sewing department with fabric, patterns, notions, and a limited amount of trim, so off I went.  I picked out a lovely ivory, lightweight, wool, some lining material, the needed notions and some trim that was not like the original dress, but it was pretty.

Simplicity Dress PatternI sewed my lining directly on the fashion fabric pieces and it worked fine, not great but it worked.  The hard parts, of course were the zipper, the collar and getting the front trim on symmetrically. I finally finished it and it didn’t look too bad.  Then, the night I was going to wear it, I set up the ironing board to iron out a few wrinkles.  Stupid me, I was so excited about my dress, I didn’t use a press cloth and scorched the heck out of it, right in front.  Stunned, I burst into tears.  Luckily, my Mom saw just what I had done.  She took the dress, covered the ruined area in lemon juice and set the dress out in the sunshine.  It worked!  I wore the dress with no spot and I felt pretty special!  Do you remember one of your first triumphs, minor setbacks included?

After I was married, and had moved to another part of town, there was a small fabric shop near me that had classes including tailoring and making pants.   I took some classes there, which helped a lot, but alas, they closed.  In its place, I have completed a few Craftsy courses which I really like and I watch the biweekly You Tube live broadcast done by Silhouette Patterns from which I have learned an incredible amount.

After all these years, I continue to sew and I have had minor hiccups that could be fixed and major ones that couldn’t.  I have made bridesmaid dresses, skirts for school, presents, school costumes and trendy outfits on which I did not want to spend a lot of money.   I made my wedding gown, clothes for my children and most recently, shirts for my guys.

Over the years, my hand stitching has improved, I’ve learned about using notions to make my sewing easier and hallelujah, I can put in a zipper.  There is still so much more, however, to learn and do.  I have a list of sewing projects a mile long and a stash that takes up 4 large Rubbermaid tubs.  One of these days I may finish all these projects and use up my stash making knock-off expensive ready-to-wear, but probably not in my lifetime.

Do you have a long list of projects to start, projects to finish and a large stash?  You are in great company; we would love to hear some of your stories.