1960s, Milwaukee: My middle sister and I wear jumpers and blouses made by our grandmother. She'd save time by making the same pattern for all three granddaughters but in different fabrics for each of us. Occasionally she'd sew us identical outfits, like the "Sound of Music" capes in green wool with Tyrolean trim she made for us the year the movie came out.The intro to a recent post—Newly Born-Again Sewists? Start Here—where I spoke about beginning to sew around age 12, prompted a couple of readers (Elaray and Carolyn) to ask that I do a Fun Friday sewing post and poll about our sewing pasts. Here, in abbreviated form, is my sewing back story:
- First introduced to sewing by my beloved paternal grandmother, who would bring her sewing machine to our house in Milwaukee whenever she and my grandfather visited from Maine. She'd make complete back-to-school wardrobes for my sisters and me in a week or so.
- Began sewing in earnest around age 12 after learning the basics in junior high home ec. This Simplicity peasant blouse is the first pattern I sewed on my own. I made it out of a purple cotton print and I cut the sleeve elastics too tight. But I made it!
- Took a Stretch & Sew class for teens the summer we moved to Los Angeles. Made a lot of t-shirts with ribbed collars. Learned the importance of finishing seams and neatening interior construction from 8th grade home ec teacher.
- Sewed much in high school, mostly baby doll dresses and maxi dresses, and loads of halter tops.
- Continued sewing steadily in college, moving on to Vogue American Designer patterns. Made all my dresses for "Dress Week" during sorority pledge period. Would do free minor alterations for guys I thought were cute.
- Post-college: Sewing slowdown began as I started working long slave-like hours and played on the weekends. Did make a Norma Kamali suit out of purple knit and linebacker shoulder pads and an Albert Nipon dress in a yellow floral, among other things.
- Got married and moved to NYC area. Would go to garment district on lunch breaks and drool over fabric but sewing mojo had entered hibernation.
- Had a daughter followed three years later by a son. Fabric stores in my immediate area closed up. Would occasionally cut up my old dresses (the Laura Ashley-type dresses from the 80s with all that fabric) to make an outfit for DD, but did no sewing just for me. The Internet hadn't taken off yet.
- 2007: Kids are 11 and 14 and work is less stressful. Sewing mojo wakes up from hibernation. I order fabric online and make a Vogue cape out of bouclé. Wear it to work and get compliments! This sewing thing is good! Discover PatternReview and sewing blogs and find that other sewists exist in the world.
- Present day: I'm making a minimum of one to two garments a month, sewing with great fabric I pick up in the garment district. Sewing skills are getting fine-tuned—I made a coat—thanks to information and assistance I get from my online sewing sisters. Sewing mojo feels permanently awakened though it likes brief naps, like the holiday nap I'm coming out of now.
48 comments:
I watched my mother sew Barbie dresses in the 1960's and she could smock anything! I actually learned how to knit first, but sewing came later. Nuns taught me how to sew a dress in high school and in my 20's I would sew quickly and made many errors! What? Muslin?
After I married and moved to the the United States,started a family,my first house was entirely Laura Ashley- fabric drapes, bedding,lamp shades,all made by me! I did it all! May I never see a chinoiserie,cabbage rose, sweet pea or stripe again! Next came the years of Halloween costumes,followed by dress up boxes,copycat JCrew skirts for daughters. Maybe 3 items per year as I worked,studied,managed a house.
Now,in the last month,I have discovered sewists communicating across the globe, and reviews of patterns actually tried and tested! I have been "born again" and want to sew with renewed vigor and this time,"do it right"! Honey,I'm home!
I participated in the poll...I think I've already done a backstory on sewing but I will check! Thanks for following up with this!!!
My mom sat me down with embroidery floss and a needle when I was 4 or 5 years old(I do remember learning how to make 'lazy daisies'), but did not do more than sit me at her ancient 'foot-pedal Singer transformed with an electric motor' when I was 11, telling me to 'match the edges and put your foot down'. Needless to say, i did not make a whole lot of progress until I took Home Ec. in the 7th grade, continuing to make rather poor dresses until I took sewing in the 11th grade. I made a wool suit in that class(only because my best friend was making a dress and coat ensemble for the "Make It With Wool" Contest), so I learned some basic tailoring. Made beer money in college patching blue jeans and turning jeans into skirts(remember those?)and when my kids came along, used the same sewing machine to make everything from sleepers (Yay, Kwiksew!) to snowsuits, home dec etc. Never stopped sewing...never stopped 'stash enhancement'. Two out of the three kids are now married, so I now spend my sewing time on my husband, myself and home dec.
I didn't take the poll. 5 out of 6 options applied almost equally, except for one. I think everyone wanted me to sew!
I did do a backstory on my blog. I will try to dig that out for a reference. It will be fun reading these stories. I think we probably have a lot in common, Barbies, nuns, etc...Now I have the joy of sewing for grandchildren.
Here are two posts regarding my sewing history. http://www.blogger.com/posts.g?blogID=7871855805349050304&searchType=ALL&page=4
and http://lasewist.blogspot.com/2008/10/thank-you-hermana-esperanza.html . Also in the top three influences was my Mom. Her post will be coming soon. Those three women made me the fanatical sewist that I am today.
Just a note that you can vote for more than one option in this week's sewing poll. I voted for my grandmother, home ec teacher, and other relative or friend.
My passion for sewing began at the age of eight. For Christmas, my mom purchased me a mini sewing machine. Thinking back on it, the sight of the machine is actually pretty funny. It was various shades of pink, no bigger than a lunchbox, and EVERYHTING had to be done manually. There was a dial I had to turn by hand in order to stitch anything. Even though the process of sewing was slow, I thoroughly enjoyed it and the passion it instilled in me.
When I attended middle school, I sort of forgot about sewing and packed away my mini machine in the back of the closet. It wasn’t until I attended high school and noticed they had a fashion design course when I really got back into sewing. I decided that I didn’t have to be a rich lawyer or well known doctor in order to be happy or successful in life. Even though I could never get in the fashion design course because it was always full, it never deterred me from aspiring to be a fashion designer.
A lot of our respective backstories sound the same!
On my blog, I've given my back story. If you are interested, please visit http://sallysews.blogspot.com. You may have to type this into your browser as I don't think I can create a link in the comment (or at least I don't know how!)
What a fun story and wonderful memories you have shared with us. I will blog about my sewing story, too. I wonder if my mom has a picture of my first dress.
My mom sewed for me the whole time I was growing up, and I had no interest in learning myself since my seamstress would do it for me! I did learn a lot through observation though, I loved choosing patterns and fabric and I always hung out with her while she was sewing. Fast-forward to my post-college life when I realized that if I wanted a bunch of amazing garments to fill my closet, I'd better learn to sew.
I remember watching my mother sew when I was very young. I even remember a dress she made for me. My mom passed away when I was 7, so she didn't have the chance to teach me to sew. My first "real" sewing was in 8th grade home ec. While in junior and senior high school, I also took a few sewing classes at a neighborhood recreation center. Except for my college years, I haven't stopped sewing since 8th grade. I really got serious in my late 20's - early 30's. The best part is, I'm still learning.
To me sewing came a bit involuntarily. Needlework was a obligatory subject in 4th grade and I didn't like it much. The teacher was tough, I wasn't very good at sewing and nobody really cared for the class so it was always very noisy. The next year we could choose between art, sewing, woodwork and cooking. I really wanted art, but nobody else did and I had to choose a different class. I chose needlework as the lesser evil of the three. This story was repeated every year of my remaining school years; I only managed to get a half year of art, but 4½ years of sewing.
Lucky for me, for it turned out that the tough teacher was really very cool; she was actually an educated seamstress and much nicer with fewer and older pupils in the class. I learned a lot from her - actually I did some pretty difficult stuff, like a denim overall with topstitching and a quilted vest. By the end of my school years, I was hooked on sewing and have been ever since.
Here's mine:
Lisa's Backstory
Waaaayyyy too long for a comment!
I think I've posted bits and pieces of it here and there, but that's the first time I've put it together.
Great talk-back topic!
So funny, I posted about my sewing past on Tuesday!
My First Sewing Project
I love to sew now but I don't know too many locals who sew. Thank god for blogs, now I feel like I have a bunch of sewing friends who can relate :) Your blog is great, Lindsay T. I worked in NYC for a few years and I'm so jealous when you post things about the city :)
What a great story! Thank you for sharing! :)
I learned the "basics" from my Mom and Home Ec. in highschool, but, truthfully it never really clicked for me. I liked having something new to wear, but didn't enjoy the process.
Off and on through my adult years I thought about getting a sewing machine. Finally, for my 40th birthday, I asked for one. This time around it has been different. Not only do I enjoy the product, but I enjoy the process too! Now I can't imagine my life without sewing (although, of course, I have minor ups and downs in time and motivation).
I guess I just had to grow up...
What a fun topic! I should do a post on this eventually...
I love your blog!!! I was bored one summer when I was about 8 and started using my mom's Singer. I broke it of course. After she had it fixed she taught me how to use it and I did for 10 yrs until she bought me another one for my high school graduation. I wanted to sew for a living but everyone said you will never make it. I shouldn't have listened. Now I'm back into it and totally addicted to Project Runway. My blog is not devoted to one subject but here is a post about my sewing grandma.
P.S. I wasn't in a sorority but I did make dresses for my friends for their dress week.
http://oklahome.blogspot.com/2008/10/project-runway-oklahomas-boomtowns.html
I voted, but I'll do a post on my blog soon.
Lindsay,
There are some similarities in our stories. I don't think I posted a complete back story but will in the near future. I took the poll checking four choices from the list. At different stages of my "rookie" sewing years different people influenced and/or taught me something about sewing.
Thanks,
C
Very fun post. I posted my back story on my blog.
I'm from Milwaukee too!!! I'll post my back story- good idea!
I began at age eight and am self-taught. I'm pretty sure I posted a back story post when I first began blogging - I'll have to check for the link. I also do a weekly Flashback Friday post with photos and stories of items I've sewn over the years.
http://sharonsews.blogspot.com/search/label/Flashback%20Friday
I like reading about how others got started sewing. I just completed a post on my blog about my "back sewing". This was a great idea. Looking forward to reading others.
I loved the post on who started you sewing. I always thought it was my mother but your article brought back an earlier memory of my grandmother and doing hand sewing.She showed me how to make miniature cloth dolls and little dresses no bigger the 2 inches. I remember her saying how lucky I was to have young eyes to see the miniature stitches. I wish I had some of those little dolls now.
Thank you for bringing back forgotten memories
My mom came from a long line of sewers, knitters, crocheters, etc. But my mentor was Auntie Jennie, my mom's sister. She made everything from men's suits to wedding gowns. She made all the gowns for each of her 6 sisters' weddings, attendants and all. Did I mention the hats too? (if I ever get a digital camera I'll have to post these great photos.) The great news is that at 92 she is still sewing! I took Saturday afternoon lessons from her when she ran a sewing school in her basement in the 60s. I graduated to complicated stuff in my teens and have been sewing ever since third grade. My interest picked in 1980 when I attended an 8 Hour Blazer workshop with Susan Pletsch. I renewed my tailoring interest and have kept it to this day. Now all the great blogs keep me into sewing mode all the time. Before the internet I did feel a bit lonely in the sewing world as it seemed to shrink away store by store. Thanks to all of you I'm not alone anymore!
I remember watching my mother sew when I was 3 years old, longing to try it, and wondering why she was using all those words that she told me I couldn't say. Mom sewed because she had to, and she hated it. She knew how,though, thanks to a sister with NYC tailoring/fashion design schooling. I was in junior high when I decided to teach myself to sew on the machine I wasn't supposed to touch. (It was a long, boring summer and Mom was at work.) When she didn't express disapproval, I forged ahead with Barbie clothes for my sister and cousin, then clothes for myself. Mom wasn't a patient teacher (I sympathize), so I'd sew something, and she'd show me how to do it better the next time. Thanks to her, I was the only girl in school wearing dresses with facings that didn't flip to the outside (understitching, girls!). By high school I was figuring out how to fit my narrow shoulders and size C bazooms into Big4 patterns, using my own version of a FBA. Thank God fitting information is much more available now than it was then! My sister learned to sew the same way - the critique method - and in high school, her taste, skill, and insistence on Vogue patterns won her a Best-Dressed nomination. She only loved the results, not the method, so she stopped sewing as soon as she could afford to buy the kind of clothes she likes....leaving me alone in the sewing world, except for-oh, maybe 160,000 adopted online sewing sisters and bloggers from around the world. I'm very grateful to have people to talk to when my real family doesn't understand me. Thanks, everyone!
Nice new banner.
Childhood and adolescence
Non-sewing mother with very negative attitude towards sewing.
Almost finished hand-sewn felt horse that was the project in a Saturday program.
Frustration in junior high school class, although the teacher, an old lady, was pretty nice. As I recall, the students who completed their garments had sewing machines at home and mothers who sewed.
Mid-adulthood
Stabs at learning, although schedule did not really permit it, with various teachers some of whom were extremely nasty. Developed a sewing complex.
More recently
Have had more time, took some classes at F.I.T., am learning.
What a wonderful way to connect with other women who sew!
Very new to sewing; mother does not sew at all; no interest. Neither grandmother...
Did some basic sewing in home ec all those years ago, always wanted to take it up, but too busy working to put myself through University, then working as a doctor. Then met husband and married, and have two children under 3 years with # 3 on the way, so that we will have 3 under 4, if all goes well.
Still working full time, at 60-70 hours/week, so sewing consists of drooling over magazines, and other pple's blogs and daydreaming.
Come June/ July though, will be taking 18 months off on maternity leave, and extended leave, and will finally have, I hope, time to be with the kids, and when they are in bed, to sew...and to learn.
Took up sewing when each of my daughters was born, but they were brief stints, 6 months and 12 months,before returning to work...but the time will come...and till then, I can at least dream!
Aim is to be able to sew for myself, hubby and kids (a bit like Belinda/ Sew-4-fun) and others do!
Great topic! My mother sewed for me from the beginning all the way thru college. However, she sent me to Singer for lessons when I was about ten. I've sewn ever since then, with a long stint in 4-H (even tho I was a city kid) during jr. high and high school; sewing during vacations in college (my dad threatened to put a lock on the SM when he had to carry out my clothes from the dorm to the car when I moved home for the summer); and sewing a lot or not very much at different times during my working and domestic careers. Right now I'm a very old mother to two young children, so I don't have a lot of time to sew. But I'm hoping for more time when DS gets into kindergarten!
My mom taught me to sew. She grew up on a farm and everyone sewed. Also my grandmother on dad's side did alterations. She started in the fnacy department store downtown and built up a big customer base- then moved the business into her home. I used to pick up her pins, add up her receipts and play with all her notions. But she had industrial machines and I wasn't allowed to use them.
Home ec was terrible for me. I had been sewing for years by middle school. The teacher constantly criticized everything we did. And she didn't like that I could already sew. Though I was the only one who ended up with a garment that could be worn. And I did wear it to school frequently. She gave me a C because she "didn't like my attitude". I refused to take home ec in high school because I didn't want to put up with the hassle. But I kept sewing.
I got a sewing machine for college graduation. And i sewed the outfits I wore for job and grad school interviews.
I think the success of early sewing is what has kept me going. When i realized I could get something designer for less than 1/2 the price, I was hooked.
What a great idea. I will have to do a blog entry on this in the near future as well. My paternal grandmother taught me to hand sew Barbie doll clothes when I was about 8 yo, and my maternal grandmother made dresses for me through my school years, but never taught me to sew. It was my highschool home ec teacher that put it all together for me. I loved making my own dress in class - it was a sleeveless, collarless plain dress. And then a friend's mom helped me make a skirt witha zipper and waistband, and lined vest. The rest I pretty much had to learn on my own - but I have been very basic in the patterns I have done during the next 25 years - until I found PR and all these great sewing blogs!!! This is where the internet shines.
I also made that same peasant blouse in highschool! - and I have since re-found the pattern at Jen's vintage pattern site - I had to buy it for nostalgic reasons.
Blessings,
Patti
My grandma sewed. She let me select patterns and fabric and made a few outfits and prom dresses for me in high school. I helped a bit here and there. That was in the early 90's and, though I have always wanted to sew, I felt very intimidated to learn. My grandma's sewing days are over so now I'm going to teach myself. My boyfriend gave me a good quality, user-friendly sewing machine for Christmas and I think I'll start out with simple skirts and see what happens. I keep reading sewing blogs for courage and inspiration!
Great sewing stories! My first project (5 yrs old) was doll clothes cut from an old skirt of my mom's. I sat on the floor and sewed in my nightie. When I stood up to show everyone my great creation, it disappeared - I'd sewn it to my nightie. (I think there's a prediction in that story....) Alas, I didn't get any more cloth when I used up that treasure because my mom said I wasted it, cutting it willy nilly. Helloooo!?! I had no instructions and was learning by doing.
Middle school home ec almost ruined sewing for me (although I did fall in love fabric stores!). My most inspirational teacher was my first boyfriend's mother - May Cross. She could sew anything and it looked fabulous! Alas, we broke up and I lost my mentor.
My early years of sewing were pretty successful. I fit a size 10 pattern straight out of the envelope. Problems came when I wasn't a standard size anymore. For some reason, I stupidly thought paper patterns were set in concrete - you could not move a line on pain of death! It probably has a lot to do with not understanding how patterns went together and how one piece affected another.
For many years, I sewed mostly wadders (with the occasional successful piece to keep me going)or something for the kids or the house.
Then came my next big inspiration - Susan Khalje. I took a Chanel-style jacket class with her and she tweaked (read reworked) my jacket pattern so it fit me perfectly. From that, I realized a good fit was possible - I only had to learn how.
Thus began my current adventure. I've bought a foam dress form, and numerous sewing books, including pattern drafting, fitting and construction techniques. Best of all, I'm lucky to have two great sewing buddies who are excellent fitters and critiquers.
Tory
This is such a neat topic!
I learned to sew when I was young because I wanted various outfits for my Barbie and other dolls! My mom bought me my first patterns. I had an idea that I would sell Barbie clothes to make extra money for toys but that never really took off. I also played around w/ making skirts and such with instruction from my mother. She was pretty patient and actually taught me on a treadle Singer sewing machine. That was an interesting way to learn now that I think back. I wasn't very coordinated at first but eventually picked it up. I had women around me who sewed for necessity and fun. My aunts and paternal grandmother sewed so sewing was a valued skill with the women in my family. I kept my interest in high school, making outfits for my drama class. Later on after college, I tried sewing things now and then like outfits for a lip-synching contest. I starting quilting five years ago and then gradually started garment sewing. It's been a really neat journey back and have really learned a lot from Pattern Review and other sewing blogs. I took sewing/serging classes and really enjoy garment sewing. The wealth of information and the community of like-minded women has been a real treat!
Gry:
It's nice to hear that perseverance pays off and that you were able to improve despite perhaps not being a natural at sewing, or at least not liking it at the start.
tcsewhat:
I could share many horror stories of teachers who were nasty, e.g., "That's commonsense!," and robbed me of my confidence. It's fairly incredible that they were teachers. That type of individual really brings down the field.
Okay, I finally got around to it and put my backstory on my blog. Great post!
Hi Lindsay,
Your fab idea coincides nicely with my blogoversary. If you're interested, you can read it at www.josiesews.blogspot.com
Love your blog btw.
Cheers
Josie
Am loving reading everyone's backstories!
I learned first from my maternal grandmother; she exposed me first by letting me pick out a pattern and fabrics for a holiday dress she made for me. Then she let me use some knits (those kind that come in a tube) to make skirts for myself on her machine. Just turn a casing for the elastic and a hem and you're done! Then she let me pick pattern and fabric for a dress that I made for myself. Looking back, she was a very good teacher--very hands off--she stood back and pointed while I cut out the pattern, but never took the scissors in her own hands. Then she pretty much ignored me unless i asked for help while sewing (thus also teaching me the important lesson of asking for help!) My family all pitched in and bought me a sewing machine for Christmas.
In 8th grade I already knew everything I needed for sewing class; by that time the teacher was already weary, and tended to be more hands on, so the other students never minded when I finished their projects for them.
In high school I took sewing once and I think I made my Halloween costume, and that was all.
I rediscovered sewing through the student-run theater my freshman year of college; I made a golden ball gown for Cinderella for Into the Woods. I stretched 9 yards of satin down the dorm hallway and made a bunch of new friends when the seniors came out of their rooms and just looked on in awe. They insisted that they would take me to the store to get more fabric when I ran out, and off we went. I transferred schools, worked in the costume department for credit, and hated it because the teacher wanted things done her way and only her way, whether you knew a better/easier way to do it or not.
I rediscovered sewing shortly after when I started working at Joann's. This is when my stash was born!
After this, I started teaching, and actually took over for my 8th grade sewing teacher when she had a stroke and retired. That was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life, because students who were failing at everything else were able to succeed in my classroom. I don't think sewing is more important than reading, but when you can improve a child's attitude in one arena, their confidence and effort can be affected all around. Then, of course, the school cut my position and canceled the program.
My sewing waxed and waned from there, mostly limited to home dec, up until making my wedding gown in 2005 with the help of my aunt, who could probably be considered a couture-level seamstress in terms of wedding gowns. She has become my go-to person since then. Shortly after that I discovered patternreview.com and my sewing has skyrocketed. I can't imagine ever putting away my sewing machine again--it is only onward and upward from here!
wow...long post! :) thanks for the opportunity to share, lindsay.
I just posted a entry on my blog about this. Thanks for making me think about my sewing life. :)
Hi - a few blog friends pointed me in this direction. I am working on a project to document people's sewing histories, which I hope might grow into a book.
So it has been great to read all your stories.
If anyone would like to get involved with my project they can visit
http://www.connecting-threads.blogspot.com
Where you can find my backstory too.
Mind you it is on go slow at the moment due to moving countrys and having a baby - but that's a whole other blog!
Good Grief - this took way too long to post, but here it is...this is such a fun idea to see everyone's "beginning"! Here's mine:
http://clairekennedydesign.typepad.com/the_atelier_of_claire_ken/2009/01/sewing-back-story.html
which was a lot of fun to romp through all the learning and doing.
I just did my back story at my blog. If interested just click on my avatar and it will take you to my profile link whcih links to my blog.
Thanks for the nudge Lindsay - and hope you are better soon.
Blessings,
Patti
This is another great post and I enjoyed reading about your sewing backstory; I will try to write about mine as soon as I get some time!
Better late than never, I posted my backstory on my blog.
This took longer than I thought - but here it is - thanks Lindsay for a fun idea
This post idea helped me get back into blogging after a brief slump, thanks!
Re: What's Your Sewing Backstory?
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