tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5541518822404853610.post2029559798024676840..comments2008-07-25T17:14:34.702-04:00Meghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16245730088359572839noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5541518822404853610.post-37738311371541255932008-07-25T17:14:00.000-04:002008-07-25T17:14:00.000-04:00Now, I am 26, so I guess I am nearly young enough to count as the 'young of today'. When I go through the friends I have had since I was about 16, almost all have sewn. Perhaps only a little, but more than half owned their own sewing machine.<BR/><BR/>I guess you can't use this to a lot - I have clearly chosen friends with the same interests as myself. <BR/><BR/>Nevertheless, I am very optimistic. <BR/>The thing is that young people sew in a different way. Never mind patterns and technique, you just want to put something together you can wear tonight. I guess the interest in technique comes later.Gryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13900155319635470547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5541518822404853610.post-8116800105571935802008-07-21T22:17:00.000-04:002008-07-21T22:17:00.000-04:00My daughter started using my machine when she was about 5 years old and sewed a few things. She got her first machine, a lightly used Pfaff Hobby, when she was about 11. She took it to college, etc, but I'm not sure she used it much.<BR/><BR/>However, now that she has married, finished med school and residency and is expecting their first child she surprised me by recently buying a Bernina. When I last visited she had picked up some cool fabrics from the brick and mortar Denver Fabrics.<BR/><BR/>The things she seemed to like sewing best as a teen were Esprit and similar clothing knockoffs and using things like white damask tablecloths to make blouses and other tops. When it was time for a dress for a dance or for her own wedding, she usually managed to talk me into doing it... ;) ...not that I complained too much. lol.goodworks1http://www.blogger.com/profile/02967943973600981509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5541518822404853610.post-50551997278141193482008-07-21T15:53:00.000-04:002008-07-21T15:53:00.000-04:00Also..wanted to add my MIL is teaching six of her teenaged granddaughters to sew and they BEG her to up the # of weekly sessions all the time. They make purses, dresses, formals and also love to knit socks. My Christmas gifts from the girls were all things they had made.<BR/><BR/>CharityCharityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03018974052435209730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5541518822404853610.post-48712312740480396942008-07-21T15:51:00.000-04:002008-07-21T15:51:00.000-04:00I'm currently teaching 15 and 19 yo sisters to sew. They are loving it. However, I'm taking a very different approach. We do some pretty "out there" stuff and I intersperse our weekly classes with the occasional Project Runway-ish mystery assignment. They are having a very good time and becoming quite fanatical about sewing.<BR/><BR/>charityCharityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03018974052435209730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5541518822404853610.post-83413847967549127082008-07-19T14:05:00.000-04:002008-07-19T14:05:00.000-04:00My daughter informed me years ago that sewing skips a generation. She too said, why should she sew, when she has me. She actually may be on to something with this whole skips a generation thing. I started teaching my granddaughter to sew when she was little. She enjoys it, but is now involved with college. I clearly expect her to return when her life settles down. The good thing is my daughter at 34 revealed to me that she's a closet sewer!<BR/><BR/>The really good news is that some chapters of the American Sewing Guild do have successful chapters reaching out to the younger generation. Our local chapter has a teen group that has been existence for 4 years. I encourage everyone to try and pass on this wonderful skill/hobby. Our motto is TAG - Tell Another Generation!Tadahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07394347113313281300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5541518822404853610.post-2785213186804908622008-07-18T22:23:00.000-04:002008-07-18T22:23:00.000-04:00I teach sewing classes, and I find that most of my students are 1 - out of school, 2 - have disposable income and 3 - have a desire and/or reason to learn to sew. Now that is not meant to denigrate sewers who don't fit into that demographic, but it just seems to be the crowd that has taken my classes thus far. The other thing I have noted is that my home dec classes fill up much more quickly than my garment sewing classes. <BR/><BR/>This fall, I'm teaching a new class that is geared towards anyone 12 and up. It involves no fitting (why bother if you are going to change shape frequently over the next years), and it can use both new and repurposed materials. I'm hoping it will spark interest in the younger set. <BR/><BR/>It's kind of tough, trying to work towards a tipping point. But I am hopeful that more and more young people will take up sewing, either as a way to express their creativity or as a relaxing hobby. When I hear from editors at national magazines that their average reader is 58 years old, it makes me wonder what the future holds. But then I see sites like Etsy and ThreadBanger and my hope increases.Gorgeous Thingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00105281854898289918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5541518822404853610.post-65718111016286041492008-07-18T22:20:00.000-04:002008-07-18T22:20:00.000-04:00I am only mildly optimistic, and I agree with your reasons. All my 22 year old dd did during hs and college was study and work. Not much sleep, and certainly no time for learning to sew. I bought one of the McCalls DIY patterns. I am not impressed. If this is how they are planning on attracting young sewers,they need to do a little more work. I liked the design, but the 2 women obviously had little input on the instructions other than cutesy cartoons of the duo with 'tips' that would have been fine if the directions hadn't been so bad to begin with. The directions are typical of knits only patterns from the big 4. The instructions are suitable for wovens, not knits.Nancy Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02235347323004026695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5541518822404853610.post-56735744418229998642008-07-18T20:24:00.000-04:002008-07-18T20:24:00.000-04:00Such a great topic! <BR/>Neither of my daughters wanted me to teach them to sew. Quote,"Why should we mom when you do it so well for us?" Oh, well! I have big intentions of teaching my grandaughters, however and that's a promise! <BR/>I too, have had that age experience in a group. About 15 years or so ago, I belonged to the NH Dressmakers Guild for a few years. I was the youngest there, like you , Lindsay. The group is long defunct. Did they all die? A quilting group I belonged to was similar with being the youngest again. I soon realized that sometimes groups are run by those who don't want change and are threatened when they see it. Today I am a member at large of SAGA. This allows me to participate thru the internet but there are many groups that meet regularly around the country. There are just none around here. This is more my cup of tea. I am with Birgitte, enjoying the solitude of it all. <BR/>I don't believe that the younger generation is coming up and appreciating sewing. There may be a few, but as a whole, I think not. My daughter's generation and younger are the generation of instant gratification, overscheduled lives, and are najor multitaskers. Sewing takes time, focus, and a desire to see a time consuming project thru to the end. This is not in keeping with the lifestyle of today's young people. I think if anyone keeps sewing alive, it will be the more artsy of this younger generation, the Etsy crew. I think they will rewrite the book and will keep sewing alive, but I don't see them tailoring suits to wear to work. Heck, they don't even iron, ever! I am so hoping the little tiny ones, like my grandaughters will see it all differently and are inspired by this grandma to sew like I was inspired by mine.Bunnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03672695141031447916noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5541518822404853610.post-2917894850681716622008-07-18T16:09:00.000-04:002008-07-18T16:09:00.000-04:00Lindsay T - I totally love this post and absolutely agree with you. Though I am 24 years old myself, I still yearn for younger and more vivrant designs. Sure, the big 4 companies are trying to have younger looking designs. But not everyone idolizes Hannah Montana or are interested in the still-kind-of-old-yet-young-looking desings. Also not everyone wants to wear a tent. Maybe, H&amp;M or some other big designers could come out with a pattern collection dedicated to the teen population. Also, if I could have afforded the expense of flying to Chicago to attend the conference, I would have been there on the next thing smoking.ebbyjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17397033896674544874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5541518822404853610.post-91526807786185239452008-07-18T15:51:00.000-04:002008-07-18T15:51:00.000-04:00What I see in my students (I'm a hs math teacher) is an appreciation for the skill ("Mrs. B, did you MAKE that???"), and an eagerness to learn ("I wish I knew how to sew like THAT!"), but no resources to learn. Even the "Fashion Design" course my school offers only takes them as far as a pr. of pajama pants (from a pattern, not self-drafted). The teacher doesn't even sew, and combine that with the more stringent graduation requirements, and you get fewer girls taking fewer electives like sewing. I'm considering designing a follow-up course (Advanced Garment Construction) as I believe the interest is there.Kristinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08126043161321731207noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5541518822404853610.post-9082264841507394302008-07-18T13:17:00.000-04:002008-07-18T13:17:00.000-04:00Quoting Debbie Cook:<BR/><I>"I think being a "drama kid" means you try to stand out rather than fit in, and may explain why these girls are happy to sew and wear their own creations." </I><BR/>That was me, and it looks like it's my youngest DD too. She's only six, but literally hovers over me while I'm sewing, saying things like, "I wish I could do that", and, "That's <I>sweet!</I> (a term used on Disney Channel, meaning 'cool')<BR/>Oldest DD never had an interest, she's a stylist, not a designer. <BR/>I think it's a personality thing, and therefor have high hopes for the future of sewing.Birgittehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13085707175735448759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5541518822404853610.post-54092719385283057562008-07-18T08:09:00.000-04:002008-07-18T08:09:00.000-04:00I taught my oldest dd how to sew when she was young. Through the high school years she really didn't have time. When she left for college she surprised me with a sewing machine request to take to school with her! She has sewed now as a break from the college stress. <BR/><BR/>My middle daughter also learned, has made a few things over summer breaks, and am sure she'll do more as she gets older. She is getting ready for her high school senior year - so it won't be this year!<BR/><BR/>My baby is turning 9 and at that age she is very interested!LauraMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08646972991522827672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5541518822404853610.post-61889339917184370222008-07-18T07:00:00.000-04:002008-07-18T07:00:00.000-04:00I am cautiously optimistic and am working on a project to address this very issue.Kathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04420458445442482137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5541518822404853610.post-13948732133934628502008-07-18T06:51:00.000-04:002008-07-18T06:51:00.000-04:00I am mildly concerned. Judging by my 18 year old daughter and her friends, NO ONE is interested in sewing. But then, few of the teens I know have any hobbies, whatsoever (other than FaceBook). I hope that trend changes.Elarayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06487492651398001387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5541518822404853610.post-27523556176001948592008-07-18T06:47:00.000-04:002008-07-18T06:47:00.000-04:00My two cents - my girls are in their early twenties. The biggie as far as I am concerned is that sewing in our area now is a one week hand sewing gig in what passes for home ec in middle schools. That is it. There were some 4-H groups doing sewing, but I'm not sure about that any longer. No classes at local fabric stores other than quilting. And, as others have noted, the pressure to look like others is fierce. But on the other hand, you've also got 'threadbangers' out there on the internet...teaching kids to make over things. Which is not a bad way to start. But I do feel that we have to do more to teach the kids to do it.Toby Wollinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5541518822404853610.post-7991424287907531442008-07-18T05:34:00.000-04:002008-07-18T05:34:00.000-04:00I just don't think most high school kids have the time for any hobby. Too much pressure to be "well-rounded" in order to get into a good college. I had a lot more free time when I was that age. That being said, I didn't really take off with my sewing until I was in my 20s.Gigihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07960046004728670898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5541518822404853610.post-82126283107074500562008-07-18T01:48:00.000-04:002008-07-18T01:48:00.000-04:00I feel that the younger generation is very much interested in sewing and they feel that it is hip, hot and cool because they want to be able to create something that is uniquely their own. Also, we are becoming more environmentally concious and so more people are thinking green when it comes to sewing and they are making bags to take to the store to shop and fabrics are made from bamboo, hemp, corn and soy. The American Sewing Guild is also looking to attract the younger generation to get into sewing and many of the sewing guild chapters are making an effort to get the younger generation involved in sewing by mentoring them and have neighborhood groups for the teens and 20 - 30 something to learn to sew. I have two daughters and the oldest learned to sew when she was 5 and she is 24 now and she still sews on occasion. My youngest daugther learned to sew when she was 6 but she is not into sewing like me or her older sister.<BR/><BR/>I do feel that the younger generation should apply to be part of the American Sewing Guild because it is for those who love to sew who want to learn to sew and it is for those form 9 - 80+.<BR/><BR/>Laurielauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17810212885183868539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5541518822404853610.post-14283398135010197392008-07-18T00:53:00.000-04:002008-07-18T00:53:00.000-04:00I went for mildly optimistic, but I also think in addition to time, one of the factors stopping teens making their own clothes as a hobby is money. For that market you can get great cheap designer clothes at target, H&amp;M, Zara etc. Why bother spending more and making something which as a beginner may not be as good? As Servant of Clio said though, I think as these girls get older and appreciate better quality clothing sewing becomes a more interesting prospect.AllisonChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07431369603470575306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5541518822404853610.post-22264925311981003832008-07-17T23:54:00.000-04:002008-07-17T23:54:00.000-04:00Older DS has had 2 girlfriends who both sewed while in high school, and still do. Both girls were/are involved in theater but they sewed more than costumes and scenery. I think being a "drama kid" means you try to stand out rather than fit in, and may explain why these girls are happy to sew and wear their own creations.<BR/><BR/>And yes, I'm aware that I haven't mentioned my *sons* sewing at all. They don't. They ask me. LOL! I was the same way, though. I knew how to sew from my mom, but I never did since I had her and my grandmothers to make anything I wanted. I loved playing "designer" without all the work.Debbie Cookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03601675304884019607noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5541518822404853610.post-29868096944486741072008-07-17T22:46:00.000-04:002008-07-17T22:46:00.000-04:00I am encouraged when I see the pictures of garments at Burda Style. <BR/><BR/>One disappointment, I totally missed this fashion show while at ASG, what the heck was I doing?Lorihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04229406683301436266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5541518822404853610.post-20138426703032255102008-07-17T21:26:00.000-04:002008-07-17T21:26:00.000-04:00I don't know if this has anything to do with it, but I know that schools have cut back on the classes that teach students to sew (home ec., life science, whatever they decide to call it). When I started in teaching in Cleveland 12 years ago several high schools offered the class, then the moved it to the K-8 schools, and now even those are cutting back.<BR/><BR/>I agree that time is a major drawback, now matter what age! I worked in a fabric store before and then during the transition to "fabric and crafts". Management said that women didn't have as much time to sew an outfit, but they did have time to put a little craft item together.Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17514929600248371886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5541518822404853610.post-86565111628218827942008-07-17T20:58:00.000-04:002008-07-17T20:58:00.000-04:00People don't have to take it up in their youth. I learned a bit as a teen but wasn't that interested. I'm now over 30 and getting into the hobby in a big way. I think craft hobbies go in fads: beading and knitting seem to be big right now among younger people. As those people get older and want to try something new, some of them will move into sewing. So I'm optimistic.servant-of-cliohttp://servant-of-clio.livejournal.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5541518822404853610.post-37658295404366851282008-07-17T20:44:00.000-04:002008-07-17T20:44:00.000-04:00My daughter, (16) sews, and I offer to teach any of her friends that show an interest. Not many have taken me up on my offer, though. <BR/>My own daughter isn't as obesessed as I was about sewing at that age. There's way too much pressure to fit in and not look different.kasizzlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13637439325943196993noreply@blogger.com