Good Morning, Quilters!
Here’s a sad fact…
Not one of my five daughters (all adults) knows how to run a sewing machine! I wouldn’t hand any of them a rotary cutter…
They all dabble with hand stitching, and love to design quilts and pick fabric…
Based on the grammar school art above, there was a weak attempt at some point…but they were so busy with soccer, swimming and softball.
What about YOU?
Do YOUR children sew or quilt?
What did YOU do to encourage a hobby?
Who taught YOU to quilt/sew?
How old were YOU when you started quilting and sewing?
We’d love to hear!
#teacherfail
Lori
PS…All tutorials, images and information are the property of Lori Kennedy at The Inbox Jaunt and are intended for personal use only. Feel free to re-blog, pin or share with attribution to The Inbox Jaunt. For all other purposes, please contact me at lckennedy@hotmail.com. Thanks!
81 comments
Katforever18
I learned to sew at the age of 5 or 6, I believe. We’d go to Arizona almost every summer when I was growing up to visit my mom’s family. If my cousins & brother & I would complain that we had nothing to do my mom, aunt & grandma would pass out needles, thread, scissors, a pencil & newspapers for us to draw out a design then we’d sew a purse or wallet for ourselves out of the newspaper. Then my best friends & I started drawing & cutting out our own patterns from our dolls & Barbies clothes. We hand sewed our baby dolls & Barbie dolls clothes until I got my first sewing machine probably around 6 or 7 for Christmas. I still have my Holly Hobby sewing machine today & it still works & looks wonderful in my sewing room. I also still have some of my Barbie doll clothes & some patterns that my best friend & I made together. Oh, plus I still have my best friend. 😉 I’ve made quilts for my children, my granddaughter, sister & a few others. I entered one in our state fair a few years back & won a second place ribbon for it. I ventured out & I made my granddaughter some clothes right after she was born. I tried teaching my daughter to sew & even bought her a little Singer sewing machine for her 13th birthday because she wanted to sew too but she wasn’t very interested. She graduated this year & gave me back her sewing machine 🙁 but I’m going to hold onto it in case she has a daughter. My oldest son got married 2 yrs ago to a Ukrainian girl & she sews, knits & crochets. YEAH finally someone to sew with. When they moved back to the states this year I gave her one of my sewing machines, she was excited because she’s never had her own machine. I was happy that I had an extra one to give her. We both sit & Crochet together too. It’s sew, lol, much more fun sewing & crocheting with someone. My great grandmother, one of my grandmother’s & my mom quilted but I’ve taught myself by watching videos on YouTube. My mom taught me how to crochet & the basics of sewing but unfortunately she passed away 2 1/2 yrs ago at 69. She would be so proud of the things I’ve made because she was my biggest cheerleader & my VERY BEST FRIEND!! I miss her TREMENDOUSLY, she taught me so much! Thanks for letting me share my story & reminisce. Happy Sewing Everyone & God Bless You all!!!! 😉
jberdych
I taught myself how to sew at 6 for my dolls, at 10 I was given a sewing machine and became responsible for making my own clothes. I started quilting just before my son was born, set it aside while raising my kids and picked it back up when my daughter went off to college. My daughter knows how to sew, but only does it when necessary. My 6 year old granddaughter has made 2 quilts, a couple of outfits and many other items. At this point other than supervision when using a rotary cutter or the iron, and help with pinning from time to time, she does it all by herself.
Linda
Both my Grandmothers sewed, but mom did not. I learned to sew at Girls Club. I started sewing when I was 6. I made simple shorts with an elastic waist and a tank top. I work in the sewing room at Girls Club for $1 a month. I swept, fold fabric, put away patterns, straighten up the room etc.. As I got older I was chosen to sew ditty bags for our troops in Vietnam. I had to leave Girls Club at 15. I have one daughter. When my daughter was 6 months old I learned to smock. I continued to sew her cloths until she was 9. She is not interested in sewing. I have been quilting for 30 years.
Pam Hotle
My mom taught me to sew. By high school I was making all my own clothes except blue jeans. I started quilting to help me get through the empty nest syndrome. Neither of my daughters or my son are interested in sewing. I still have hopes that they will some day.
Helen
I learned to sew when I was 8 and learned by making doll clothes. I had a little Singer Sew Handy and loved it as long as it was working. When I was 10 I made my first dress for myself – and chose a rather difficult pattern with a circular skirt and striped fabric! My mother mostly taught me and the rest I figured out myself. Late I went on to make more of my clothes and then clothes for my daughter.
Only in the last 15 years or so have I gotten to enjoy quilting.
Sadly, my daughter does not share my love of sewing although she will on occasion make something simple. She does enjoy crafts and is creative so maybe with time she will find her way to sewing.
Dorothy
I also learned to sew at my mothers feet…literally…sitting beneath the machine table making things from the cut scraps that fell to the floor as my mother sewed clothing for our family. I was allowed to use her old Singer machine when I reached the age of nine.
In the past I tried to teach our three daughters with only mild interest shown by all three.
The last two of our eight Grandchildren, a girl 10 and a boy 8 have a sewing machine each on which they practice every time they visit during the school holidays.
I’m hoping they will both keep sewing into their teens.
My fiance ( now my husband of 55 years ) bought me a sewing machine as an engagement present as he knew my sewing was always going to be part of our life.
Since my interest in quilting has taken over my spare time, he always knows where to find me.
LaNan
My mom taught me how to sew…my first project was sewing Barbie doll clothes…I’m surprised how much I enjoy sewing to this day!! My grandma also encouraged me to sew using her treadle sewing machine! My other grandma taught me hand embroidery. Both of my daughters sew and I taught them. My youngest daughter is more passionate and is very busy making her 4th or 5th quilt right now. My oldest daughter is busy being a mom to two little girls! I have helped both of my daughter in laws make their first quilts so I think I’ve got four young women started on the path of a wonderful outlet for creativity!
be
I’m 33 years old single woman, I learned from an old lady who rented me a room last year. I’ve never sewn before and now I just can stop
Jeanette
My mom taught me to sew when I was 8 because we didn’t have much money for clothes and I found if I sewed them I could have what I wanted. I sewed doll clothes and sold them in high school. When I had children I made lots of clothes for them but no quilts. When my three daughters were young I taught them all how to sew, knit and crochet and enrolled them in sewing classes. My oldest daughter got a design degree in college and now sews clothing, curtains and has made one quilt. My middle daughter knits amazing things but doesn’t sew and my youngest daughter sewed a few things in high school and knitted but photography took over as her passion! Now I have three grandchildren and I am wondering if the passions will be developed and passed on. My five year old granddaughter wanted to learn how to stitch a blanket for her doll the last time we visited so we worked on that together.
charmingbubble2
My mother taught me to read full stop. A neighbour was kind enough to take me on! She taught me dressmaking, quilting, rug hooking (I became very adapt at cutting up old coats and dyeing them) crochet, knitting, tatting, jam and bread making, preserving and forever instilled a love of gardening which in America in the 60’s was not a big deal. I am eternally grateful to momma Lou. I try to pass on all that I can to those who want to learn,
Lori
I raised three very active boys and quickly stopped sewing when they were toddlers for their safety and that of my sewing equipment but in spite of that once they got into high school they would occasionally ask to use the machine for homecoming game out fits or slip covers for their car seats. They weren’t very good at it but it was so much fun to watch them try. I did my best to hold my tongue and only off help when they asked for it, and tried not to laugh when they finished…..
Gayle Cepparo
My mom made our clothes growing up and she taught me to sew. Then I learned to quilt and taught her! Neither of my daughters sew but they are both quite crafty in other ways.
Marianne Rooks
At age 5, I began learning to sew from the retired widows who did all kinds of crafts in the church basement across the street. Mother sent me over there every time they met. They showed me their sewing and knitting. I sewed at home, but learned the most from their gentle, kindly coaching. In the summers, I continued to join the ladies at the church and gradually improved my skills. They were so patient and kind. I began making my clothes and gifts for family. I got a sewing machine for my 14th birthday.
By the time I had a family, I was sewing all our clothes. None of my three daughters developed an interest in sewing, and I did not push them in that direction, believing that they should choose their own interests, they sure had enough exposure!
Interestingly, my niece is a marvelous seamstress and quilter, and my two
granddaughters wanted to learn to sew. I work with them on visits, and sent them a brand new sewing machine after I left this summer. According to reports, they are “sewing up a storm”!
I began quilting after the children formed their own homes. Most of my sewing is quilting now. I love the colors, shapes, and how they combine. Free motions quilting is a given for finishing my quilts. Although they are not masterpieces of stitch work, they afford me and the recipients of the quilts great pleasure. I’ve been following you for a number of years, and appreciate all your tutorials, as well as your two Craftsy classes.
Thank you so much for sharing your gifts with others through your blog, AQS magazine articles, and Craftsy classes. You have offered me, and multitudes of other followers as well as their families and friends happiness because of the achievements you have facilitated in each of us through sharing your skills. We are better quilters because of your generosity.
Nanci Swaim
My mother sewed all my clothes growing up, as well as my sister’s, so I was fascinated watching her every move at the machine. Before she taught me to sew, she kept me entertained by cutting out paper dolls & had me design their dresses. When I was about 6, she taught my 8 year old brother & me how to sew quilt squares together. By the time I was 13, I was sewing most of my clothes, thanks to my mom’s guidance. She became an avid quilter in her older years and when she was 80, we sewed a Jewel Box quilt together, which is now my most treasured possession! She is now gone, but I feel very connected to her through my love of sewing.
Cathy
I learned to sew when I was 8 yrs. old. My grandmother taught me, probably out of self preservation to keep from hearing “I’m bored. I don’t have anything to do.” (I stayed with her a lot in the summer since my mom worked.) She sewed, crocheted & quilted. I loved doing things with my hands & that has stayed with me my entire life. I taught both my daughter & my granddaughter to sew but they want no part of it. They both love the gifts I make for them & their quilts but they will rely on me for that. Oh, and I am always good to put the touch on for mending & alterations. LOL.
Marsha Jean
One of my two daughters dabble a bit on the fringes of fiber arts…sad mom. But, my granddaughter sat in my lap and ran fabric through my sewing machine by 3 yrs! Happy grandma…continued providing her sewing opportunities and lessons. This year at age 11, Alana competed for the first time ever in a 4-H fashion competition with a 3 piece knit garment set (simple skirt, top and shorts) in our tri-county competition and took GOLD!!! This qualified her to represent our county at 4-H state competition where, once again, she won GOLD! Talk about a proud grandma! She’s caught the sewing bug, and intends to compete in several sewing based competitions this year, including 4-H and county and state fair. And, yes, she does understand that just because she won big time this year doesn’t mean it will happen every time. Grandma will be there to dry the tears…
obed101
My mother and grandmother sewed couture in New Orleans. My grandmother made ball gowns for the queens of Mardi Gras in the Rex and Comus Krewes. So when I came along they forced me to sew like them, ripped out my poor stitches and punished me. So I hate sewing. I like quilting, but don’t do anything with perfection. I hate to sew bindings on and will gladly pay anyone who wants to do it for me! My daughter knows how to sew, has made a few quilts and some clothes. But she designs and builds great big beautiful buildings. I wish I had done that.
Janelle Violi
Having made clothes for my daughters when they were little, to be told later looking back on photos ” Mum LOOK what you dressed us in, what were you thinking”
to one now sewing and appliqueing baby and children’s clothes and quilts non-stop for her online business and I get to quilt them for her and share my sewing room 🙂
Pamela Boatright
I have 5 daughters as well, none of them are as passionate about quilting/sewing as I am! A couple of them own sewing machines, but mostly they have me do any sewing they need done! They all likes sports and their other activities better.
Kathryn
Mom taught me hand sewing when I was about 8 and I started using the sewing machine by the time I was 11. I’ve also taught myself how to knitting and for many years had a floor room. Sadly my daughter isn’t interested in any of these activities. I enjoy quilting, have started sewing clothing again and am the one the family comes to for alterations.
Nita W
Neither of my daughters wanted to learn to sew as children or adults. I learned to sew in school. At that time girls took homemaking starting in 7th grade and boys took shop, oh how I wanted to us power tools! My mother made my clothes but did not enjoy sewing so as soon as I learned how to use a pattern I made my own. Don’t do that any more not when I can quilt!
Diana Lassahn
I too learned to sew in school. Sadly that is not offered any more. I did take a plastics shop. I was “allowed” to do it if we could find a boy to take cooking instead. Even today I would rather do almost anything than cook.
Pam
My mother started teaching me to sew doll clothes when I was 4 years old, then I was making my own clothes by the age of 10. My aunt (my mothers older sister) had 2 boys and liked to make fancy clothes for me. I never had any purchased clothes until I was in high school and made money babysitting.
Verna A.
My three sons aren’t interested in sewing, but my youngest did help me design a quilt for him when he was 11 (and even gave me a deadline! It was done by his 12th birthday as requested). I picked up sewing from my mother, and then quilting from my mother-in-law.
Suzy Webster
I’m teaching my son who just turned 8 to sew and his first quilt is entered in MQX in the kids division. It’s fun to see him so excited about it. I learned to sew at my mother’s feet when I was 8.
lilquilter
How coincidental that you chose this subject for today’s discussion…one of my quilt guild friends posted this link in our guild’s Facebook page today:
http://lindathielfoldtthequiltedgoose.blogspot.com/2016/08/the-sky-is-falling-in-quilt-universe.html?spref=fb&m=1
Interesting article about that very subject.
Linda also mentioned something I was unaware of: Quilters Newsletter is ceasing publication this fall! I am devastated as that is my favorite quilting magazine, because there are so many articles on a variety of topics, including news of quilting around the world. I’m an AQS member and I like their magazine (especially the “My Line” articles!) so I’m hoping they will add more quilting news content.
Cheryl Lea
My mom sewed all my clothes when I was growing up but she wouldn’t teach me to sew so I taught myself. By the time I was 10-11 I could make pretty much anything using a pattern. I sewed clothes and crafty things until this year when my 11-yr old daughter asked me to teach her to sew. Once she learned to use her machine and had made several beginner items she wanted to learn to quilt, so now we are learning together. Sometimes I wish I’d have taken up quilting earlier in life (I’m 55), but I love that my daughter and I are having this experience together now!
Anne Dirks
I have 2 daughters and they both sew and quilt. I’ve been teaching my grandchildren to sew. It’s so cute to see a 4 year old put the foot on a step stool and sit and say they are making a quilt. When I taught my daughter’s to sew they were making dresses for themselves and if there were mistakes I did the ripping. Didn’t want them to get discouraged before they were hooked!
Valerie
My mom wanted to buy me a sewing machine, and I said, I am never going to sew because I am going to marry a rich man! Stupid teenager. When I married my husband we had nothing, and I do mean nothing, I taught myself to sew mostly. In fact, when I was making a lovely silk blouse my mom fused some interfacing to the front and ruined it. I knew then I had surpassed her skills at that moment. I started sewing because I wanted cute clothes for my baby daughter. Quilting came later and I rarely make clothing anymore.
Linda
My senior year in high school was the beginning of garment sewing. I didn’t tackle a quilt until my late 40’s when a friend offered to teach a small group of us. The addiction grew and grew, as did the stash.
Mary Silva
I have been sewing since childhood when my grandma taught me to use a needle and thread to make doll clothes. As I grew up, I made clothes for myself during junior high and high school. Most of my sewing was garments and some crafts. My daughter started sewing when she married, but did not care much for making garments. She started quilting, graduated to using free motion, then obtained a long arm quilting machine. She now does long arm machine quilting for customers and has a website called laurie@finishingtouchesquilts.com and is really good at this. She has taught me so much about quilting, but so far I have done only a relatively small bit of free motion. I love your web site and follow it along as much as possible. BTW, I don’t sew garments any more, only quilt tops which my daughter quilts for me. Thanks for all your help too.
vlquilter
My first experience with sewing was in my 9th grade home ec class. My mother was not a sewer. I continued sewing clothes for myself and my children when they were small and then got busy with other things for many years. My daughter has never shown an interest in sewing.
My sister-in-law encouraged me for a couple of years to try quilting. So I took a beginner class a couple years ago and fell in love with this new hobby. Shortly after that, we moved to FL and I joined a group of ladies in our community who get together and sew once a week. Sometimes we make little projects together or everyone does their own thing. These ladies are so willing to share their knowledge. We even plan periodic field trips to quilt shops. At 67, I am enjoying learning everything I can about quilting. I I have made 4 quilts so far and love every minute of it.
Ellen Rittenhouse
My “sewing” began 70 years ago watching and pushing the peddle on my mother’s non-electric machine. A few years later with the addition to an electric motor to the machine I made a summer outfit of shorts and a halter top with some assistance of my mother. After watching my mother sew nearly all of the clothes we wore I didn’t think she was “doing it right” so I didn’t return to sewing until I took sewing in home ec. There I had a wonderful teacher who taught “proper” technique and loved it. Did you notice that “I know better” attitude of an early teenager?
I continued to sew a bit through college and then in my first job I bought myself a sewing machine and continued to make my own clothes.
Fast forward 10+ years when my girls were showing an interest in sewing I decided to allow them to sew on their own instead of trying to “teach” them my ways. It was fun to see them experiment and then ask how to put zippers into little bags etc. They all had home ec where they made the required garments/projects and then didn’t sew again for years. One of the girls has ventured into designing halloween costumes for her children with some questions for me even though she is very capable of working it out for herself. Another began to quilt during her first job and still is doing so nearly 20 years later. The third daughter has not actively pursued sewing but is accomplished with handwork. In each case I see evidence of my teenage attitude and ability to work it out for themselves and am glad I encouraged from a distance instead on being intrusive.
Even now as i near 75 years I find it more rewarding to encourage others to try quilting for charity without the pressure to be perfect. Anything we do for others will be a blessing to them and ourselves!
Judy M.
My paternal grandmother and my mother taught me sewing at an early age, and I’ve always sewn. Quilting is a relatively new hobby, first picked up in 1989. My oldest daughter knows how to run a sewing machine but the bug never really bit her. Another daughter and son like the finished quilts and that’s the extent of their sewing/quilting interest. Two of four grandsons (the two middle ones, 8 and 6) want to make a quilt, so there is hope of passing the art down! The oldest grandson, at 15 wants to play with my longarm, but hasn’t made the time to do so yet.
Phyllis
My Mother taught me to crochet and embroidery but not so much sewing although she sewed a lot of our clothes. I sewed a few dresses for my young daughter and then got busy with another child. Then I started sewing for myself. Forward to my move to be close to my daughter and granddaughter. Had made a baby quilt for my granddaughter with a kit from Nancy Zieman and then I found Craftsy.com and got hooked on quilting. My daughter has only done cross stitch which I’ve never done but when she saw the quilts and designs that were created with quilting she decided to do Bonnie Hunter’s Mystery quilt with me and now in her 50’s and a grandchild she is hooked on this craft. Would never have believed that this is what we would be doing and now going to our 2nd quilt retreat with the Missouri Star Quilt company this month.
How can you top that?
Debbie Horton
I have one daughter who has attempted a couple of quilts. But she crochets really well! I was taught to,sew by my mom before I was 10. A pastor’s wife taught basic quilting skills when I was in my 30’s. It wasn’t until my late 40’s that I took quilting classes with a friend and have never looked back! Though, I do have a 10 year old granddaughter who quilts with me. She has already pieced a couple of doll quilts and a lap quilt.
Debbie Horton
And, yes, I most certainly did buy my granddaughter a sewing machine for Christmas when she was 9 years-old.
JCinTX
Neither of my daughters (39 & 41) have EVER expressed a desire to sew. I learned to sew/knit/embroidery/crochet at age of 9. My very first knitting experience was when Santa brought me the Barbie Knit kit (around 1959?). I still have the tube case, needles and all the outfits — Barbie had a meltdown years ago!
I started quilting @ 56, 10 years ago. I never saw my mom/aunts quilting but when I cleaned out my moms sewing items after she died, I found their rusty nailed quilt frame, 2 original 1930’s quilts — one labeled very clearly. I remember using 1 as a child (feed sacks & ‘just green’ background), the other is pristine w/pepto-bismol pink background!! I had no idea what I had until a bee member (also an appraiser!) saw them at my house one meeting.
Now I primarily quilt — most going to my youngest daughter & her 2 boys. Working on Tula Pink’s giant Butterfly quilt for her now. The other is not so much into my quilts, would rather order through a decorator and overpay! Oh well!!
annwalsh2015
My mom taught me to sew when I was about nine and I started sewing my own clothes soon after that. She got into quilting many years ago, but has always been a hand quilter. I’ve sewn most of my life, everything from tailored outfits to curtains to all my kids’ clothing when they were young, but was never interested in quilting. One day last year I wanted to make a braided fabric mat for my kitchen, found a pattern for a woven one which used “jelly rolls” and I had no idea what those were. I googled them, found ideas for quilt tops that were “fast & furious” and decided to make a couple of friends with the plan of having someone else quilt them for me. While waiting for my fabric order, I decided to set my machine up for FMQ and just see what it was all about. From that first try I was hooked and I now consider myself obsessed! I’ve made over 90 quilts since the beginning and I now do custom quilting for others. I would never have imagined myself here 🙂
My daughter, however, while great at encouraging me and admiring my projects when I want some feedback, doesn’t sew! I did try to teach her but she was never really interested beyond fixing a tear in a seam or running a line of stitching when she needs to. Funny how so many of us are lovers of this craft and have daughters who never sew!
Rita Long
None of my daughters have taken an interest. However my granddaughter, Lynnox has been sewing with me since she was 7. I just gave her a sewing machine. She is now 12 and made her first quilt. Now she is her own because I’ve moved 1700 miles from her. I hope to continue encouraging her by phone.
Gloria Zchandler
My daughters took a sewing class in high school at my insistence. I thought they should at least know how to sew a button on. Alas, neither of them quilt. I keep hoping one of them will decide to begin quilting. I have enough fabric to open a store and in addition I have a nice Koala cabinet and every other quilting tool availabel. It would be nice to know that I could “will” this to one of them. Otherwise, I guess my husband will have a huge “quilting” garage sell when I die.
Linda
My mother could sew, but worked, so I was taught to sew primarily by my babysitter – a wonderful “country woman” who seemed to be accomplished in all domestic skills. When I was 4 years old (1960), I was hand-stitching doll clothes from her sewing scraps. At 5, I was given a little pink Singer child’s machine to use, but, it had no bobbin – produced only a chain stitch – and I soon became dissatisfied with it. By 7, I was doing all of my sewing on my babysitter’s and mother’s machines, and by 9, started making some of my own clothes. At 11, I started my own little business making Barbie doll clothes, which I continued for many years, and also expanded to other items to sell. I can’t imagine any skill that could have been more useful to me over the years than sewing has been. I made all of my maternity clothes, which made the rounds with at least 7 other friends. I made most of my boys’ play clothes when they were little, all of the curtains and drapes in the house, and even slipcovers. Starting in the early 1980s, I taught myself to make quilts – which was really a blessing when I went to law school, because I could put away a project when I didn’t have time to sew, and get it out again when time permitted. Same is true now – and it’s my own personal therapy when I need a little escape from an all-consuming profession. I always hoped for a daughter to whom I could pass on the joy of sewing, but I had two boys, neither of whom showed any interest. But, I’m content to be the grandma who makes quilts that I hope will still be around when I’m long gone.
Dana Robbins
My daughter and daughter-in-law would not know how to even turn the machine on. I have taught the granddaughters to sew and quilt. They have made pillow cases and doll quilts. The 8 year d has made two baby quilts for friends. She was six when she made the first one.
Cheryl
A kind older neighbor taught me to hand sew Barbie doll dresses when I was very small (still have those). I made a pair of culottes in a Sears sewing class when I was 10 and was hooked. My mom never sewed but I sewed almost all my clothes in junior and high school. Prom dresses, pillows, curtains. Dad was so proud that I was sewing he would take me for fabric, I would make a pair of pants or dress that night, wear it to school the next day and he would ask if I wanted to go buy more after school. I sewed on a very old black machine, straight stitch only, and he bought me a new Singer with cams you changed for fancy stitches. How I loved that machine.
I made most of my two daughters clothes, Halloween costumes were a favorite and they always won prizes (saved all those too and now the grandchildren have worn them). I learned smocking and loved that. Started sewing for a doll shop. Oh those tiny dresses! I have been only been quilting for a few years now but it is my biggest passion now and neither daughter has shown interest. I often wonder what will become of my huge stash and machines when I am gone. Maybe they will take it up then. Someone will have to finish my UFOs!!
Gwen C Bruington
At age 14, I was taking Home Ec and between the teacher’s instruction and my mother’s guidance, I learned to sew and began making most of my clothes. My great grandmothers (who I never knew) and both my grandmothers all sewed too.
When I began having children, I also made most of their clothes. The sewing machine was always up and often running and the kids naturally became interested. My oldest sewed her first project on the sewing machine (with me hovering over her) at age 4! She’s still sewing. When my son was in middle school, boxer shorts were all the rage and I told him that if he wanted some, he would have to make them himself. And he did!
All 4 of my daughters know how to sew, including my deaf, mentally-challenged daughter, who makes quilts with me. I never would have guessed that she would be able to sew, but with some adaptations and lots of help, she does and loves it as much as I do–she’s my quilting buddy!
I’ve mentored my 2 daughters-in-law into sewing and quilting and they come over here about once a week for a family sewing activity, along with some of my daughters from time to time. When they are here, the grandkids are all underfoot, playing with spools of thread and fabric scraps, so the expectation is that someday they too, will be sewing. We are definitely a sewing/quilting family!
Kari Hoyes
My daughter is 25. She is a quilter, but her duties as a high school teacher keep her busy enough that she only quilts during the summer. I quilted passionately all during her childhood, so she grew up with it. She participated in several kids’ quilting workshops and classes at the local quilt shop when she was middle school age and caught the joy of it back then. During high school she didn’t quilt at all, but then during her last year of college, she pieced and machine quilted a throw-sized quilt. And this summer she worked on a quilt for her bed. Although my mom sewed nearly all my clothes when I was a kid, she wasn’t a quilter at that time. My mom, my aunt, and I all learned to quilt around the same time, when I was in my early 20’s, and we have been avid quilters ever since. I feel blessed that my daughter happens to enjoy it too!
infanteacherH
I taught myself to quilt when I was 26 to make a baby quilt for my daughter who was to be born. It was a hand applique Sonbonnet Sue and Bill quilt which was then hand quilted. I still have it. I taught my daughter to sew, and she is quite competent but rarely sews. When she does it is mainly costumes for parties or other events.
Valerie Beaver
None of my children sew at all. Before they left home I made sure they could do some clothing repairs -stitch up a tear and put a button on – they each have a small sewing kit. I am watching for a likely grandchild! My mother taught me to sew, she is a wonderful sewist especially with clothing. My grandmother taught me to do some quilting. She made tied “utility” quilts. The bed size ones were made with old clothing, yard sale finds, and lots of double knit – they wear like iron! Many of her battings were old army blankets or electric blankets bought for $.50 at a yard sale that no longer worked (she separated the layers and removed the wires). For a long time her backings were drapery lining material. She had a friend who owned a drapery shop and she would get the bolt ends to use. The baby quilts were made with a variety of fabrics and included applique. I still have the quilting frame my grandfather built for her. It is composed of four long 1×4 boards wrapped in layers of flannel with C clamps on each corner, it hangs from the ceiling. You can raise it up and down with a quilt in it. The quilt is pinned to the flannel board wrapping. I use it sometimes to square up and baste large quilts. Or to tie a blue jean quilt. Memories! 🙂
pamela green
I learned to sew in 8th grade in public school. Unfortunately public schools are not teaching those types of classes any more. I have two daughters and while they weren’t interested in my sewing machine, I made sure they had some basic skills before leaving the nest. They both knew how to hand piece a quilt, basic crochet, basic knitting, and cross stitch. Only one of them has continued to have any time or interest as an adult. The other is busy with a young son. If they never go beyond basic skills I’m happy. I know that they know how much work goes into making hand crafted items and they appreciate the work that others create.
Mrs. Plum
My grandmother put a needle and thread in my hands when I was five, and started my life-long passion for all things fabric. My mom could sew, but was just not interested in it. When my daughter expressed a curiosity about sewing, I made sure she had lessons. Though she dabbled a little, sewing never ignited a fire in her. Her two daughters are very young, but I hope and pray at least one of them will want to learn to quilt, because I would love to teach them.
Sally Acomb
I started to sew early with a gift of those sewing cards popular in the early 1950s. My great gram and gram both hand sewed beautifully. We would all sew together. My Mom was an inspiration as she sewed and often took night classes in tailoring and other sewing related subjects. 4H was a must a age 8 on the farm and thus I had a cadre of sewing minded people further my skills. Thankful they were very patient and I learned to strive for the perfection demand from the 4 H judges. Sixty years later, still sewing – quilts now but ever thankful to have sewn swimsuits for sale, suits for men and a zillion lined curtains for the. Homes we have had in our many years overseas. There is nothing I can not sew! My two sons can also handle a sewing machine and my father inlaw did a bit as well. Hoping to help two granddaughters learn when we can get together.
Susan
At age 26 my daughter asked for help making a baby quilt for friends. I said it would be expensive and suggested a price. She OKd it. I bought a flannel charm pack and yardage for borders and backing. Gave her my old sewing machine and taught her about the 1/4 in seam. Then gave basic instructions along the way with help using a rotary cutter. I quilted it on my longarm. It turned out great. When she wanted to do more I said she had to take a beginning quilt class at a shop. She is hooked. She comes to my quilt guild to sew once a month and has a new sewing machine. Next is to get her to come to the Quilt Shows for more than one day. We are having a great time together and I always know what to get her for birthday or Christmas.
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