For me it was my paternal grandmother. She did every craft imaginable; sewing, hand embroidery (this was before we had lovely machines to play with,) macrame, knitting, crochet, home canning, and quilting. She taught me some of these things. Lots of times I feel that if I can do half of the things she did, I'll be doing good.

From as far back as I can recall and that is a long time ago. I remember my mother sewing on an old singer treadle machine, and believe me she could make that thing go really fast and it would sing as she went. I can't remember ever getting bought clothes unless they were hand me downs from cousins till I was in High School. Mother always made the girls clothes. I did not take sewing seriously till I was out of high school and wanted to make clothes for myself to save money. The I got hooked. and wow would my mother love having a serger and emb machine. Wish time would have allowed her to be here with us and sew with me today. And now I think my daughter might just get hooked someday.

I'm 7th generation "quilter" however my quilts are very modern compared to my grandmothers, aunts and moms. My grandmother got me interested in crafts. She tried to teach to me crochet and knit but my being a lefty I just couldn't get it so she encouraged me to sew. My mother sewed matching clothes for she and I and I used to design doll clothes as a young girl. By the time I was 16 I made my first wearable dress (1967). But my first love is definitely sewing crafts and quilts. I think I have tried doing just about every type of craft, from stain glass to stamping, porcelain dolls to jewelry, but I always go back to the machine. I guess it's in the blood. LOL. My daughter doesn't quilt, but does make Irish Solo Dance dresses and she is the one that got me started with ME and thus, I received a Brother embroidery machine this past Christmas. :)

Well, like someof you have said, I took sewing at high school, and didnt really like it that much. So, never really did anymore until my early 20's, where I bought my first sewing machine with the intention to make myself some nice skirts. That didnt last long! The machine spent most of the time packed away. When I was 25 I got a job as a blind sewer (Roman Blinds) which I loved. AllI had to do was sew dead straight lines, which I picked up really easy.
It wasnt until I was 27 and had my son, that I discovered patchwork. My Paternal Grandma made my newborn a quilt. I was really taken with it, and as I didnt see my Grandma much due to distance, I never realized how pretty it was. While she was visiting when I was 29, she taught me the basics of making a 9 patch block, and I tought myself from there.
Then just 8 months ago, I discoved the embroidery machine. I knew they had been around, but I wanted something more to jazz up the quilts I make, so I went to the dealer and played with an embroidery machine and came home with one. The poor thing has been worked within an inch of its life in the 7 months I have had it, but I do love it.

I have taught my mum to do patchwork, as she was never really a sewer either, and am in the midst of teaching her the workings of the embroidery machine. We regularly get together for a weekend and just sew, sew sew. We buy most of our fabric from America (Much prettier fabrics and cheaper)we have so much fun together. Recently one of my friends has become interested and so she ahs now joined us in our sewing marathons.
My Grandma now want s me to teach her some of the things I have learnt via books, and just experimenting with the cutter. I feel very flattered to be asked by her, considering that she was the one who taught me in the first place. Patchwork is my first love, but embroidery is a very close second.

This is such a wonderful question. My Dear Aunt Tess and my Grandmothers all sewed - they inspired me - but didn't teach me. I, like most of you had a Home Ec class when I was about 12. I learned so much in that class!! Also, I was motivated to make my own clothes because we had very little money. I got a part-time job the following year - purchased an old sewing machine (on time payments) .. and proceeded to make all my own dresses. It was a life changing experience for me - not that I was a perfect sewer - but it gave me a great feeling of accomplishment (beside helping my wardrobe) and a sense of creativity... thanks for the question!!
PS: My Mom didn't sew clothes - but she could mend anything!!!

I am not sure - whow I started - I do remember - how sewing very many doll clothes - when I went to school - it was a class that all girls had to take - we made an apron - some skirts to learn how to do a zipper - I still don't enjoy putting in a zipper - Hehehe!

Then later - I do remember my older sister having such a knack for sewing that I would ask her a bunch of questions and she would help me - but our Mother always had a sewing machine - but she was working alot of hours - when we were at that age - but I know she must have sewn or there wouldn't have been so many machines' in the house - Hehehe!

Later on in life - I did make about everything that my children wore - except levi's.

About thriteen year's ago - my Mother moved back from Florida to Utah and she had lots of machines' as always - one was an embroidery machine - she was trying to learn how to use the PC with it - then - I can remember she asked me to help her - I did what I could - with the knowledge that I had - at that time - then I moved to North Carolina - she came for a visit - we went to a few stores - I saw the great machines that were in those stores - about six months later - I went back to one of those shops and was going to buy a sewing machine - but came home with my 1st embroidery machine - I was hooked on that - right from the beginning - then I learned that I could make LACE with that embroidery machine and I had a new passion - I have been stitching with my embroidery machine for about 7 1/3 years - different machines - but still doing embroidery work - making things that I never thought could be created with a machine - what a great craft. I have a love of lace. My site isn't finished yet - but you can buy something if you see something that you like - it is set up for purchase. Hehehe!

Great Question .We took crochetting in grade 5& 6 at school & i loved it sew much the kind teacher taught me extra.Also my grandmother came to live with us as she was in a wheelchair by my age of 6she had me at the treddle machine sewing.I remember putting a zipper in my Dads work Coat at 8 & i could hardly wait for him to get home from work to show him:):)My grandmother sat beside me & talked me through many projects.She sewed wedding dresses etc. for people in our small town called Feversham & the rest is history .People just thought i should take over for her & i did!!Carolyn

my first experience with sewing was in school at the ripe old age of 12 (you know we knew everything then) LOL I HATED IT !!! I had to follow the patterns they picked for us, nothing of which I would ever wear, which explains why I hated it. LOL the next year I opted out of sewing and somehow was given a small portable old singer sewing machine, I started to sew on my own using the basics I had learned in the horrible sewing class I had taken. But little did I realize that class taught me so much. you could find me sewing away like a mad person by the age of fifteen, didn't want to even go away if I couldn't take my sewing with me LOL I would spend summer weeks at one of my aunts and she would not allow electric sewing machines in her house. So came the learning of a treadle machine.
Then embroidery caught my eye such a beautiful way to decorate things and was so easy to whip out. You know how well you can see and control all those little stitches at that age.
My children were born, clothes were made then while they were young but life sort of got in the way of sewing, did a little cross stitching for a while but stopped even that.
Well children grew life slowed down and I wanted to quilt, so bought a machine (a real cheap machine)(never do that again) LOL but still I made quilts then saw the greatest machines ever THEY DID EMBROIDERY FOR YOU, my eyes are gone (not fully but they are headed that way) so doing hand embroidery was really not an option, but my first embroidery machine about 3yrs ago and never looked back since.
So all in all I guess I would have to thank a teacher for giving me the knowledge of the craft that I needed to continue throughout my life.
Now I am teaching my niece who would love to have my machines, fabrics and all my other items in my sewing room. LOL It has brought us so close together, she reminds me of my daughter I lost about 5yrs ago now, I just had my first GD born last yr so I can't wait to teach her.

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by joann13100 09 May 2010

I like that--knowledge was imparted to you, and you are passing it on to others. Good job!

Even though my mother knew how to sew she didn't really teach me. When I was very young my aunt taught me how to knit. During that time my mom was more into crafts. She told me if I really wanted to learn I would take it up when I was ready . Which I did when I got to my 20's. If I made a mistake she was there to correct me. I knew she was proud of me when I made my first cloth doll because she brougt me my own sewing basket. Whom inspire me to inprove on my sewing was a college friend. He could make clothes look like it came off the store racks. To this day over 30 years later and winning many awards for my sewing and crafts I still work hard at being the best. When I knit I think of my aunt. When I make dolls or do crafts I think of my Mom. So to all Mothers,Aunts, Sisters whom help us be the best at what we do, weather it is sewing or crafts. Happy Mother's Day.
Smiles
Sewinhuggs
Ps. I still have my Mother's old kenmore and it still works like a dream, that I learn how to sew on and it has a place of honor in my sewing room.

My grandmother, aunts, mother they all sew and embroider by hand and or machine, my mother used to embroider on the hoop and her work was excellent, the projects came out like this computarized machines, i wanted to learn but I was not able to control the hoop like my mother did.

My mama. She quilted, sewed, crocheted, knitted. You name it she could do it from music to milking the cows. She died when I was 20 and expecting my 1st child. Forty-one years later, I still miss her terribly. She was the greatest mother. But, she lives in my five children. They all have a creative side that is incredible.

My mother taught me to sew. She had 2 girls and 3 boys. She made things for the boys when they were small and for special occasions but she made all of my sister's and my clothes. We were 2 of the best dressed girls in school. When we reached a point where we wanted to choose our own clothes she put us on the machine to learn to make them. She also made pillowcases, sheets, quilts and curtains for the home.

My grandmother. She taught me on her treadle sewing machine before I was even able to move the treadle. I'd sit on her lap and she would move the treadle for me. :) I still have the doll bed blanket she helped me make. This was also my first time at quilting anything. :) She left me her treadle sewing machine when she died at 99 yrs 11 months. My DH and I restored her machine as you can see in my avatar. She also taught me how to crochet. My other grandmother taught me how to knit. Granny would be speechless at what sewing machines can do today. Oh, how I wish I could show her. :)

My mother taught me to sew, cook, hand embroider and all types of crafts. I was so little when she began teaching me that I could not manage the knee pedal. So she controlled the speed and I guided the fabric. Maybe that is why I like to put the pedal to the floor when I sew. Now my mentors for machine embroidery are 1700 miles away, but I keep in touch with them by email and phone.

My mother inspired me to do crafts/sewing/embroidery/crochet/knitting. By the age of 8 I was already doing crochet and knitting. She is my best friend, and I miss her, specially today, on Mother's Day.
Love,
Yoriko

I grew up in the South, in the country in the 40s among my paternal grandmother & 2 aunts. They did it all, never worked outside the home but sewed, knitted, crocheted everything we wore they made. Quilted, cooked, canned, baked, made slip covers or reupholstered, made curtains & drapes. You grew up doing all this because from an early age you were expected to learn & know how. My first embroidery was on flour sack dishtowels at age 5. I was sewing doll clothes as I sat under the quilting frame before school age. So many yrs. ago. I wish they could have seen some of the technology we have now. They all worked very hard.

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by pennifold 09 May 2010

Lillian, this story reminds me of How to make an American quilt and Steel Magnolias - the friendships, the family around the quilting frames etc. Oh! what wonderful memories you must have. I can almost hear your southern drawl as you all chatted.

Love and blessings Chris

My Mother sewed little doll dresses from the time I was little. My dolls were the best dressed in town. All of my relatives were artists of one sort or another, with cousins who drew, sculpted and painted, to parents who did the same. Mother even carved little figurines on toothpicks. Daddy created in wood as well as painted in oils. I only have one of each of my parents paintings, though, as a fire wiped out most. Had aunts who macramed, crocheted, knitted, embroidered and quilted. My MIL canned and sewed and my SIL did hand embroidery. In all, the family inspired me to try everything. I love them all and miss those who are gone.
Love to you all on this Mother's Day eve.

Great question.. I learn to sew from many wonderful people in my life. In grade 6 the girls took sewing class and i just loved it. So i took it from grade 6 to 10. My granny and one best friends for over 20 years also taught me. But it was when i had my little girl that i really got into sewing. I just wanted to make little dresses so bad. I had 3 boys befor her. Now she is 16 and hates dresses and the color pink...lol
Lee

Joann, I love this string for Mothers day - just perfect.

both my paternal and maternal grandmothers inspired me. My mom grew up with her mom doing all that sewing, knitting, cooking etc. She HATED doing any of it! I think my grandmother did it too well or something.
It skipped a generation I guess. My maternal Gmother died when I was quite young, but I remember all things that she made for me and my Barbie, etc.
My paternal grandma was around until I was 30, and was my crafting angel. I still miss her every day. Wish I had appreciated her more when I was young. When I wanted to try hand embroidery, she brought me stamped goods and thread and showed me the basics. She wasn't always around so when I got stuck guess who helped? My dad! He grew up an only child with a single mom and so he knew more about it than he cared to, I guess. He taught me my french knots. She encouraged my cooking too.

In junior high we got home ec and I got really excited about sewing. My grandma again - she went out and bought a sewing machine for my sister and I. Many years later she gave me hers when her eyes gave out. (My sister never used them - she hated sewing. Still does.) My mom didn't like doing it but she was my cheerleader - I made her a dress for my cousins wedding when I was 13. She'd do the dishes if I would cook dinner- starting at age 7! She'd take me to the fabric store to make an outfit. She did like to pick out fabric and I think maybe, maybe she was a little proud.
My grandmother and my great-aunt tried to teach me to knit and crochet but it never held my interest like sewing and embroidery. Plus, I'm left-handed and they had trouble teaching me with that. I did eventually learn to knit, sort of.
We'll leave out the fact that I was not easy to teach! Such impatience! :) Later a friend gave 2 of us more advanced sewing lessons - just for the joy of it, for free.
oh I better shut up,all the sewing memories are coming back..

Happy Mothers day, Grandmas W. and F., and Mom (in heaven)and Aunt Aly and Laurie the sewing whiz here on earth.
Grandma W, you should see this Babylock Ellure with the embroidery that I have now!! Oh and the serger....!

what kind of machines must they have in heaven!!!

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by joann13100 09 May 2010

I am wiping away tears as I read the responses, and family stories. Many of them are similar to my own. This has opened a window for me on viewing the Cutie soul. Thanks to all for sharing. I feel so much closer to the group---

Well my Grandmother was very crafty and a gem in the kitchen she taught me how to bake, sew and crochet. She made all our dresses when we were childern. I loved to always help her.
My Mom taught me to knit and cook, she did not do sewing or cake baking but she loved to cook , knit and garden. Mom also did the most beautiful flower arrangements. That is something that I have not been able to do.
My Mom's sister is very crafty, she does all types of crafts. We get together and she has taught me alot. So I guess it is in the family. ( We are getting together again on Monday)
Yet non of my 3 sisters do sewing or craft making.
Yes I miss the good old days. With Mom and Gran

Hugs Yvonne

My mom always tried to make us three girls dresses, and today I do not know how she did it, as she is the most "unpractical" person I have ever known. I have been interested in any practical thing you can think of from primary school. Started doing needlework in school, and took it right to the last standard. From there I decided to go to college, and studied dressmaking and design, as well as domestic science. I qualified as Home economic teacher as well as dressmaking (needlework). It was a very hard three years, but I just loved it.

Both my parents stood behind me all the while. Wish I could say my grandma or even my mom taught me, but I think mabe somewhere in my family many years ago there must have been a little old lady who was watching over me from above, willing me to love crafts. LOL.

Wonder what wonderfull things the people in the years of 1800 and lower would have done, if they had these lovely machines that we have the opportunities to work on.

The nurse of my grandpa teached me to crochet, but to sew I learned in school, I was about 13 y.o. There I learned how to use a sewing machine. When I started again with sewing I was 21 and got a sewing machine from someone who never used it. And I always tried to do it by myself!
Greetings Tanja

WOW--this is really a tribute to Mom's and Grandmothers everywhere. Thanks for sharing your stories.

I learned to sew from my mom. She taught herself. Everything else I've taught myself. Some things I've kept up with and others were a one time thing, fun while doing it but not something I would continue.

Well, I would have to say it came from my mother. She would have loved to have the machines that we now have. I took sewing in school, but did not use it much until I had a little girl that was so tiny when she started going to school that I made her little dresses - of course that was when girls wore dresses to school.

I didn't have anyone really I just went to sewing when I was in the 5th grade & feel in love with sewing and went from there. Arlene

I remember my grandmother helping or making a dolly dress with me. I have fond memories of the treaddle sewing machine my mother had. I then had brilliant techniques from my mother. At 21 I bought a Frister and Rossman Cub 3 with birthday money. When I finished studying and had money I bought myself a Bernina, which I still have. I could not get my mother interested in buying the F&R off me BUT the friend (who bought me my embroidery machine0 did. Many, many years later she still has the machine and asks why did I sell it. My mother eventually replaced her Singer which took a crane to get it on the table and got a pocket sized Elna which is now my younger daughters. Sewing was such a social occupation to me in my younger years. I am now going through my late mothers home and there are so many lovely clothes she made and the patchwork, plus the Christmas presents I made her years ago. I do know it is one of the best skill I have learned

Not sure where I learned to sew, no one else in my family sewed. One Christmas I got a panel of Barbie clothes you cut out & sewed up. I did it all by hand and still have the wedding dress. My mom taught me to knit, I taught myself to crochet. I have helped 3 of my nieces to sew & knit. The latest one is 21 & got a sewing machine for Christmas. She didn't know she even wanted one. Started lessons in Jan. & she is very creative. First lesson was an apron - with ruffles & pockets - then on to purses & handbags. She is very good & addicted like the rest of us.

i guess my mom is crafty, and perhaps there was a seed there, but no sunshine.

when i was staying at my now dh's apt. while he was away for a summer, his neighbor was making a quilt for her parents. she encouraged me to give it a try and that is when i finally used the basic sewing machine that my mom and gram gave me for my 16th birthday 5 years prior. I made 1 quilt and a 2cnd top that i just finished (11 years later). and then didn't do more than curtains until i started sewing diapers for my babies....then i started making things for them :)

Mom. And I think @ her every day. How much fun she'd have with these new fancy machines. She did beautiful handwork. Sun. I will be wearing a white rose in honor of her. How I wish it was still a red one.

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by workbecky 08 May 2010

First year for my white rose. I wish it were still red too.

My Daddy's Mom taught me all I know about sewing. She got married at 13 and had Dad at 15 in 1915. She had 5 more children after my Dad. She taught herself how to sew and made some of the most beautiful dresses and all else without a pattern. She did all kinds of hand work also which was self-taught. I know she had to be the best cook in the world until she passed away just a couple of years after my Dad did. He was only 58 when He left us. She taught me all I know about sewing and cooking. She was just a very tiny stick of dynamite! She never married but the one time and he passed away early. I was just 10 when Grand-daddy passed away. I like to believe that I got my spunk from her because it did NOT come from my Mom. My Mom was very timid and had no social graces at all and just got by in the cooking dept. She actually learned how to darn a sock and sew up a rip or a seam on her peddal machine but that was about all. My granny had a hard life with 6 children, but she never complained about anything but a headache. I bet she ate a bottle of aspirin a week with her cokes. She was a good person and she was very smart to have married so young and not finished school. She coud do anything she wanted to do!

Well I am not really sure....I just picked up tidbits here and there..My Grandmother showed my how to do crochet rose blocks..from there I took of with crocheting. My Mother made me a quilt from scraps of mens wool shirts..I love to look at quilts at shows..from there I just started to get info from everywhere. I took Horticulture in school, so that is where I learned to do floral arrangements...I have a creative mind and know what looks good together, can't always get it from my mind to my hands though...hehehe...deanna

My great Grandmother taught me to sew using flour sacks for cloth. A peddler came every once in a while with thread, needles,buttons.He also had hair ribbons for my long pigtails.Great grandmother also made potpourri, her own cheese and bread.She had a huge herb garden.She even made rag rugs.She always had on an apron.I can remember I loved to sit by her treadle sewing machine as she sewed and I would read my books.She grew balsam,roses,and cannas & hollyhocks. I grow those today.We would take long walks together.

My beloved Queen Esther, my maternal GM. :-) She knew how to do EVERYTHING... if I could be 1/2 the woman she was, I'd be amazed too!

No meu tempo, as escolas primárias, teve aulas de educação artística. E nós aprendemos a fazer de tudo. Aprendi a fazer crochet 7 anos e fazê-flores torrada. Todo o tipo de obra foi ensinado. Aprendi a fazer de tudo um pouco. Minha mãe tem quatro filhas e mulher de cada um, ela incentivou para uma área. Nós todos somos dotados. I, que a arquitetura, e procurou sempre a área de decoração. Mas, minha mãe disse que a filha mulher, tem que aprender de tudo. Eu amo a obra ... Ele faz parte da minha vida. Eu tinha uma fábrica de roupas infantis para 14 anos, e foi um sucesso! Hoje já aponsentada de Arquitectura e vivo só da decoração. Meus dois filhos seguido a minha carreira e eu, hoje eu só gerir. I love embroideries! Um abraço.

I started to sew when my daughter was born. I made all her clothes.I used to do hand embroidery for years and knitting also. I love sewing and machine embroidery. The projects can be endless with all the designs out there.

My Darling (Paternal) Grandmother who used to come and live with us, when I was a little girl.
She used to hand sew aprons out of scraps of fabrics. (I still have three of the ones she made over 55 years ago.)

She taught me how to knit and encouraged me to sew, the rest is history.
Hugs n roses, Meganne

My sister she use to make clothes for people. She made wedding dresses. She could make anything you wanted. She would let me help her. I learned from her. I guess my mother taught her.

My maternal grandmother was the one who taught me to crochet and a little sewing. My mother was her youngest, so by the time I was old enough to learn to sew, she rarely sewed any longer. But she did sew once in a while on her treadle Singer sewing machine. And I did "play sewing" on it. I still have the machine and all the attachments and the manual, it still works and sits in my bedroom. I also have several of her doilies she crocheted. Some in the very fine thread I can't see to use! I miss her every day.

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by joann13100 08 May 2010

I too miss my grandma every day, actually both grandparents. There wasn't anything grandma couldn't do. It still amazes me.

Sorry to disappoint you - nobody inspired me. I did some hand embroidery one day and when my husband came home after work, he could not believe that it took me the whole day to do what I did! He then suggested an embroidery machine and I was sort of disgusted, saying there is no comparison, he does not understand, etc!

Well he went along, studied machines on the internet and insisted! Bought one in SA (actually phoned a Bernina branch while driving on the highway, explained that we are in a hurry and just want to grab and pay). With NO lessons and after 5weeks, I unpacked it! You know the rest of the story!

3 comments

by joann13100 08 May 2010

I think you were "self inspired"--good job!

by nama2 08 May 2010

I also am a "non-inspired" sewer. I started on Barbie clothes around 7 or 8 yrs old and continued from there. I have always loved embroidery, did it by hand for many years, then found out there were machines!

by joann13100 08 May 2010

I think you are very inspired nama2! You had the drive to learn to do it on your own.

My Grandmother. She took a blank pc of paper and unthreaded her treddle machine and had me make stamps. What I didn't know she taught me to sew stright lines. I was 6 at the time. From there she taught me sewing. knitting, and others crafts.

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by isew4kidz 08 May 2010

A lady at Church inspired me. My mother abandoned me when I was two, and my dad raised me and my siblings by himself. A lady at Church took me home with her and made me two simple dresses, being the middle child it was the first and only new clothes I ever had. When I got married I taught myself to sew, must've checked out every book on sewing from the Library. Jeanette

My dad bought my mother a sewing machine when I was about 7 or 8. My mother had the salesman (who delivered it to our house!!!) show my dad all the features. My dad made my mom a suit on the machine to "test" it out. I used the machine more than my mother but I suppose the craft gene comes from my dad's mother who made my sister and I matching Easter dresses on a treadle machine and a ton of Barbie clothes. My Grandmother died in September 1974 but in March of that year made my mother a dress on her treadle machine. I now have my grandmother's treadle machine. It sits in my living room. I haven't a clue how to use it. But it is a constant reminder of my grandmother. My mom's mother taught me love of gardening and canning. When we lived in Kansas we had a large (for a city) garden. I canned green beans, pickles and tomatoes. I froze corn, peas and the most juicy strawberries. Yum. I agree. Our grandmothers did so much without all the fancy do-dahs we have now. Remember wringer washers??? Becky

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by roberta 08 May 2010

For me it was my sister-in-law who taught me how to sew and my daughters baby sitter taught me how to crochet.
She crocheted left handed and could look at something and crochet. I am right handed and have to have a pattern. my husband showed me how to work a garden and can beans and put up peas. i was a a city girl and knew nothing of country life.now i look forward to a garden and putting up vegetables every year. i hadn't had a garden in 10 years since we moved to our other house but this year i have one and am so excited! Roberta

by joann13100 09 May 2010

You go girl! THanks for sharing.
Joann