Sewing mamas!Calling all AmityMama's who like to sew! Do you make quilts, clothes, diapers, bags? Do you love to run your fingers through fiber? Can't get enough just sewing, but want to talk about it too? Come on in!
My mother taught me indirectly. But in reality I've taught myself.
See my mother sews very well. I was always the "design" half of our team. I found the patterns & materials & I'd do the jobs my mother hates (hems & cutting out mostly). This was how we worked until about 5 years ago.
Several years earlier SO had purchased me an inexpensive sewing machine for little things like curtains for the house and minor repairs. I had a small collection of fabric, a few notions and a couple of patterns for simple things but had never done anything more than fix a missing button without my mother. One day I was surfing & found Amity's sewing mama's. That did it! The next day I pulled out the sewing machine, fabric & a pattern for a tote bag. 3 hours later I did a SnS of my bag & was already started on making a smaller version for DD.
The rest, as they say, is history. Welcome to the board!
Chole
__________________ 18th century Mama to a exciting 8yr old, SO to a graphic novel guy
Don't be scared!! Sewing is simply one small step, one at a time! Just jump on in!
For your questions...my mom taught me a lot of the basics, like running the machine, and how to read a pattern, etc, since she learned a bit from my Grandma, who was a professional seamstress (I was never around her enough to ever learn at her knee, to my infinite regret!), but I quickly outstripped her when I really got started, after my first was born. I had very little money, and lusted after designer and boutique clothes, so many of which are just simple patterns made with special prints and touches, so I went for it, and discovered how much I LOVED it! Before that, I was convinced the sewing machine had it in for me, rofl. It would do something nasty everytime I went near it, I swear.
It wasn't all that tough, since I had a grounding already, but really, like I said, sewing is one small step at a time. Directions taken one number at a time. It's not hard at all.
And my dd knows a little, mostly from watching me, and trying her own projects, but at this point, it's not on her enjoyed list, and she also has issues with accepting I know what I am talking about...she is the kind of person who gets an idea on how to do things, and refuses to believe it is wrong til it fails herself. SO not going to be fun as she grows up.
My mother taught me how to sew. My Great Aunt was an amazing seamstress.
She sewed dresses-I mean big beautiful ones-without patterns. She made everything without a pattern. Unfortunately she lived in another country so I couldn't learn from her. My grandmother also taught me. The didn't know how to read patterns since they did stuff without it so I took a high school sewing class in my junior year and got a C-. Well , I can sew better than a C- now.
It takes practice. Just like everything else in life
you aren't great when first learning anything
its practice.
In 8th grade home ec. we had to make sweatshirts. Then I took a sewing class in 10th grade and made an outfit. Then I didn't look at a sewing machine until my ils bought me one *years* ago. I used it mostly for repairing things, but other than that, the poor machine just sat in the closet unused.
I took it out again to teach myself how to sew diapers. Now I sew nearly every day.
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Rachel
Wife to Bryant
Mom to Jacob 12-25-95 and Owen 12-13-02
My Aunt Teresa taught me. Mom never was one to sew much until a few years ago. I got married in 2002, and instead of buying a dress, I found one I wanted to have made for me, by Teresa. She said if I bought all the materials she'd do it as a wedding gift. She'd been sewing her own clothes for well over 25 years at the time, so I asked if I could watch, learn, and help. That was what did it! I enjoyed it so much, so DH bought me a machine as a 'wedding gift' from him to me. I only started using it weekly after DD was born and I was able to SAH with the kids, but I've made many dresses and shirts for me, DD, and nieces. I've also made a couple blankets for family members and hope one day to make quilts like my Mamaw does.
It wasn't too tough for me, like everyone else said, take it one step at a time. Teresa told me many times to "read one sentence, do it, then read the next one until you finish" - great advice.
DD wants to learn, but she's only 5 so I let her make the bobbins for me. Eventually I hope to teach her what I know. DS isn't even a little bit interested in going into a fabric store anymore
My mother tried to teach me when I was little and I got some of the basics. I took 7th grade Home Ec and flunked the sewing portion . Then in high school I got into theatre and got really into costuming and went back to my mom to really learn. I did technical theatre for some of college and learned more about sewing for the stage and my mother taught me tailoring. I learned to quilt when I worked for a craft store and got put in charge of their displays and had to figure it out.
I hand sewed doll clothes when I was probably early middle school. I used a Barbie pattern and taught myself how to cut them out and follow the directions. In 8th grade I took my first home-ec class, and we sewed on old old machines that worked with a foot pedal, but it gave me the basics. Then in high school I took another home ec class, and drove my teacher crazy with my "why?" questions when she was telling me I had to follow the pattern directly and I wanted to make changes.
Sewing seemed normal for me to learn, as my mom sewed. She didn't have time to teach me though, as she worked full-time and was busy or tired in the evenings. But I remember her sewing instead of buying, especially big ticket items like bridesmaids and wedding dresses (she made mine )
I'm not a good teacher, specifically, and haven't "taught" my girls. I have provided those interested in access to a machine, material, patterns, etc., and would help if they had quesitons. None have really taken to it though. My 20 year old can crochet better than me, though, and I taught her the very basics of that!
I should be spending my free time cleaning, instead I'm crocheting, reading, sewing, doing something with Missa. Sigh. I love my life, but sure wish my house could get clean by magic!
edited to add - I still feel I have SO MUCH to learn. I don't know anything fancy, just the basics. And really, the machine I have would just do the basics, as I don't have any fancy equipment. I sew basically for my family and my girls friends, though, and occasionally a swap. I don't sell or claim to be perfect. I learn new skills here and there, and am often inspired to try something new either by what I see on-line, or by something my girls want. So for now I'm content. Someday when I no longer work outside the home I may attempt more.
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Kathy - mama of four lovely girls
All four in Cinderella's Castle, youngest to oldest
Last edited by MamaDulce : 06-25-2008 at 06:50 PM.
I'm self taught, started sewing in my early teens.
I had help from a woman that lived 2 houses down, she sewed for other people and was really good to answer my questions and give me tips.
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Karen
Mom to 4
Allison (18) Emily (14) Lillian (11)
and Caroline (4)
My grandma taught me to hand sew starting at about age three. When I was around 9 she taught me to quilt. When I was 16, I taught myself how to sew on the machine and about 5 years ago, I got my first serger.
I took a quilting class as my first sewing class about 10 years ago~the quilting teacher taught me how to run my machine. So did dh. Then I came to Amity in 2003 and found the sewing forum. The biggest help was Amity AND Kwik sew patterns. The instructions are really good the fit is good and they have a lot of beginner patterns.
If I Can sew, ANYONE can. seriously.
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" I choose to be a pioneer of the future and release being a prisoner of the past" Deepak Chopra
Christopher-April 00
Come see our Hyena Cart 
. Then in high school I got into theatre and got really into costuming and went back to my mom to really learn. I did technical theatre for some of college and learned more about sewing for the stage and my mother taught me tailoring. I learned to quilt when I worked for a craft store and got put in charge of their displays and had to figure it out.
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