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Stitching & Crafting Room:  How did you learn to sew?  |
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Aunt Em
True Blue Farmgirl
137 Posts
Emme
Carnation
WA
137 Posts |
 Posted - Feb 10 2008 : 9:21:15 PM
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All your swaps and the projects you have posted on your blogs are making me really want to learn to sew! My goodness, y'all are GOOD! I have made a couple of projects,using my daughter's "toy" sewing machine for fun, but how on earth am I going to learn to do all those fancy things you guys make? Did you grow up with a sewing Mom, did you take a class or did you just learn by diving in and doing it? (I'm thinking I'm going to have to just go for it!)
Farmgirl Sister #138 |
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NotQuiteJuneCleaver
True Blue Farmgirl
222 Posts
Susan
Shreveport
LA
USA
222 Posts |
Posted - Feb 10 2008 : 9:56:52 PM
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My mom didnt sew - or I should say didnt like to sew. My granny taught me. I learned on a treadle machine and still own two...hers and my great aunt Ada's. I cherish them. But back to the questions. I have been sewing for 40 years and still have so much to learn.
Go for it farmgirl friend!!! You can do it!
Susan ~ FARMGIRL SISTER #15
AKA TheSoapMaven who lost nearly 700 posts by changing her name! :(
http://www.thesoapmaven.com http://www.notquitejunecleaver.com
There is immeasurable value in what I do. I won't ever believe otherwise. |
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debinmtns
True Blue Farmgirl
925 Posts
Debi
Hope
Idaho
USA
925 Posts |
Posted - Feb 10 2008 : 10:15:33 PM
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My granny and older neighbors, I grew up with me and it was second nature (quilting) for me, but seriously started when in junior high school. I going through periods where I love it and others, don't want nothing to do with it. My mom did not want anything to do with sewing, knitting, I don't think she even liked to cook. I been sewing 40 years, at least. I think thesooner the better. I made yo-yo at 5 and 5 years old.
debinmtns farmgirl #63
Have a Thankfulness Gratitude Attitude.
http://handcraftedncreated.blogspot.com/
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Aunt Jenny
True Blue Farmgirl
11381 Posts
Jenny
middle of
Utah
USA
11381 Posts |
Posted - Feb 10 2008 : 11:11:24 PM
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I have always loved to sew. My grandma taught me as a little kid. My mom sews, but isn't crazy about it so I didn't learn a thing like that from her. DEbi...sounds like our Moms were long lost twins!! My beloved grandma taught me to sew, embroider, knit, crochet and garden..and I learned alot of my parenting skills from her too. I called her Mom and miss her every day.
Jenny in Utah
Proud Farmgirl sister #24
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
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BarefootGoatGirl
True Blue Farmgirl
1495 Posts
Corrine
North Carolina
USA
1495 Posts |
Posted - Feb 11 2008 : 03:57:04 AM
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my mom did custom sewing when i was a very small girl and i use to stand on the back of her chair watching. by the time i was old enough to sew myself, she was too sick to teach me much so i taught myself alot. by the time i hit jr high and had to take a home ec class, i was the home ec teachers worst nightmare. she did everything BY THE BOOK and i knew all the little shortcuts and wasn't above teaching them to the poor boys floundering with their projects. i think the only reason i passed that class was the simple fact that she could find no legitamate reason to fail me. i did get in one really good food fight durring the cooking portion though....
What we write today slipped into our souls some other day when we were alone and doing nothing.
-Brenda Ueland
http://quilandneedle.blogspot.com/ |
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Bee Haven Maven
True Blue Farmgirl
1862 Posts
Beverly
Pennsylvania
USA
1862 Posts |
Posted - Feb 11 2008 : 04:08:20 AM
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Like most of the gals, I came from a long line of "sewers". And when I went to school, you had to learn to machine sew. Somehow, I was hooked at a young age. My mom made my clothes and also clothes for my dolls.
My advice to you is to try something very simple and build upon that. There is nothing difficult about sewing....just following directions and getting familiar with your machine.....practice, practice, practice. Aprons are a simple thing to make and make good practice with a useful outcome. There are lots of us here that can give you any pointers you need and help you figure things out. Even the most experienced here have learned new things from each other!!! So, get inspired and give it a try!!! I promise you will get hooked!!
Visit my blog at: www.sewonandsewfourth.blogspot.com
Visit our farm at: www.beehavenacres.blogspot.com
Aprons and other fun things for sale at: www.honeybeez.etsy.com |
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SarahJ
True Blue Farmgirl
198 Posts
Shreveport
Louisiana
198 Posts |
Posted - Feb 11 2008 : 06:10:58 AM
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I agree with Bev about just starting simple and practicing. No one in my family sews, so I have been teaching myself. I tried several failed aprons at first, and I finally tried some basic fleece throws that only involved sewing straight lines. These helped me get comfortable using my machine. I also make sure that I practice new stitches on scrap fabrics before I try to sew them in projects. As Bev said, the best way to learn is start with simple projects, and accept that you will have some failures. I also really refer to my manual alot, because it helps me learn the different needles and presser foots, and when you use which.
I will say that the hardest part of sewing to me is not the actual sewing. It is the cutting. Cutting our your fabric correctly is, I think, the most important part. You need good scissors and a rotary cutter that are sharp and for fabric only. I am not so good at this part yet, and that is why I have yet to try real quilting or a more complicated pattern. I cannot seem to keep my cuts as perfect as they need to be. I also struggle with reading patterns.
So, I think the best way to start is jump in and practice. Remember to practice with different types of fabric too, so you can see how the need for a specific needle or tension settings change. You can do it!
SarahJ
Farmgirl Sister #116 |
Edited by - SarahJ on Feb 11 2008 06:11:33 AM |
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carmeniris
Farmgirl in Training
24 Posts
Carmen
Little Falls
Minnesota
USA
24 Posts |
Posted - Feb 11 2008 : 06:35:34 AM
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| When I was in Junior High I joined Future Homemakers of America (it was part of 4H). One of the things they taught us was sewing (that was a million years ago). After, I practiced making doll dresses. After a while I got better and make some of my own clothing. I suggest you buy an inexpensive sewing machine (used maybe) and just practice. Don't get a fancy one with lots of knobs and features because you will set yourself up for a lot of frustation and possible failure. Just have fun and you'll get better fast. |
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palmettogirl
True Blue Farmgirl
571 Posts
sue
camden
south carolina
USA
571 Posts |
Posted - Feb 11 2008 : 07:16:17 AM
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| my father told my sister and i that we "had to" sew because that's what girls did! at first i hated it, but then i thought it wasn't so bad and eventually got to be okay with easy stuff. what i found made the biggest difference was the actual sewing machine. i had this one machine that the "timing" kept getting out of sinc and the thread would jam up and make everything a mess and it was really miserable. just jump in.......you can do it!! i always thought this story was funny.....my mother in law (in her early 80's now); when she was in 8th grade they were required to sew for home ec a dress and wear it to their 8th grade graduation. she said she cried because she just couldn't sew and it was becoming a mess. she came from a family who had money back then so her mother said don't worry little bernice.....and she hired some new york dress-maker! my mother-in-law got a ribbon at graduation (and of course passed home ec)! she never told cause she was afraid of flunking the 8th grade! |
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Bonne
True Blue Farmgirl
3003 Posts
Bonne
Littleton
CO
USA
3003 Posts |
Posted - Feb 11 2008 : 07:36:45 AM
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LOL @ Sue's story!!!
Like Bev, we were required to take Home Ec and we learned to sew on the school machines in jr high~all made the same gored skirt and weskit vest. But I originally started stitching clothes for my trolls. Mom and sister sewed...as did all my female relatives. My friends sewed clothes for school. We just all did it.
Get a sewing book to refer to(library or Amazon.com)~the vintage ones are just as useful, if not more so, than modern ones. Take classes at local sewing/quilt shops or adult education~Joann's offers "sewing basics" classes.
 http://bonne1313.blogspot.com/ BLOG
http://www.bonne1313.homestead.com/soap.html SOAP |
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one_dog_per_acre
True Blue Farmgirl
1572 Posts
Trish
Sandpoint
ID
USA
1572 Posts |
Posted - Feb 11 2008 : 07:48:43 AM
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I taught myself with a book I bought at JoAnn Fabrics. Both of my grandmas passed away early in my life, but they both were so talented. My grandma on my mom's side sewed all the clothes for her 9 kids, and my grandma on my dad's side was into making her own fashionable clothes. She made lots of buntings and little shoes for babies she knew too. I am the only one in our immediate family who sews, crochets, etc.
Farmgirl Sister #91
Make cupcakes not war! |
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debinmtns
True Blue Farmgirl
925 Posts
Debi
Hope
Idaho
USA
925 Posts |
Posted - Feb 11 2008 : 08:00:24 AM
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Patricia, I am sorry you had to teach yourself. There are loads of people there that sew. Run by A Little MOore Quilting shop there in town and they can answer questions they belong to several quilt groups. I also think theres a group that get together up there somewhere. At fair time a good time to go and ask questions. also if you need any help send me a personal message and we will get together.
debinmtns farmgirl #63
Have a Thankfulness Gratitude Attitude.
http://handcraftedncreated.blogspot.com/
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levisgrammy
True Blue Farmgirl
9392 Posts
Denise
Beavercreek
Ohio
USA
9392 Posts |
Posted - Feb 11 2008 : 08:46:09 AM
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Emme,
I come from a very long line of sewing, quilting women. My mom didn't quilt though but she loves the ones I make. I learned in Home Ec. class and Mom proceeded to show me everything the teacher was telling us that was wrong. BTW, Mom was correct or at least made it easier to figure it out. You gotta love moms,eh? Both my daughters sew. The younger one wanted to do it for a business but the website didn't really go anywhere. It was pre-etsy. Now she has a full time job so only sews occasionally and now my son at 20 is learning to sew. He is working on a costume for a re enactment type thing. My oldest sews for her children and gifts for friends. So we are a sewing family here.
farmgirl sister #43
Kind hearts are gardens
Kind thoughts are roots
Kind words are blossoms
Kind deeds are Fruits
www.torismimi.blogspot.com
www.torisgram.etsy.com |
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Bonne
True Blue Farmgirl
3003 Posts
Bonne
Littleton
CO
USA
3003 Posts |
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tziporra
True Blue Farmgirl
234 Posts
Robin
Seattle
WA
USA
234 Posts |
Posted - Feb 11 2008 : 10:25:39 AM
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I have a sewing grandmother, so I was lucky to always have access to a lovely sewing room to practice in. But my best learning experiences were all in classes -- we did a unit in Junior High in Home Ec. and I took a semester of sewing in high school, which was amazing. So I wholeheartedly recommend a class with lots of individual attention, or even a private sewing teacher if your pocketbook runs that way (I now teach privately and it's one of my favorite things to do - I do a "skirt in 4 sessions" class which covers fabric/pattern selection, cutting out, sewing and finishing).
Now I practice by being obsessive about everything I make, even costumes for my kids. Everything that leaves my sewing room ends up with some amazing finishing technique or another, just because I enjoy the practice. As you can probably tell, it takes me forever to get anything done since I end up doing a lot of hand work, but my sewing has improved leaps and bounds since I started getting serious about perfecting my dressmaker techniques.
If the class route isn't for you, then I suggest projects with very detailed instructions (either patterns or from books you like the look of), and no shortcuts! All those steps really will teach you lots of new things, and when you have a repetoire of techniques to draw upon you'll be set to choose what is best for you.
Best,
Robin |
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joyfulmama
True Blue Farmgirl
1175 Posts
Debra
Silver Springs
NV
USA
1175 Posts |
Posted - Feb 11 2008 : 11:14:33 AM
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I learned from my mom but when I entered highschool the home-ec teacher was a woman from my church who I respected greatly. I took all 4 years of sewing under her. I wish I had continued to sew after that. I only did here and there= so I never honed my skills. But she was an exceptional seamstress.
Blessings, Debra
Psalms 23:1 "The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want."
http://myvintagehome.blogspot.com
http://woolieacres.net |
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Aunt Em
True Blue Farmgirl
137 Posts
Emme
Carnation
WA
137 Posts |
Posted - Feb 11 2008 : 11:16:52 AM
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Thanks so much for all these great responses! I'm definitely getting myself a "Big girl" sewing machine for my birthday in a couple of weeks. I took a home ec class in Junior High too but all we made was a little tote bag, and that was it. My mom didn't sew so that was that. Well, looks like I'll have to look into a class, or just dive in. Do you have specific patterns for aprons or skirts that you can recommend? (other than MJ's in her books, I have and love those!) Any specific sewing machine models you would recommend or "must have" features to look for for a total newbie? I'll be joining the swaps before you know it! Thanks farmgirl sisters!
Farmgirl Sister #138 |
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Bonne
True Blue Farmgirl
3003 Posts
Bonne
Littleton
CO
USA
3003 Posts |
Posted - Feb 11 2008 : 11:55:00 AM
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Check Craig's list for vintage machines if you feel adventurous.(find your area and type in "sewing machine" in the search under for sale) you may have to hunt for the manual and/or attachments, but a well-cared for heavy metal machine from the 40's-70's is priceless in my book. If you see something that looks interesting, post it here and we'll comment. ;)
http://bonne1313.blogspot.com/ BLOG
http://www.bonne1313.homestead.com/soap.html SOAP |
Edited by - Bonne on Feb 11 2008 11:55:59 AM |
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nashbabe
True Blue Farmgirl
687 Posts
687 Posts |
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pinkroses
True Blue Farmgirl
2350 Posts
Sheila
Virginia
USA
2350 Posts |
Posted - Feb 11 2008 : 4:19:54 PM
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I learned by watching Mom and her Mom
I was taught to do a 4 patch quilt block
in this yucky orange and green
Bright colors of the 60's Yuck
I also made a dress and poncho in middle school and a apron I think.
I got my love of needlework and sewing from my Mom's mom. Pinkroses
www.ohkayteagirl2.blogspot.com |
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Firemama
True Blue Farmgirl
1731 Posts
Amanda
Medical Lake
WA
USA
1731 Posts |
Posted - Feb 11 2008 : 4:38:38 PM
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A combintation of my Aunt and my husband
Mama to 2
FarmGirl# 20
Rich or Poor, It Dont matter We're all the same everybodys hungry in a different way....
http://myfarmdreams.blogspot.com/
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blueroses
True Blue Farmgirl
1323 Posts
Debbie
in the Pandhandle of
Idaho
USA
1323 Posts |
Posted - Feb 11 2008 : 4:40:05 PM
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My mom used to make matching outfits for my sister and I for Easter, etc. Even coats. My grandma (her mom) had worked as a seamstress at one time. They both taught me. I started out with really simple skirt patterns and stuffed animals when I was about 11 years old. I wouldn't say I'm a super accomplished seamstress, but I really love to sew. It's very relaxing and fun to create. Everyone has offered good suggestions. Start out easy and see if you can find a class somewhere.
"You cannot find peace...by avoiding life."
Virginia Woolfe |
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Beemoosie
True Blue Farmgirl
2077 Posts
Bonnie
New York
USA
2077 Posts |
Posted - Feb 11 2008 : 5:06:52 PM
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Keep at it Emme! I didn't sew much as a child or even teenager. My mom didn't have much time for it. But every once in a while I picked a little up from my grandma. I did take one or two home ec classes. As an adult I kept craving to learn so I took a community college sewing course and made a skirt...years after that I started taking quilting classes.
My soul magnifies the Lord, And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior. Luke 1:46,47
www.beequilting.blogspot.com
http://beemoosie-picture-diary.blogspot.com/ |
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Pearlsnjeans
True Blue Farmgirl
248 Posts
Vicki
West Haven
Utah
USA
248 Posts |
Posted - Feb 11 2008 : 5:50:49 PM
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Emme
My mom taught me to sew (along with home ec and 4-H). I've always liked to sew but kinda got caught up in other things over the years. So now I'm learning new techniques. This is all about learning and having fun! I use an older model Pfaff that belonged to my grandma. It's not fancy but does the basics.
Vicki
Farmgirl Sister #120
Farmgirls are elegant |
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PlumCreekMama
True Blue Farmgirl
730 Posts
Heather
Iowa
USA
730 Posts |
Posted - Feb 11 2008 : 7:44:08 PM
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| My mom had a sewing machine, but she didn't sew much, and I don't think she showed me anything. I learned some in home ec, but mostly I'm self-taught from books and the internet. |
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cinnamongirl
True Blue Farmgirl
1682 Posts
Carrie
Canada
1682 Posts |
Posted - Feb 11 2008 : 7:49:39 PM
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| Self taught but did have to do home ec. too but that's only one project a nightie which fell apart when I wore it LOL |
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Stitching & Crafting Room: How did you learn to sew? |
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How did you learn to sew?
