Join the most vibrant sewing community on the web!

Who taught you to sew?

Yourself?
Mom?
Instructor?

Who was it?

Replies to This Post

Permalink Reply by Megan Santas on September 18, 2009 at 11:12pm

I learned by watching my Mom - she made a couple of my prom dresses, some dresses for myself and my sisters when we were little girls, and a gazillion scrub tops for me, my sister, and my sister's co-workers. Her mom (my Grandma) had sewn for a job at one point. I didn't really have any instruction, but one day, I decided I wanted to try it. Mom said "Go for it" and I've done some simple stuff since then. I just bought my own sewing machine so am hoping to get into more challenging stuff... I tend to follow the design in my head, or alter stuff from patterns to make it easier to do or unique somehow.

Permalink Reply by loreal on October 26, 2009 at 8:32am

My mother had tried to teach me to sew, but as a child you don't always want to listen to your mother. :) There was a lady next door that happened to be a home ec teacher and she showed me a lot when I was 10 years old. That Christmas I made a barbie doll wardrobe for my sister. Then I took home ec in school. It wasn't too long before my mom quit sewing and wanted me to make her clothes. That was 46 years ago and although I quit sewing for a few years when my life got too busy, I have now retired and started back sewing again. I love it!

Permalink Reply by Heather McIntosh on November 9, 2009 at 4:04pm

I taught myself at aged 12 years. I would annoy my mother while she was sewing by picking up leftover fabric to make barbie clothes..copying the picture on the back of pattern envelopes. WARNING: Don't let me loose in a fabric store. Heather.

Permalink Reply by GiftedGrandma on November 11, 2009 at 1:14pm

Started Home ec...then my daughters clothing..went wild when grandchildren lived with me 5 years and been going since..until sickness 2008

Permalink Reply by cyndi on August 11, 2010 at 11:48am

I learned to sew through a friend; however my grandmother never bought clothing from a store she made everyone's clothing, My moms, aunts, uncles, cousins, and grand-kids. At the Beginning of every school year she had a new wardrobe for all of us. Until she turned 78 years old. Her eyes got really bad. My mother also use to sew but she gave it up after my grandmother passed away. I took on the tradition I just wish I had grandma's Talent (=

Permalink Reply by Patricia McClain Osborne on August 12, 2010 at 2:43am

I started sewing when I was in elementary school. My grandmother sewed for customers. She made a lot of my sisters' and I clothes growing up. I started with barbie clothes. I best memories of my grandmother is that she drafted patterns from grocery paper bags. Unfortunately I did not acquire that talent. She also made my sister and I this wonderful coat for winter. I remember it as if it was yesterday. I wish I could find the picture of us together wearing them. I wore it to death. LOL

Permalink Reply by Dalia on November 10, 2010 at 10:45pm

My mom is a sewer and I learned by looking at her, and asking questions. She learned from her mom the same way that I did from her, she started sewing when she was 7 years old with a hand cranked sewing machine. My sisters and I enjoy sewing, it is on our blood. LOL

P.D. We all have fabric fever!!!

Permalink Reply by Marsha Egleston on November 11, 2010 at 5:47pm

My mom taught me sewing at a very early age and I made all my dresses in elementary school. When I hit puberty I lost interest.
I didn't take it back up until I was into my 50's. Now I am teaching myself and learning from others that are willing to share their expertice.
I am just beginning to really enjoy sewing, before I was somewhat blocked. My favorite is still the designing part of creating a new outfit or accessory.

Permalink Reply by Chicnjoy on December 18, 2010 at 12:37pm

I learn sewing at a fashion design school in France, first two years I learned "industrial " sewing, design and modelism, then another fashion school in France for two years, where I learned "haute couture" and hand sewing and I specialized in french history of clothing.

I always wanted to sew, my first project was a felt bird, I was 3 and half years old and it was done at school.

Since I can't stop!

Permalink Reply by Kathleen Norton on February 22, 2011 at 6:08pm

My father. He had an upholstery shop. We started out making doll clothes by hand out of the discontinued sample book fabrics. When I was in junior high I took the home economics sewing classes and learned to use patterns and other dressmaking skills. I have continued to take sewing and design classes my entire life, but it was my father who lit the spark.............Oh, and I think I could still do a mean tuck and roll:-)

Permalink Reply by Valerie Carroll on April 19, 2011 at 8:11pm

My mother bought an old treadle singer sewing machine when I was 8 and told me she was going to teach me to sew because I always wanted clothes. So at 10 she showed me the basics of how the machine worked, bought me a basket, tape measure and let me pick out patterns and material and I basically taught myself from there. My mom didn't like the sewing machine. She would sew everything by hand. Then I learned about electric machines in home Economics. But while they were making a wrap around skirt, I made my wrap around, a pleated skirt and a vest. I loved it.