Saturday, May 2, 2009

I know it all because__________taught me!

Who taught you how to sew? Your grandma, mom, home ec teacher, 4H, your old boyfriend, WHO??? I wanna know how you became so incredibly awesome! Now, before you tell me what a beginner you are and how you don't know a thing about anything, just STOP, because I don't believe a word! I see your quilts, purses, dolls, clothes, and hairstuff everyday and they are usually pretty darn amazin'! I know a girl who has the funniest thing on her blog. She is pregnant so she has a button on her blog that says, "I am so crafty, I make people!" Isn't that the best?! So tell me all about the special someone in your life that gave you the desire or talent to create with fabric. And what was the first project you completed?

Winners this week will get...fabric, of course! A yard of one of my personal fav's, did I tell you I have good taste? :o) Shasta Fantasta

39 comments:

Ruth B said...

I guess I would have to credit my mom for teaching me how to embroider when I was a child. Dishtowels of course. Couldn't use dishtowels or pillowcases that weren't embroidered. She also bought me one of those wooden spools with 4 nails on top so I could learn how to knit. Kind of.

Lotta said...

I'm mostly self taught. My mother helped a bit when I was young but when it comes to quilting I learned most of from the Internet and by trial and error.
Lotta in Sweden

Robin (RsIslandCrafts) said...

I learned the basics of sewing a draw string laundry bag waaaaayy back in 6th grade. About 16 years ago, my hubby taught me how to thread my new sewing machine. After that it was all self taught mostly by trial and error.

I've learned alot from all the fantastic bloggers out there too.

April said...

I have to credit my mom for the inspiration to sew but I mostly taught myself with only a little help from her on how to operate her machine. The first thing I sewed was a pair of doll pajamas with feet.

Allie said...

I'm a self taught sewer. The first thing I made was a doll quilt for my niece. I made it when I was 12, and she still has it. Kinda fun.

Rachel said...

hmm...my Grandma taught me the basics and a general love of creating clothing and quilts. but it wasn't til university that I really learned how to be best friends with a sewing machine.

Anonymous said...

My mom showed me how to sew a line when I was young so I could make a blanket for my "babies" (dolls). Then about 8 years ago, she and my dad gave me a sewing machine with one class for Christmas. It gave me the basics of how to work the machine (at least- I'm still figuring stuff out though :) ). Recently I saw some adorable loveys and wanted to make one that was the perfect personality so I went crazy. Since then, I am trying more and more stuff! I love it and can hardly wait to get "really good"! :) hehe

Joanna said...

My MIL taught me how to quilt (piece). My very first project was Yellow Brick Road, and it is now my son's quilt. Lola taught me how to quilt (longarm) and my first project was the Yellow Brick Road that is now my son's quilt. :)

Anya said...

I always LOVED sewing! It has come to me quite naturally ever sense I was a little girl. People were telling my mother that I should do something about it as a carrier...however, I have never went that path. Years past....4 kids, one on the way....no carrier in sewing except the fact that I have 3 girls who gave me an excuse to put my creativity into action. I want to also say, that it was my freind (who has the button on her blog about making babies ;), that has brought me to your store and once I saw the beuatiful fabric, it was almost like walking back into a wounderful dream.

Cory said...

"I know it all because my Momma taught me!" Her and the fabulous ladies in my quilt group. It was my Mom that gave me the quilt bug and I still haven't been able to get rid of it. :-) Take care and God bless, Cory

Scrappinfor3 said...

My mother inspired me to learn how to sew. She has always been the creative one of the family. I finally taught myself how to sew a couple of years ago now. . . and I'm addicted to creating things. I never have taken official classes (so I get confused when terminology is used) but I can call Mom & ask her what it's all about. Sometimes she tells me to ignore the "rules" & do what she always did. . .sometimes I teach her a thing or 2:)

Erika said...

I taught myself. With the help of all the fabulous bloggers out there!

When my MIL passed away from Cancer in Sept 2005 (1 year to the day of my first childs due date)her sewing machine was given to me. I had never sewed anything more than a button. The machine sat for about 3 years. Just recently I have been missing her, and looking at all the pictures of the things she made my husband and SIL when they were little I dragged the machine out of the basement and the rest is history! Sometimes, I catch my husband smelling it! ;) He says it still smells the same!

Lamse said...

I made a gorgeous seersucker swimming suit in 4H, but it was my Mom that taught me to sew. She was very patient when I continually interupted her Carol Burnet Show to ask her questions from the pattern instructions. My first project? A fitted silk dress. My sisters were amazed, but you have to start somewhere! I am currently working on a quilt with my 11 year old daughter. She will be prepared to make a silk dress!

brit said...

like the zookeeper-ette, my mom started me on the path, but i have gotten inspiration from so many people that i don't know if i could name just one. i feel like that is what makes a true crafter... gathering bits and pieces from all the people along your path & molding them into who you want to be.

Melanie said...

My mom taught me how to sew. She is super talented and makes all the curtains, pillows, bedroom sets, etc. for our home. She made all of our prom dresses growing up and even made my sister's wedding dress. Every time I get a compliment about something I am wearing it is ALWAYS something that my mom has made. She's amazing! So she inspired me to learn. My first project was a wrap around skirt. It was a complete disaster (I tried to make it all on my own) but it got me started. I now make all the pillows etc. for our own home and am starting the tradition of making my own little girl's clothes. It's so fun and I am so grateful to my mom for sharing her talent with me.

JJ said...

I took sewing in Junior High and got a incomplete because I just couldn't get it. My Mom didn't sew so I was a lost sole. But when I had my first child I really wanted to learn to sew so I started out with jiffy patterns and with the help of my bestest friend Pat I became a seamtress of sorts.

Sherri said...

I always credit my grandmother with teaching me to quilt...but I never would have quilted if my Mom hadn't encouraged me to sew! And my first project was actually some 9-patch pillows made from pre-cut squares my Mom got at Cloth World...and this was over 32 years ago!!!

LIZALOU said...

"I Know it all because Grandma and Mom taught me!" My first quilt was a plain square quilt that my mom helped me make for a little project. This past Christmas I learned I was moving away and I decided to enlist the help of my amazing quilter of a Grandma to help me make my first quilt quilt. I'm so glad she was able to help because now I have such fun memories of us together.

Sue Cahill said...

My maternal grandmother gave me a love of sewing and gave me my own Singer sewing machine when I turned 13. I used that machine for over 20 years!

Sue Cahill (sbonetsue at yahoo dot com)

Galo Fab 5 said...

My mother has always sewn. In high school she would sew her friends clothes. LOL. She always had some project so I would credit my interest and love of sewing to her. But as far as the actual sewing, I've just taught myself by trial and error and tutorials online. I'm not sure what the first thing I sewed was but my first project that I was actually proud of was a crib set and valance for my baby's room.

sandra said...

My love of sewing goes a long way back. I started with just a needle and thread. I guess I would credit my love for sewing to my Mother, Aunts and G-Mother. They quilted everyday and were all very big busted. They would sit down to the quilt lift up their busts slide in and lay them down on the quilt and get to work. LOL I wanted to sew beautiful works of art like the quilts they worked on. In Jr. high I sewed my "HOMEMADE PANTIES" in Home Ec. then ended up sewing the whole classes. The biggest challenge I have had was to take a womens wedding dress and alter it for her daughters homecoming queen dress, which also happened to be the womens 20th year class reunion. It turned out beautiful.

IandS said...

My Mother-in-law taught me how to use her beautiful, old pfaff (best machine I've ever sewn on). She taught me how to piece a quilt for my parents for Christmas. When i got pregnant I then moved on to quilts for my babies. From there I'm mainly self taught (I do a lot of seam ripping and a LOT of hiding errors) but I am learning more along the way.

Ben and Aline Memmott said...

I know it all because my ex-boyfriend's mom taught me! Well, the relationship with her son obviously didn't last but what she taught me will stick with me for the rest of my life. Thanks Jean Gray!

Dkole said...

My mom and sister have always sewn. I never had much interest in it. Having children gave me an interest in all things homemade. Baking, sewing all the good things in life. After I had Lola, I really had an interest in learning to sew. I had a friend who had started quilting and that really caught my attention. My husband gave me a sewing machine for Christmas two years ago. That got the wheels turning. I made my first quilt that January and haven't looked back. My Mom has been a huge help. Anytime I have a question I go to her. Other things have just been trial and error.

Heather said...

I remember watching my Mom sew from a pretty young age. I always got really excited when she would make my litte sister and I matching dresses. So, she started teaching me at about 11 years old. Then, I had some great teachers in home economics, and in college. Now, I get learn at Gracie Lou's awesome classes!

itsconnie said...

hmm....I always watched my Mom sew, she sewed for necessity and not for fun, so I didn't learn from her. I was taught in home ec and loved my instructor. From there I am self taught and my tastes in sewing have changed over the years. I love Gracie Lou's classes, I have learned new things from them

Shauni said...

My mom taught me how to sew, but I didn't learn much because I wasn't really interested. She would set it all up and tell me to sew a straight line, but I never would have done it on my own. I even got a Bernina when I graduated from college, but only used it a handful of times. I remember thinking that it was sad that the art of sewing would be lost on me and I wouldn't be able to pass it on to my daughter, like all the generations had before. Then I met my dear friend Lauralee, who showed me that I really could do it and it really could be fun. Thanks to her, I now have a love for fabric, fabric stores, and sewing bags and little girl clothes. I'm happy to say that the art of sewing will not be lost on me!

Brenda Bales said...

I have to give alittle credit to my Junior High School sewing teacher. She used to hand out speeding tickets to anyone that went to fast on their machine. She also had very bad breath and everyone hated to talk to her. My mom really taught me the most. She sewed everything from doll clothes, stuffed animals, my clothes, recoved funiture, you name it she could do it. The first real project I made was the sweeteest little red cordaroy jacket you ever did see. I lined it with red silk and put silver buttons on it. I can still picture that baby now.

Liz said...

My friend Jojo taught me how to make a baby blanket when I was pregnant. Once I saw all the wonderful fabric to sew with I was addicted. Since then I have taken a few classes, read some books and have read alot of tutorials and alot of blogs. I still am a beginning sewer but I love it.

Alexander Family said...

My very talented mother in law Ann taught me to sew my first quilt. She made beautiful quilts and she taught me. The first quilt I made was sewing a charm pack together. I had to take the whole thing apart and sew it again because my seams were to large. I am now hooked and a little bit of a fabric whore. I see it and have to buy it , not even knowing what to do with it. Annika

Angie said...

My Mom held my hand for years.... I couldn't sew without her right my me. She is glad I can sew on my own now, but I still love her company while sewing. My first project was a Hamburger pillow in Jr High. Yes, that's right... a Hamburger pillow!! Seriously, who makes those? It was my first sewing project I can remember from home ec class.

Dianna said...

My mum has always been great at sewing and over the past few years, I've been asking her fairly regularly to teach me. She always said she would, but with a 3 year old hanging around my every move, it's always been difficult to find a suitable time for us both. So, at Christmas I took the plunge. I asked my husband for a sewing machine and he lovingly obliged and since then, I haven't stopped (he later told me he was sceptical that I would ever use it). I guess then, inspired by my mum, I taught myself. If there is anything I get stuck on, I always ask her but also check the web. There is so much information and guidance out there, it's absolutely fantastic.

klaudia said...

My Grandma inspired me to sew...she was just making so many things in her spare time! One day I decided that I d love to try and I used my skinny jeans...hmmm..to make flares...I broke mums sewing machine then..and gave up sewing (I was 15). And now I am teaching myself as I go along..through wonderful crafty blogs, tutorials and books...

BiLlY, sAm, AnD bOyS!!! said...

my good ol' momma! she is awesome and can so anything- pattern or not, she will just make up her own.

Samantha Banks

Ericksen Family said...

I learned some basic skills from good old junior high sewing class, but my love to sew is from my grandma who would say "lets go pick out a dress and pattern and we will sew together."

alex said...

I owe it all to my Mom. When I was in grade school, I had a friend that we did everything together and we got the idea that we wanted to make matching dresses and that is what we did. My mother took us shopping and taught us the basics of sewing and let us start sewing. We kept right on sewing together and kept on doing everything alike. My mother had a love of anything that used the hands and she taught us what she knew and now I am passing it on to my children.

Stephanie Crandall said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Stephanie Crandall said...

My mother has been my best teacher. She made my family replica pioneer clothing, Sunday dresses & coats, blankets, and quilts. She taught me how to sew clothing and piece quilts. I Love her for everything she has done for me! Because of her teaching me in my early youth, I was able to compete in the National Make it Yourself With Wool competition! Talk about exciting for a 16 year old. I am now graduated from HS and have a beautiful Bernina with an embroidery arm too!

Melanee said...

I learned from many people, but the best memory I have, is from my Grandmother. I watched and learned. She taught me things that I never learned in Junior High sewing class. And now, I just experiment, til I get it how I want it to look.