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Original poster

How many of you can actually sew, use a sewing machine and make clothes? And did you learn from your mother?

86 replies

Platesmasher · 04/08/2009 23:31

I've signed up for some beginner lessons as I did a bit at school but have forgotten it all. My mum taught my sister but not me. I just wondered if most mums can sew or if it's kind of dying out?

OP posts:
themoon · 04/08/2009 23:40

My mum taught me. Between the 2 of us we made my wedding dress and 2 bridesmaid dresses. I made loads of clothes over the years.

I passed my love of sewing onto DD who went on to get a 2-1 in fashion studies. She can make evening dresses from scratch, making her own patterns and everything.

FluffyBunnyGoneBad · 04/08/2009 23:41

My mum didn't teach me. I used to cut up her table cloths and make skirts out of them. I did a textile course at school and made a ball gown from scratch whilst at uni. I never really had any teaching to be honest.

poopscoop · 04/08/2009 23:42

no and cannot even sew a button on without it looking like a five year old has done it.

I can knit the odd square old ladies blankets though, but the last one of those must be about 25 years ago.

Mum can knit and taught me the squares!

Marthasmama · 04/08/2009 23:42

I want to learn and yes, I am going to ask my mum to teach me.

Granny23 · 04/08/2009 23:43

Yes I can, yes I can, yes she did. Sadly apart from repairs and taking hems up it is hardly worthwhile nowadays. It is cheaper to pick up a child's outfit in local shops than go to the city, get some remnants from the fabric shop and make them up. Such a shame in some ways. I made most of DD1s clothes and almost all of DD2's because she was so small for her age that I could not get age appropriate clothes to fit. Even made her a tiny grey pinafore dress to start school in. Sweet memories.

cathcat · 04/08/2009 23:56

I have dabbled with mixed results
I always saw my mum sewing, although infrequently as she worked full-time, but I can't say that she taught me. I just gave it a go.

paisleyleaf · 05/08/2009 00:00

I've taught myself by just getting patterns and following them. The language takes a bit of getting used to - but you get to know what they mean, and can start with 'easy' patterns.
I started with clothes for my DD, as the size is easier to handle, and mistakes less costly

blinder · 05/08/2009 00:02

yes I can follow a pattern and make clothes. yes I learnt from my mum. dad was a miner and on strike alot in the seventies. we made lots of things together, including my 6th form party dress (blue taffeta), which I still have. haven't sewn anything for years now .

can't knit at all - but would love to be able to.

Jux · 05/08/2009 00:03

Grandmother taught me mainly. My mum is a fabulous seamstress as well though, just when I was a kid she was working and didn't really have time.

I used to make all my own clothes, also knit and crotchet. Now I can't hold a needle without pain so I don't do it any more. My mum is teaching dd.

paisleyleaf · 05/08/2009 00:05

Blinder, I've recently taught myself to crochet with you-tub tutorials.
They can be pretty good. Might be worth you looking up knitting ones, if you wanted to.

Unconventional · 05/08/2009 00:05

My mum can't sew. I learned at school. The forgot most of it.

kitkatqueen · 05/08/2009 00:07

I learnt to sew from my mother, learnt to knit by myself and learnt to crochet from a lovely american lady on youtube

I could make clothes if I wanted to, but as granny23 says I spend most of my sewing time doing repairs or hems. Every now and then I make somthing just for the enjoyment of it, but I get little time...

It honestly amazes me that other people can't sew a button on, I don't understand how you can't do that. Totally perplexes me Not complaining tho I do my friends curtains, hems,buttons, and allsorts of other stuff in exchange for filing I just hate it and they can't understand why its a problem for me .

marenmj · 05/08/2009 00:18

Yes and yes. My mother helped me sew my confirmation dress. I went on to mend a multitude of things, but never really make much.

I would very much like to learn how to knit, but my mother does not know how. She did teach me how to crochet.

TBH it's a dangerous thing to know. I am unwilling to buy things because I know how to make them, but never have time to actually MAKE anything.

hambler · 05/08/2009 00:21

yes, yes, yes

gigglewitch · 05/08/2009 01:07

yes and yes, added a bit to it at school - no it was an old fashioned school lol but learned most at home, still do quite a bit

FAQtothefuture · 05/08/2009 01:18

I can't my mum (who made all our clothes when we were little( tried in vane to teach me - but I just never "got" it ;

DH sows the buttons back on shirts in this house

bruffin · 05/08/2009 01:22

I learnt partly at school,partly from my mum and eventually did an evening class.

I hardly make anything nowadays, but did make my bridesmaids dresses, DD's christening dress and my also my nieces christening dress and a a few dresses for myself.

Nowadays I usually use the sewing machine for fancy dress costumes for dressing up day.

DutchOma · 05/08/2009 07:44

My mother knitted enormous, shapeless garments which she wore, but didn't teach me. The girl next door did and I think I am now possibly the best knitter I know (big head emoticon) My daughter can knit as well, but has little time for it and suffered with carpal tunnel syndrome when expecting ds.
I sew as well, my mother hated it, but I was taught at school and then picked it up again as the children were tiny.
Made dd's wedding dress with the help of my son's mother-in-law who is a professional seamstress and absolutely brilliant.

BonsoirAnna · 05/08/2009 07:49

My mother is fabulously good with her hands and can sew anything.

She taught me and my sister to use a sewing machine from a young age. I haven't sewn anything for years but I am sure I would be able to were I to put my mind to it (and having my mother at the end of the telephone to troublshoot!).

Lizzylou · 05/08/2009 07:54

No, no and no.

Mom is just as useless at these things as me, we can just about sew on buttons/nametags.

Would love to be able to pick up bargain clothes then adjust them at home, like Gok, but would just look horrific if I tried.

purepurple · 05/08/2009 07:57

I taught myself as a teenager.
I had a sewing machine and used to take my clothes apart, use them as patterns and then sew them back together.
I made a dressing gown from a bedspread, much to my mum's horror.
I used to make a lot of my clothes, but don't have time now.

fishie · 05/08/2009 08:00

yes i can sew and make clothes. i learned how to mend clothes from my mum, machining and dressmaking from school / short evening course. i am rubbish at darning.

i will teach ds to do minor mending, sew on buttons etc i think it is a very basic neccessary skill.

Katymac · 05/08/2009 08:07

My mum & god mum taught me

I made lots of clothes as a teenager/early 20's but more recently I have done a bit & started to teach DD - who loves it

I also upholster & make curtains/bedding etc

I made quilt, valence, curtains & pelmet for my first flat about 3 months before DH(DP then) moved in - which doesn't sound too bad until you work out they were pale pink/cream/soft green & great big cabbage roses

Chica31 · 05/08/2009 08:11

I can't sew apart from repairs, but I can knit well. My grandmother taught me, even-though Mum can knit too. I have just started again knitting cardigans for my 10 week old DD. I find it really relaxing.

Chica31 · 05/08/2009 08:14

Sorry forgot to say, my DH is amazing at sewing. His Mum taught him, she makes wedding dresses etc as a business. I think it was so great that she taught her son and her daughter. Funnily enough DH's sister is useless at it and gets DH to help her.