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

[Platesmasher]

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?

[Anste]

Yes to all. Learnt from mum and Grandma, also school. My DD has not interest at all -not surprising when mum does it for her I suppose. Her DH bought her a book and tries to encourage her to sew on buttons - no chance!!

[neversaydie]

My Mum trained as an OT during the War, when it was a lot more craft based than now, and she is superb at all sorts of crafty things. She made all our clothes when we were little, and somehow we got used to choosing colour and cut so as we grew older we learned to sew, as well.

Neither Grandmother was particularly competent at textile work, and I was in academic streams at school, so it was really only Mum who taught me.

I taught myself to knit as a student, but never mastered crochet or tatting.

I don't do much these days, no time, but the sewing machine comes out for costumes for nativity plays and so-on, and I still have a super collection of fabrics.

[moocowme]

yes, yes, yes. I used to make everything i wore as it was cheaper AND i cn make things to fit my very hourglass figure. these day i make about 50% of my own clothes.

a man at our local markets sells remnents from the coming years high street chains for £1 a metre.

i also like to have clothes from natural farics like cotton, linen, wool and silk. all the high street stuff seems to synthetics these days which i wont wear.

ever holiday or trip i go on also includes a visit to any fabric shops in the area. recently i visited my fav one overseas that does dress quality silk similar to what you get in Monsoon for $10AU a metre. i now have several more silk blouses and dresses after that trip at considerably cheaper than monsoon prices (and not lined with polyester fabric either!!).

i still think it is cheaper and nicer to make your own things you just have to put some effort into it. I currently have 5 big storage bags in the loft of fabrics and habadashery waiting to be made into things, which they all eventually will be.

[Washersaurus]

My mum did sew a little, but I mostly mastered it at school in Home Economics classes.

Now, knitting is a different thing altogether; my mum is fab at it and taught me when I was younger (or tried to at least), she has since given me tutorial books to follow and I still can't do it

[Hormonesnomore]

My friend taught me to use a sewing machine when I was 17. I went on to make dresses for myself & clothes for my children - mostly pyjamas & nighties as it was so much cheaper in those days. Now, as granny23 says, it's more economical to buy outfits.

My mum taught me to knit and I made all my baby cardigans. She knitted beautifully and her work was photographed & published for magazine patterns.

My DDs have never been interested in dressmaking or knitting but are otherwise quite crafty, making cards, scrapbooks, cross stitch, etc.

[Platesmasher]

arf at knitting as punishment.

DS2 about to start school....it's different now right?

[OurLadyOfPerpetualSupper]

That last post has reminded me that in Primary 6, (fourth year to us), the girls got a knitting lesson once a week while the boys played football.

Occasionally a boy was made to join the knitters as a punishment - the humiliation was so cruel!

Then in secondary school we did needlework, which I always thought I was rubbish at because I'm a technophobe, but I got top marks in the third form exam.
Wasn't allowed to continue with it though, as the top stream weren't allowed to do Needlework or Domestic Science.

[dizzyday07]

I learnt the basics to sew at achool where us girlies had to take Needlework - whilst the boys got Woodwork & Metalwork - lucky beggers

I have continued throughout my life - and even made a dress for my first wedding!

My gran taught me to knit. Despite me being lefthanded I never had any problem. I can also do very basic crochet.

I have also dabbled with tapestry and cross-stitch - again all self taught

[TwoIfBySea]

I learned in Primary 7, we made a cushion and a dress each and that was that. I used to make my own clothes due to my mother not agreeing with the concept of style.

[PinkyMinxy]

lovingthesilverfox

Sorry- typing was not on list, you'll notice!!

[PinkyMinxy]

nickebabe and ovingthesilverfox

My parents told me I was cack-handed and used it as an excuse not to teach me/tell me I wouldn't be able to do a lot of things -sewing machines, ironing, origami, knitting, playing an instrument. It's all baloney, of course, and I am gradually teaching myself to do all of these things, except the ironing, unless for sewing projects lol.

OurLadyOfPerpetualSupper I think we are a similar age- and it was very similar for me, crazy how sexist it was. All changed now I hope!

[pasturesnew]

Yes, learned in 6th form in the elective bit - asked the Home Ec teacher what to do and they showed me how to use the machine, read a pattern and put in a zip. My mum would have helped but in typical teenager manner I thought I would learn for myself

[DidEinsteinsMum]

My mum taught me basic skills and i self taught myself. we both dress make and she reconds i have surpassed her skills, i think i still have more to learn from her. Would to do a proper dress making course.
Wizz with counted cross as well- was taught that by an exasperated mother who wanted me to learn to sit
Can knit but can't knit from a pattern yet i dont get the abbrevs. But i knit scandinavian way so can pick up a book. Am planning to pin mum down for that bit at some point.

This month i made 2 pairs of tab top curtains, i have made stuff easter chicks, the bag on my profile, various skirts, plus working on a ptachwork tablecloth, and baby quilts/playmats. I have a top pattern that is on my list to do but as it needs adapting it will have to wait for now. Too many UFO's and going back to uni in sept.

[ByThePowerOfGreyskull]

I can sew, my mum can sew but she didn't teach me, I learned at boarding school.

I enjoy sewing now as a hobby

[Bumperslucious]

I can sew ok, used to do it a lot as a kid, made little animals and puppets and stuff, not sure how I learned. My mum can sew ok too but I don't think she taught me.

I'm not a great knitter, but have recently discovered crochet and not looked back! I love it! Someone at my knitting group taught me the basic chain and a couple or stitches but the rest I have taught myself from online tutorials.

I taught myself how to use a sewing machine to make a teepee for DD's birthday, which is fab, if a little rough around the edges. Wish I could afford a proper workshop or something though. I'd love to learn dressmaking or upholstery.

[ZZZenAgain]

haven#t sewn anything at all, even a button in years. Dd asked me to teach her to sew but tbh I am wondering if I am the best person to do that

[ZZZenAgain]

My mother could sew and used a machine but she did not teach us chldren to use it. I had a friend (when I was already grown up) who made a lot of her clothes herself and did a really good job. she encouraged me to have a go and I gave it abash using books and patterns, but I felt I didn't really know the tricks of the trade so things would come apart a bit in the wash or not be absolutely right etc.

[nickelbabe]

lovingthesilverfox

"My Mum used to make loads of clothes and curtains etc. She did it at O-Level at school, and because she was left handed couldn't use the sewing machines in those days very easily so stitched everything by hand."

that's quite interesting: the guy who invented the sewing machine, Elias Howe, was left-handed and put everything on the sewing machine in such a position that it's easier for lefties to use (think about it: the hard arm is on the right hand side, but the bit where the fabric goes, has more room to move and needs more control is on the left)
It's probably more likely that the teachers made her feel inadequate about being lefthanded so she felt less confident using one...
kudos to her handstitching though! my hand stitches look as neat as they did when i first learnt at 5yo!!

[moulesfrites]

a john lewis own brand one, had a little tutorial from the lovely lady in the shop, was around £200. Probably. My mum advised me against the £100 one as she said too lightweight for curtains etc.

[troutpout]

i can knit..any pattern and can make up small patterns. I do enjoy knitting

I can sew a bit...but don't really enjoy doing it...and will do anything to avoid.

I can use a sewing machine rather unconfidently...don't enjoy it.

All taught by my mother

I cannot crochet (neither can my mother)

I have taught dd (6) the basics of knitting.

[GentleOtter]

Ooh moules, which machine did you get?

[moulesfrites]

I an very interested in this thread as I just bought a sewing machine last week!! My mum is a professional dressmaker so I grew up surrounded by sewing but didn't really take that much of an interest, but that has changed as I have got older.

So far I have just made a couple of cushion covers and some little heart things to hang on door knobs etc, but am quite pleased with my accomplishments.

Am thinking of going to get some patterns to extend me repertoire. There are some lovely ideas on this site too - not really patterns as such, but might be worth a try - going to give the fabric leaves a go as they look pretty straightforward!!

www.amybutlerdesign.com/products/free_patterns.php

[IotasCat]

I learnt at home on my mother's old hand Singer. I used to make a lot of my own clothes, but haven't bothered for years.

These days it's mainly fancy dress for the kids.

[lynniep]

I can sew/knit/crochet etc. It was my step-mum taught me to start with, but I've always been naturally handy with stuff like that. We also were taught at school starting at about 8 and from 10 we had lessons using sewing machines too.

Its a great set of skills that I havent lost over time. I was knitting complicated stuff when I was ten years old - its a relaxing hobby and keeps your fingers out the biscuit tub

Sewing I find more tedious - it involves a lot more finicky tasks - but I'm still glad I know what I'm doing and if something really needs doing (like recently needing to reduce single duvet to cotbed size) I will eventually pull my finger out and do it.

[GentleOtter]

We had sewing lessons in Primary school and had to make our cookery aprons. My Granny was a seamstress and used to make all the clothes for my Sindy doll then would show me how to stitch on the buttons, take up hems and how to dart to make the clothes fit.

Everyone knitted (except Mum who never had the time) so I don't remember who taught me but while I do knit, I'm very slow at finishing things.

My machine is an old treadle type which does only one type of stitch and I'm always hopeful that one Christmas there will be a shiny new machine which does reverse stitching and everything.