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?

[ShauntheSheep]

The nuns taught my Gran my mum and me to knit sew crochet embroider etc etc. My Gran crocheted. My mum can knit (apparently....she has photos of things she knit before we all can along)but not sew beyond very basic stuff. I can knit and crochet but it bores me.

I can sew and have an old singer at home whihc I love but actually am crap at getting round to it except for making costumes. I like to embroider too. Taught myself to tablet weave and am hoping to learn to naalbind soon.

Dd has def got my families craft talent too and at 5 is beginnig to learn to sew and knit and is a dab hand at cord braiding already.

[IsItMeOr]

Yes, yes, yes and yes. My mum taught me and and my two sisters to sew and knit, but with varying degrees of aptitude. Mum knits and sews beautifully, as does my middle sister. The other two of us do passably well, but wouldn't win any WI prizes (which mum has!).

[Wiggletastic]

I can sew and knit, both taught by my Grandma who was from Shetland and could knit Fair Isle pattern jumpers using 6 needles at once while chatting and watching telly! She taught me to knit when I was three and hand sewing a bit later.

We also got taught sewing with a machine at school and it is such a great skill to have. I don't think I would bother much with doing clothes anymore as they are so much cheaper to buy but I am about to start on a patchwork quilt for DD with matching cushions and curtains.

I am also going to make a rag-rug for her room with all her old babygros, vests and bibs.

[alicecrail]

I learnt to sew in this last year because i signed up for a beginners sewing class (it was free, had a free creche and i thought it would be good for DD and myself)It turned out to be garment making and i absolutely loved it. I am hoping DH will get me a dress form for my birthday as my biggest propblem is figuring out how the patterns should sit and having a form should help me get my head round it a bit more. I am determined to do more, it is just my confidence that sometimes makes it hard.

[CMOTdibbler]

I can sew very well (although can't pattern cut), and learnt from my mum. I can crochet, but am an abysmal knitter - I remember my dad finishing off my knitting at school.

Mum is great at all sorts of needlecraft, including lacemaking (made 10m of silk lace for my wedding veil, and is currently making lace for SILtobes veil).

My favourite things are patchwork/quilting and smocking

[pagwatch]

I taught myself to sew when I was in my early twenties. I was sooooo broke and living & working in London so it made sense.
I had a treadle machine bought from a second hand shop and i used to pick up fabric in Petticoat lane.
My fav moment was when I was at the Berkley Square Ball wearing a huge 80's christmas cake ballgown in cream taffeta and Harpers took my picture and asked who I was wearing
Sewing is incredibly logical to me so once I had mastered the machine I found patterns easy. I made the curtains for our first few homes too as we were broke

My son asked me to show him how to sew when he was about ten and did some nice arty textile stuff to put on his wall. And DD is six now and is fascinated when i get the machine out.
But as others have said it is a work of love now as patterns and fabrics combined with cheap, good quality shops in most stores make it relatively expensive .

I also taught myselfto knit and crochet and have started knitting again recently to stop me spending the evenings with a wine glass glued to my hand....

DD wants to knit but keeps producing hedgehogs

[snickersnack]

My Granny was an excellent sewer. I regret not learning from get. I did a little at school ( badly) but have recently taught myself through a combination of books, YouTube, a class and MN. Can make clothes for dd, curtains, soft toys and am trying patchwork. I am adequate! Same with knitting though had more help from Mum with that.

[cathcat]

I love these stories. Pagwatch we need a picture of that ballgown please! lol at the DH good at sewing and sewing in exchange for filing. I feel inspired to get the machine out tonight. I did come across a good website recently where people show things they made themselves, I'll try to look for it.

What is tablet weave Shaunthesheep?

[phdlife]

not a sewing machine, but my mother did teach me embroidery and cross-stitch.

[nickelbabe]

i was taught by my mum: not because she insisted, but because i did - neither of my sisters can/do sew (beyond what they learnt in school). they were never interested.
most of our childhood clothes were home-made (my big sis used to hate that!) (and then handed down....), so we always got clothes that we wanted.
i always find it hard to get decent clothes (ie my style and fit) in the shops, so i took an HND to learn how to design/make my own patterns.
following this, i made my friend's bridal corset and another friend's bridesmaid's dress. (and of course stuff for myself)
and i'm going to make my own wedding dress, should the time ever come [sigh].

it's definitely a lot art and it's a shame that more children (notice, not girls: i have a couple of male friends who can knit very well because their grannies taught them!) don't learn and continue it.

[cathcat]

here

[pseudoname]

I can knit - good beginner. I also crochet - quite well - I made a massive table cloth once which took about 6 months to make. I can embroider - basic.

I am dying to learn to sew. I have a sewing machine but do not have the time to take lessons. I mess about with it from time to time or rather, it messes around with me.

One day, I promise, I will learn to do it well.

[abraid]

I can sew simple clothes and also curtains. My mother taught me.

Knitting is confined to scarves.

[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. As a result her stitches are non-existent! She never really got the chance to teach us as we were growing up as she worked full time, but has helped me with a few projects. Someone on MN suggested I try to make DTs some trousers as I am having difficulty finding them to fit over their cloth nappies, so inspired have just emailed her to ask if she could help me at the weekend. Need to think back to those textiles classes at school about 15 years ago, I wonder if I kept those notes......



PS, DH does all his own sewing, buttons etc, and event takes up DD1s trousers, as I just haven't a clue really!

[AstronomyDomine]

Can't sew beyond buttons, hems, stitching pockets back on etc.
My needlework teacher at school would look on in horror at my attempts at embroidery!
I can knit though - mainly little stuff for babies, toddlers - I do a mean arran anything! As for fairisle ( or anything with more than one colour to be honest) - not a hope in hell.

[MagicGlassesFairy]

I think the website where people show what they have made is something like sewing review (a USA site) - it is great if you want to know what a pattern is like, and how people have adapted it.
In answer to the question
Yes
Yes
Yes
Have just bought new sewing machine so I can teach DD - although time seems to be a problem.

[Andthentherewerethree]

i was taught by my nan when i was about 15 and when i moved into my first home i brought the material for curtains, bidged a few up and my nan took over and showed me how to do it properly.
then for years i didn;t sew, didn;t even have a machine but when my nan died in 2005 my grandad gave me my nans machine, i didn;t do vey much wiht it for ages but in the last year i ahve discovered a few craft forums and i make quite a bit now, am alwya makign dd a new skirt or dress (shes 3), the boys wouldn;t wear mummy made clothes iof you paid them, so other than clothes for dd i have to content myself with making cushions, curtains and throws.

[pseudoname]

i am in awe of the person who used to take apart her clothing to copy them and then sew them back together. I'd have been too afraid to do that if it ever crossed my mind as my mum would have given me a cuff in the head for taking them apart.

now wishes she still had some much loved trews that she wore till threadbare and can't find one like it to replace.

[cornflakegirl]

My mum was a professional dressmaker / curtain maker when I was growing up. She taught me how to sew, and use a sewing machine, but I didn't practice those skills a lot, so don't have much confidence. Also, having seen her at work, I know the time, effort and skill involved in making even basic curtains and blinds look really good. I freecycled my inherited sewing machine when I realised that I really was never going to use it.

[LIZS]

Can sew well enough to do basic curtains , tie backs and straightforward clothes although mainly kids dressing up and play costumes these days. Learnt at school in Home Economics lessons. Can't knit or crochet though

[Size6Feet]

I have always sewn, even from an early age I loved the fabrics. I even altered soft leather boots that were too big around the calf when I was a skinny teenager. I was taught at school along with knitting and just kept going from there. My sons all dabble, either making stuff for their girlfriends or altering backpacks, etc. I enjoy crocheting as its faster.
Not everyone is drawn to it - we all have different skills.

[LizLemon]

Yes yes yes and no. Entirely self taught over the last couple of years. The best reference book I have is the DK book of sewing, which has lots of pictures. The more you do the more you learn, and you get some nice things to wear at the end of it. Mostly I make bags though.

[CarGirl]

Well I suppose my Mum taught me, but I don't remember her teaching more that I used to watch her. I remember sewing stuff at primary school. I find it hard to do now because I have to clean the table properly, get it all out, put it all away. Lots of hassle!

[CharCharGabor]

My mum can't sew and didn't teach me. I had a rubbish Textiles teacher so hated sewing and thought I was rubbish. I decided I wanted to try making DD some clothes a few months ago so taught myself using tutorials on the internet. I would love to take a class in dressmaking. I can draw up patterns now from DD's clothes and her measurements. I haven't sewn for a few weeks due to pg malaise but hope to get back into it soon