My Story

As one of six girls, from a poor rural family, sewing was a way of life in our family. My mother was an avid sewer, as well as her mother before her. We all learned to sew because we knew this was how we got new clothes. By the age of 8,

I would sit beside my mother as she would sew for the family, I would make doll clothes. I was always a mischievous child and every time my mother would leave home I would get on her sewing machine. I got some spankings for this.

During my fourth grade year, I joined the 4H Club where I improved my hand sewing skills. My first project was an apron and cup towels. They were decorated with hand embroidery. This was a great learning experience.

In the seventh grade I was making a few of my own clothes. Home Economics class was my favorite class. Most of the items I sewed were A line skirts and dresses. The other students often asked me to assist them with their projects.

Home Economics in grades 9-12 were great I had a wonderful teacher named Mrs. Gambrell. This was the class I felt that there was never enough time, I could have stayed all day. I always knew I had an A in the class and some new outfits to wear. After high school I had to decide what I wanted to major in when I went to college. The choice was an easy one to make I wanted to be a teacher like Mrs. Gambrell.

During my college years, I continued to make my clothes. Mom left it completely up to me. I would spend the summers making a new wardrobe for school. I even carried my sewing machine to school. I enjoyed all my classes, but sewing classes were the most fun. During this time I fell in love with tailoring. I still like it to this day. The structure of the garments are splendid. During this time there was no speed tailoring, everything was done by hand, and I enjoyed it all even the hand work. My suit I made in tailoring class I gave to my 25 year old daughter about three years ago. This is why I love tailoring.

When I completed college and went into the world of education. I still sewed my own clothing. I sewed for my children when they were smallalso. My daughter got about age 13, and she did like anything I bought for her. but she loved for me to make her clothes. This continued until she completed college three years ago.

I have had a few years where I did not do much sewing, but I have always kept up with what was going on in the industry. Then a few years ago, right after my mother died I got interested again. I feel a closeness with my mother when I sew.

This is my sewing story. I only wish I had instilled this love for sewing in my daughter. She have had times recently where she wished she knew how to sew. I live 200 miles away and I am not always available. This could be an "I told you so" moment, but I don't say anything.