curtains
first time sewer
growing up
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Her first time....
By Modestah
@Modestah (11177)
United States
January 31, 2008 12:26am CST
my 13 year old daughter recently received the gift of a sewing machine. How very excited she was to give it a go...
I was cleaning the kitchen today and decided that the curtains were getting a bit old - and grabbed a cotton red gingham table cloth (you know the kind with the little flowers interspersed on them, like cafe table clothes)
And I showed her how to thread her machine, we were going to make curtains for the window. This material was a perfect choice because the gingham stripes provided an easy guide for cutting and making the casing as well as the hem.
It did not take very long at all and gave a nice sense of satisfaction - it looks awful cute in the window too, so bright and cheerful. I think her next project will be a matching apron out of the remainder of the tablecloth
Do you remember your first sewing project? what did you make? was it as simple as a small kitchen curtain/valence?
3 people like this
12 responses
@jillhill (37353)
• United States
31 Jan 08
I don't remember my first project as it was so long ago. We learned somewhat in Home Ec. that was a class we took that taught you how to cook and sew. I don't know if they have it still...but anyway by the time I reached my senior year I was sewing all my own clothes....we wore dresses bach then and they were simple to put together....I still love sewing! Tell her congrats on a job well done!
1 person likes this
@Modestah (11177)
• United States
31 Jan 08
my first project in home ec and to be a wrap around skirt. the second project was a blouse. my mother sewed a lot of my clothing in my youth. back when the hobby was frugal, anymore by the time you buy your pattern, notions, material you could have purchased 2 off the rack.
1 person likes this
@jillhill (37353)
• United States
31 Jan 08
I know.....man I can't believe how much pattern's cost now day....I used to get a pattern and buy a couple of kinds of material and had a two new dresses for next to nothing...And I believe we did the wrap around skirt too then moved on to box pleats! LOL
@stormeetigress (487)
• United States
1 Feb 08
I've notices how outrageous patterns are and there are a lot of cute things I'd like to make for my daughter and nephew, but between the pattern and everything else.Gosh, I'd be better off buying one. Lately my mom who lives in another state tells me when Hancock fabric has their patterns for 99 cents and I go there for them and sometimes they even have a good sale on fabric! I buy a bunch at a time!
@Ravenladyj (22902)
• United States
31 Jan 08
OH fabulous!! I finally bought myself a new machine back in september (I'd not had one for yrs) and both my kids are pestering to have me teach them how to use it but I'm holding off LOL I'm actually considering getting them their own really just because if something happens to mine I'd be SERIOUSLY angry since I sew every day...
Wow, my first project....Jeez thats really going back LOL I think my first project was a duffle bag..this was back in grade 7 when I was in school...turned out really well too!
1 person likes this
@coffeeshot (3783)
• Australia
4 Mar 08
The first thing i made was a small tote bag. I used an old library bag and turned it into my own creation. My grandmother helped me. I've just inherited her machine so i want to continue making things. I also made some boxer shorts in high school for my home economics class. I think sewing is a dying artform these days and kids now wouldn't have a clue how to sew a button or a hem. In fact, I don't really know how to sew a hem! My mum is ok at sewing so I've organised to have her come show me some things. I think it's great that you're encouraging your daughter to sew.
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
13 Mar 08
That is so great. It is wonderful that your teaching her this skill. I remember a foster boy we had that loved to sew and for his 16th birthday I bought him his first sewing machine. He loved it. I made his first machine quilt on it.
!!HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!!
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@KarenO52 (2950)
• United States
31 Jan 08
I made an oven mitt as my first sewing project. I remember I was so bad, that I almost cut the fabric the wrong way, so the two sides wouldn't go together right. I still am not very good at sewing, but I can make curtains or pillows and they don't look too bad.
@drannhh (15219)
• United States
1 Feb 08
That is just darling. I sure do. Our grandma taught me and 2 of my same-age cousins how to hand-sew when we were 6 years old. One of my cousins kept tangling the thread and grew impatient and cried. Then she threw the whole thing down and ran outdoors and played baseball with her brothers while my other cousin and I stayed inside and learned. Someday I must ask her if she ever learned to sew.
I did not get to use an actual sewing machine until many years after that, but I've used one ever since. My first machine project was a sewing apron. It was a nice project for beginners, but I hate aprons.
@katisaurus (1038)
• Canada
1 Feb 08
I actually used a sewing machine in grade 10 for a fashion course at school. We did a lot of little things like pockets and changing pants to skirts and stuff, but those were easy. My first project was a dress - from scratch - it took me two weeks to finish but I was so proud of myself. Unfortunately I put on weight that summer and the dress no longer fits me, but that's okay! I'm still proud of my work.
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
31 Jan 08
I do remember my first sewing project - I was 11 years old and made an apron as a 4H project. I entered it in the county fair and received a blue ribbon - I was thrilled. Pretty good, that was 41 years ago :)
@stormeetigress (487)
• United States
1 Feb 08
First thing I can really remember making is a stuffed animal in one of my classes at school. Domestics. He was pretty cute and got me hooked on sewing.
@cowgirl03051979 (918)
• United States
24 Nov 11
congradulations on her first sewing machine and finishing her first project it is good that she has taken up the skill of sewing for many of the teenagers now a days do not care anything about sewing sewing is a skill that is becoming lost (sadly) but i remember my first project that i sewed it was a little stuffed teddy bear my mother and grandmother helped me to sew it they would tell me where to stitch and how to do it i did it all by hand because i did not have a sewing machine at the time my first experience with a sewing machine was not that great the one that i bought was just a little cheap one from walmar and it ended up not working haha
