Teaching Me to Sew
By Morley Hunt
@Morleyhunt (21741)
Canada
January 7, 2016 5:50pm CST
High school was many years ago. One of the classes the girls were all expected to participate in was Home Economics, Home Ec for short.
The first half of the year we learned about buying a house. How to purchase furniture and appliances. How credit worked. How to do laundry. We were taught how to manage a household. Day care and working outside the home were never discussed.
At least one day a week we were set loose in the kitchens, the boys who were attending shops (mechanical, woodworking, metal works) looked forward to sampling some of our creations.
The second half of the school year we were in the sewing class. We were taught the basics of sewing. Each student was required to make a skirt.
My mom purchased the pattern, fabric, zipper and thread. I was to do the rest in the classroom.
Cutting it out was easy, sewing it together was another story.
When I brought the finished skirt home, my mother was livid. One panel was upside down. One panel was inside out. This was definitely not a project to be proud of.
My mother made me unpick (frog stitch) the entire skirt. Then she sewed it back together.
This was not an encouraging start to sewing.it was several years later before I was ready to try again.
10 people like this
10 responses
@Morleyhunt (21741)
• Canada
8 Jan 16
I sew, mostly quilting now, but do make some things for my grandchildren.
@JudyEv (382455)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Jan 16
We did Home Ec right through high school. Half the year was sewing, laundry, running a house (but not buying a house). No clues on raising a family while working full-time 
. The other half of the year was sewing. We ended up making a frock. We also learnt a certain amount of hand-sewing in primary school.
. The other half of the year was sewing. We ended up making a frock. We also learnt a certain amount of hand-sewing in primary school.2 people like this
@Morleyhunt (21741)
• Canada
8 Jan 16
My mother taught us on her old treadle sewing machine. We had to sew ten pillowcases before we could start anything else. What ten year old wants to sew pillowcases.
2 people like this
@paigea (36143)
• Canada
8 Jan 16
@Morleyhunt That sounds like how my mom taught me ironing. First hankies, then pillow cases. Etc. I never graduated to my Dad's shirts!
2 people like this
@JudyEv (382455)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Jan 16
@Morleyhunt I had to sew without thread putting holes in paper till I learnt to keep the treadle going the right way and not backwards.
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85923)
• Valdosta, Georgia
7 Jan 16
I absolutely hated Home Ec because of the sewing. In fact, I hated it so much I have never had the desire to learn to sew to this day. Lol.
2 people like this
@paigea (36143)
• Canada
8 Jan 16
I loved Home ec and I wish schools still had proper Home ec programs. We mostly only learned cooking and sewing though; not the other skills. In high school we had to choose food or sewing. I chose sewing and failed to complete my tailored jacket. I did learn a lot though.
2 people like this
@LovingMyBabies (85923)
• Valdosta, Georgia
8 Jan 16
@paigea I enjoyed the cooking part but the sewing was not my thing at all. That poor teacher hated me I am pretty sure.
2 people like this
@Morleyhunt (21741)
• Canada
8 Jan 16
I was not fond of sewing, but a limited budget, a sewing machine and three baby girls in just over three years....sewing saved us lots of money.
1 person likes this
@Raine38 (12387)
• United States
8 Jan 16
We had home economics during our first and second year in high school. And I think the only thing I find useful sewing was an apron. It was easy and when I mess up with the measurements, it was also easy to break the stitches and correct it.
1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21741)
• Canada
8 Jan 16
I'm still not fond of unstitching, but know that it is a necessary evil.
@Morleyhunt (21741)
• Canada
8 Jan 16
I enjoyed most of it, but the sewing, not so much. I wanted to make something different. (See, I was creative even then!)
1 person likes this
@Morethanamom (1948)
• Canada
8 Jan 16
I sewed a pair of pants for home ec. My skills are still quite raw, but I would like to give it another go some day.
2 people like this
@mrswhitfield (2044)
• Indonesia
8 Jan 16
I learned how to use sewing machine from my 80 years old grandma, she is too old to sew the torn parts of her shirt so she asked me to help her. I did not know how to use the sewing machine at all,, she told me what should I do 1st and next. I started falling in love with sewing, and at school we have art&craft class, I learned basic chrochet and stitching,, now I'm a full time crafter,
1 person likes this
@just4him (323168)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
8 Jan 16
I can understand why it was several years before another attempt.
You really did a lot in Home Ec. My Home Ec consisted of two things - cooking and baking and sewing - one semester each. We didn't do anything of what you described.
My mother got me a plaid fabric I had to match up. I wasn't too happy with her for my first project. I also made an apron. Both turned out okay. I've never done plaids again.
1 person likes this
@AnneEJ (4917)
• Dollard-Des-Ormeaux, Quebec
8 Jan 16
My mother taught me to sew when I was very young I did not have a chance to take Home Ec in School until Grade 10 and then really enjoyed it. I sewed for others for many years, and also made children's clothing to see at Craft Shows and in a store. I don't do much any more.
1 person likes this
