If you know how to sew... When did you first learn?
By AmberLynn
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
United States
January 13, 2021 10:20am CST
I am sure a lot of people will say they were in their teens or earlier when they first learned to sew. I was never taught. I suppose it's partially that I gave no inclination that I wanted to learn and partially that my family didn't feel the need to teach me.
We had home economics in school but I had a friend complete my required pillow for me. The teacher knew and didn't care. It was an elective course and definitely not a reason to hold a student back.
Anyway, I was never taught but I find myself wanting to learn now. I've been looking at sewing machines. I know a lot of you will say "YOU NEED TO LEARN BY HAND FIRST" but.. Yeah, no.. Sewing machines. I know singer and brother are both good brands. I'll be doing a lot of thinking, youtube tutorial watching and the such before I completely decide though.
So when did you first learn to sew?
17 people like this
18 responses
@JimBo452020 (42629)
• United Kingdom
13 Jan 21
I can see ok.
Learned in the army.
A skill I have never really used since.
Yvonne however is a seamstress.
She is very skilled.
4 people like this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
13 Jan 21
Makes a living of it, does she?
4 people like this
@JimBo452020 (42629)
• United Kingdom
13 Jan 21
@ScribbledAdNauseum
She used to, a very good living lol.
She was much in demand.
Doesn't do much now. The odd dress etc for certain people who don't mind paying well.
3 people like this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
13 Jan 21
@JimBo452020 Well heck, that's the way to do it I think. Become obscure but sought after... Really bring in the bucks.
3 people like this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
13 Jan 21
@CarolDM I would like to purchase another quilt stand for myself so I could display some of the ones I've either bought (hand made) or that were handed down from the family handmade.
3 people like this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
13 Jan 21
My mother and aunt also made quilts. I have a quilt that belonged to my brother and uncle (they were only four years apart in age) that I simply can't part with even though it is old and I am afraid to wash it.
3 people like this
@CarolDM (203454)
• Nashville, Tennessee
13 Jan 21
@ScribbledAdNauseum I have some too, they are treasured. I have a few that hang on a quilt stand.
3 people like this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
13 Jan 21
It's a useful skill to have when starting a family.
3 people like this
@marguicha (215061)
• Chile
14 Jan 21
@ScribbledAdNauseum It was. Back then made dresses were expensive or ugly.
2 people like this
@RebeccasFarm (86392)
• United States
13 Jan 21
I learned from my Mama when I was around 10 or so and Granny too
4 people like this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
13 Jan 21
Precious memories. My granny knew how to sew and darn but she didn't teach the grandkids.
3 people like this
@thislittlepennyearns (58080)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
13 Jan 21
I was little. Like before I was in school. Grandma taught me about the same time she taught me how to read and write. And I knew both of those things going into kindergarten.
So yeah like 26 years ago.
MIL gave me a sewing machine a few months ago and it's still sitting in the box in the living room I just don't have time.
3 people like this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
13 Jan 21
Wow, yeah.. My mom didn't even teach me to crochet when I was younger and she was forever on the couch making something to sell at flea market.
Of course, I was the tom boy girl out playing in the dirt and climbing trees I wasn't supposed to climb.
Well at least it is there for when you want or need to use it.
1 person likes this
@thislittlepennyearns (58080)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
13 Jan 21
@ScribbledAdNauseum I don't think my mom taught me anything lol
3 people like this
@thislittlepennyearns (58080)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
13 Jan 21
@ScribbledAdNauseum I don't speak to either one of my parents if I can help it
1 person likes this
@LowRiderX (22907)
• Serbia
13 Jan 21
@ScribbledAdNauseum Since I finished school (only for leather and not for material) I know how to sew.. sewing is a little different, because the material is stiffer and the machines are much stronger, but I remember the professors telling us, when you master the leather, the material will be easy to sew 
3 people like this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
13 Jan 21
I have seen a few clips of people sewing on leather and I think it would be a slow processs. Did you enjoy it?
2 people like this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
13 Jan 21
@LowRiderX Oh I see. Was it expensive to get into the school?
2 people like this
@LowRiderX (22907)
• Serbia
13 Jan 21
@ScribbledAdNauseum I really am because I loved that school, that's why I enrolled in it ... I didn't go there because, for example, it's the closest or because it's the easiest
2 people like this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
13 Jan 21
Oh wow so you were taught by the school? This wasn't a skill taught by the time we were in school. Even in home economics I remember that we were supposed to already know how to sew.
3 people like this
@Tina30219 (81539)
• Onaway, Michigan
13 Jan 21
I never did learn did not even pass home economics in school. I hope you find a good deal on a sewing machine when you do get one.
3 people like this
@Tina30219 (81539)
• Onaway, Michigan
13 Jan 21
@ScribbledAdNauseum I am sure you will find one just keep looking.
2 people like this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
13 Jan 21
@Tina30219 Oh I plan to. I checked ebay out but the one on walmart.com is cheaper than what ebay wanted. I suppose I could check goodwill's out too or even facebook marketplace.
2 people like this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
13 Jan 21
I saw one at walmart for $80. There are others for less money but I want one that is rated beginner friendly but also something I can grow with.
I'm pretty sure I passed Home Ec, but it was by a tiny fraction. I hated that class and not because I didn't want to learn, it's just most of it was book work!
2 people like this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
14 Jan 21
The Singer brand and Brother brand are supposed to be the best out there so whatever I decide, it will be one of those two that I'll pick from.
Such a young age to learn to sew. I do not know if schools even have home economics classes any longer. Perhaps for advanced placement classes.
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
14 Jan 21
@LadyDuck The only brand that sounds somewhat familiar is Pfaff but that's because there is a glass company here in my city that makes glass for windows and other things.
Oh wow, $1,500 is quite a lot. Surely only a seamstress or professional would pay that much.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (457193)
• Switzerland
14 Jan 21
@ScribbledAdNauseum We have other very good brands here like Pfaff, Berina and Elna but you surely do not import them from Europe. Bernina is Swiss and in my opinion the BEST, but it is too expensive, the price starts well over $1,500.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118306)
• Gainesville, Florida
13 Jan 21
I learned to sew from my grandmother when I was a child, I don't remember exactly when, but I must have been somewhere around 8-10 years old. Learned to hand sew and sew on a machine.
2 people like this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
14 Jan 21
You think with all the needlecrafters in my family I'd have learned at some point, but nope. I know my mom could quilt so surely she was good at sewing too. Oh well, I'll learn now.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118306)
• Gainesville, Florida
14 Jan 21
@ScribbledAdNauseum I was eager to learn. I thought sewing was fun.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
13 Jan 21
Oh no! I'm sorry the class so so strict.
2 people like this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
13 Jan 21
@sol_cee Oh, yes it's the same here. I remember even I didn't take the class as seriously as I should. The teacher was somewhat strict, but she also allowed me to get away with not sewing my own pillow so perhaps my memory of her is skewed.
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38223)
• Philippines
13 Jan 21
@ScribbledAdNauseum maybe because students tend to not take that class seriously
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
15 Jan 21
@AkoPinay My father was also a carpenter but I never learned. I took a wood shop class in high school and the teacher gave me a passing grade even though I did not participate in the construction of the shed we were working on.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
14 Jan 21
Oh wow! Such a young age and your mind was already interested in learning to sew. That's great.
1 person likes this
@AkoPinay (11544)
• Philippines
15 Jan 21
@ScribbledAdNauseum And I also learned how to use saw and hammer just observing my dad doing carpentry. 
1 person likes this
@thelme55 (76477)
• Germany
13 Jan 21
I think I have learned sewing by the age of 7. My father was a tailor and we had a tailoring shop when I was still small. While my father sewed clothes for men, my mother was doing the holes of the buttons and putting buttons on the clothes. My father used to sew my dress and my siblings' clothes with our Singer sewing machine, the old sewing machine where you have to move the foot of the machine to keep the needle going. I still have this sewing machine as an inheritance from my beloved parents. When I was in high school, I sewed clothes for dolls and sometimes sewed my high school uniform skirts which had to be pleated.
3 people like this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
13 Jan 21
Oh wow that is quite a young age, but it's understandable since the family business was sewing. It's very sweet that your father was the one to sew your clothing. Singer has been a major brand for so very long, hasn't it?
I never had to wear a uniform to school and I am very glad. I would not have liked wearing a skirt every day.
3 people like this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
13 Jan 21
@thelme55 I think that you're right about uniforms being good for those who couldn't afford clothes. The UK still wears uniforms in their schools and from what I've seen in videos, the uniforms can be expensive. Now it seems uniforms are worn by private school students and are used to keep distraction down.
2 people like this
@thelme55 (76477)
• Germany
13 Jan 21
@ScribbledAdNauseum Yes, I was very young indeed. Singer is a good brand of the sewing machine. A few years ago, I still used our Singer sewing machine in sewing window curtains in my home in the Philippines.
I think wearing a uniform in school days helped us poor people as we didn´t have a lot of dress to wear at that time.
2 people like this
@arunima25 (85239)
• Bangalore, India
13 Jan 21
I watched my mom and grandma doing it. But never learnt it. I had no inclination to do so. I have just picked up some mending work without using machine and that's good enough to survive. 
I had no inclination to do so. I have just picked up some mending work without using machine and that's good enough to survive. 3 people like this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
13 Jan 21
Oh I see. The only person I know who can machine sew is my uncle's ex wife. I am not sure that anyone else in my family learned that way. it is not a skill taught very often anymore.
3 people like this
@arunima25 (85239)
• Bangalore, India
20 Jan 21
@ScribbledAdNauseum Yes it is not taught very often but is an added advantage if you have that skill and you are interested.
1 person likes this
@popciclecold (35024)
• United States
13 Jan 21
I was in high school, we had to make a skirt pleated. I had no desire to do anything else, when it came to sewing.
2 people like this
@popciclecold (35024)
• United States
14 Jan 21
@ScribbledAdNauseum I was glad when that class ended.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
13 Jan 21
We made a pillow case for ours. If I remember correctly (It's been many year since I was in school and even more since I've been in middle school) that my mom told me her home economics class also sewed a pillow.
2 people like this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
14 Jan 21
It seems like it will take a lot of time and patience. I'm not always very patient.
1 person likes this
@much2say (53809)
• Los Angeles, California
13 Jan 21
I am certain my mom showed me the bare basics of hand sewing - and I probably observed the rest. As a kid I used to hand sew things for my stuffed animals. In 7th grade we had home ec at school, and half a semester was in sewing class. My mom had a sewing machine but I didn't actually learn how to use one til that class.
2 people like this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
13 Jan 21
I really wish I had shown more initiative to learn, but then I probably wouldn't be so interested in sewing today if I had.
Do you remember what you had to sew in the Home Ec class? I remember we had maybe a quarter of sewing but it was more book work than learning anything.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (155283)
• United States
14 Jan 21
I was working. My mother would sew patterns for me; and I decided I wanted to do it myself. I managed to cut out a pattern and sew a PLAID skirt for my first project. I matched the plaid and everything. I was quite proud of myself.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
14 Jan 21
As well you should have been. Sewing doesn't seem very easy when having to use a pattern. I am still weighing the pros and cons of buying a sewing machine and teaching myself some of the basics.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
14 Jan 21
@LindaOHio I'm sure you're right. I watched a tutorial yesterday on how to make pouches which would be one of my main reasons for learning to sew on a machine.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (155283)
• United States
14 Jan 21
@ScribbledAdNauseum A pattern makes it easier! Learning how to use the machine is probably the hardest part! lol
1 person likes this
