Home sewn
@GardenGerty (169406)
United States
November 21, 2023 6:54am CST
I used to sew my clothes a lot. In fact I have grown up in a tradition of home made clothing.
Some of these unique pieces are haunting me right now.
I remember days of double knit and jaquard prints. One piece body suits, etc. Probably because those are in style right now. I made one in purple and pink and white double knit. I also had one in an exotic gray print, of a silky fabric. I felt so glamorous in that one. I still have a sash from it.
I remember things my mom made for me, and for my older sister.
I even got to wear a flour sack dress my grandma had made my mama when she was young. I had not planned to stay when we went to visit, but I begged as my cousin was there. I stayed in the clothes on my back. The day gran wanted to wash my shorts set she brought out the dress she had made when my mom was little. Created the pattern herself.
In our history, when flour mills realized people were desperate for fabrics to make clothes they began packaging their products in cloth bags that had designs printed on them. They also made good dishtowels. This is what I mean when I refer to a flour sack dress.
So, here is to home sewing. People make quilts and decor, but I do not know anyone who sews their own clothes much any more. Except certain religious sects. They also have their own patterns.
12 people like this
10 responses
@AmbiePam (120533)
• United States
21 Nov 23
I wish I knew how to sew. My paternal grandmother made several dresses and skirts for me as a child. She made all of her grandchildren a blanket too, which was tricky since she had sixteen children. That brought in a lot of grandchildren.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
22 Nov 23
Our previous generations liked to keep their hands busy all the time. I bet those blankets or quilts were hand sewn.
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (174208)
• United States
21 Nov 23
When Pretty was little, I made repairs and adjustments to our clothes but haven't done that in years...
I remember mom making shirts for us when I was in the lower grades and, of course, repairing tears in clothes. She made denim shirts for a lot of the neighbors when I was a teenager...
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
22 Nov 23
Both my mom and each of my mother's in law sewed. Also made Barbie clothes.
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (174208)
• United States
23 Nov 23
@Fleura Oh, wow! I'm sure that was interesting! 
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (135583)
• Marion, Ohio
21 Nov 23
I like making some things for myself. But I mostly buy my clothes
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
22 Nov 23
I was thinking of your posts. I would like to get back into doing some sewing, but buying is just faster and cheaper.
2 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (135583)
• Marion, Ohio
22 Nov 23
@GardenGerty Cheaper is what's sad about it. Used to be a lot cheaper to make your own
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
22 Nov 23
I made some cute clothes for my son when he was little, as well as for my daughter.
2 people like this
@LindaOHio (222222)
• United States
22 Nov 23
I made several things when I was in my late teens and early twenties. I haven't made anything since. Have a great day and a great Thanksgiving.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
22 Nov 23
I would like to have the time to do some sewing now, but I do not even know anyone who does much sewing any more.
3 people like this
@LindaOHio (222222)
• United States
23 Nov 23
@GardenGerty You could look through some patterns and see if anything pops out at you.
@MarieCoyle (59106)
•
21 Nov 23
My grandmothers both sewed a lot of clothing, and they taught me how. Back in the day, it was actually economical to buy a pattern, notions, and fabric and make something. Now, by the time you bought the pattern alone, you often could have purchased a finished garment for the same amount! Insanity!
I still sew a few things. I make small quilts and blankets for people, etc. And yes, I still do the mending. Both my grandmothers saved those calico fabric flour sacks. I remember one of the grandma's was always swapping one pattern for another with a neighbor lady, so she could have 2 of the same print to use to make something. I still have about 5 of those flowered/patterned flour sacks, washed and put away. I did have a few more, but I used a couple of them to cut up and repair some old quilts that were made out of flour sacks. I think the last garment I made was a few years ago, I sewed two Halloween costumes for several of my grandchildren.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
22 Nov 23
Yes, it seems these are all things of the past.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (59106)
•
22 Nov 23
@GardenGerty
There used to be so many fabric stores. Now there is not--it's down to picking it out online, or JoAnn fabrics, at least it is here.
I do go to JoAnn's when they have big sales or I need something from there. Honestly, the Amish are always in there buying their fabrics. There is a large area of Amish/Mennonites not far from here. They hire a passenger van to bring them to shop. I think they keep JoAnn's in business!
1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (51811)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
21 Nov 23
I used to sew my own clothes, too. Now, I can't be bothered, but I used to have some unique outfits when I did.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
22 Nov 23
I loved the uniqueness of home sewn clothing.
2 people like this
@marguicha (230334)
• Chile
21 Nov 23
I sewed all my clothes and my children´s clothes decades ago. But there came a day when not many people sewed and shops where tey sold materials began to disappear. Now it is not worth it to sew. You can buy very inexpensive ready made clothes that are imported from China.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
22 Nov 23
You are right in what you say. Of course now everyone looks just like everyone else, too. I liked home sewn things because they were unique.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (91299)
• United States
21 Nov 23
I only ever sewed in sewing class in school in England.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
22 Nov 23
I took the class but did not like it. I think it is not even offered many places anymore.
1 person likes this
@Fleura (34927)
• United Kingdom
21 Nov 23
I used to make a lot of my own clothes when I was young. Nowadays clothes are much cheaper to buy, especially 'everyday' items like T shirts, and charity shops are ubiquitous and stock nice clean things, not like the old days when they were dingy places piled with smelly old clothes that anyone would be ashamed to be seen going into! As a result I don't make so many things any more, because it's much cheaper to buy something stylish from a charity shop than to buy the fabric to make something, even without counting the effort involved!
I do still do quite a lot of sewing though. I'm just remodelling some of my favourite but worn-out clothes into a bean bag. I occasionally make garments for myself or for the girls or for my partner, and both the girls know how to sew.
I had heard about the flour sack dresses before, that's such a lovely idea. Funnily enough not long ago I came across a couple of fabric flour sacks (not patterned ones though).
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
22 Nov 23
I have at least one plain flour sack, it only has the brand. I have heard that cotton or linen bags are great for storing washed lettuce in the fridge. Sewing is more of an art form now rather than a necessity.
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