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Remember the fifties and sixties when you would buy patterns and make your clothes? Does anybody still do that? Did you ever do it? If you did tell us your story amusing and disasters. When they had home ec in school did you sew?
Remember the fifties and sixties when you would buy patterns and make your clothes? Does anybody still do that? Did you ever do it?
I do not remember sewing in the 50s and 60s... too young! But I have sewn in the 70s to present day.
Quote:
Originally Posted by shh1313
If you did tell us your story amusing and disasters. When they had home ec in school did you sew?
Not anything to tell. When I needed something I could not find in a store or when something was too expensive, I made it. NOW it often is more expensive to make it.
I did not have home ec in school... I am self-taught.
There IS home ec in our school system, mandatory for graduation.
My mother used to make clothes with patterns when I was growing up. She was really good at it, and thought that it was important that her daughters know how to sew, too. She gave us lessons from the time I was 9 or 10. By the time I was 12 yo, I could sew simple skirts, shorts, and tops. The clothes I made came out okay. I would wear them mostly around the house. No interesting tales to report.
I lost interest in sewing in my teens when I realized that I couldn't make clothes as nice as the ones I bought.
However, the skills that I learn still serve me well, as I don't need to take most repairs and alterations to a tailor, because I can do them myself.
Don't remember the 50's or 60's. I only started 11 years ago when I was 14.
I not only buy patterns, but I can even construct my own from scratch. I've made practically everything from standard dresses, to shirts, longcoats, bodysuits, and even ball gowns.
I actually taught myself everything I know by researching online and trial by fire.
Something I find amusing is that when working on projects, I consistently lose track of my measuring tapes (all 3 of them), my tailor chalk, rulers (standard and meter stick), tomatoes (both of them) and my scissors. I probably waste 2-3 hours per project looking for things I've misplaced.
I sew, but only flat, square things like tablecloths, napkins, placemats, and pillows. Nothing that would require the level of skill necessary to fit something to an individual body (except for something that's essentially flat and squared, like a poncho or long, loose vest). All of that is more mathetmatical than is enjoyable for me. I also crochet hats and scarves, but, again...only flat, square things. I keep it pretty basic. I can also do my own mending basics.
I was in one of the last middle school home ec classes offered by my district (late 80s, early 90s). We didn't learn anything other than basic mending...sewing buttons, fixing tears, sewing a seam. We also learned how to do counted cross stitch for fun. My mom is a child of the 50s, and she's a decent utilitarian seamstress, but not so much a creative one. Fixing things, vs. creating new garments, is her thing.
I have sewn for over 50 yrs, learned from my grandmother. I took a tailoring class and made myself a wool top coat from a Vogue pattern. Now sewing infrequently for the grandkids.
I can do it....made a dress and shorts/top and a gown.....it's so much easier to buy what you want, tho! I still sew curtains, cushions and bags/carry cases, etc.. for things I might need, but clothes are alot of trouble! It's so much easier to buy them!
I've been sewing since I was a teen, a bit here and there. These days it's mostly home decor -- curtains, throw pillows -- but occasionally I break out the pattern board and make a dress or jacket. I tend to fall in love with a fabric in those cases and then have to try to make it into something I want to wear. I've got a gorgeous piece now that I'm trying to figure out how to best use the print; I want to do a sheath with a cocoon style coat, but don't know if the bolt end I bought has enough yardage. I need to plot it out because the print placement is key.
I've been sewing since I was a teen, a bit here and there. These days it's mostly home decor -- curtains, throw pillows -- but occasionally I break out the pattern board and make a dress or jacket. I tend to fall in love with a fabric in those cases and then have to try to make it into something I want to wear. I've got a gorgeous piece now that I'm trying to figure out how to best use the print; I want to do a sheath with a cocoon style coat, but don't know if the bolt end I bought has enough yardage. I need to plot it out because the print placement is key.
Remember when we had to match every design element and so much fabric was wasted? I see dresses in the $100-$200 range that don't have matching plaids, stripes, etc. Just poor quality IMO.
Remember when we had to match every design element and so much fabric was wasted? I see dresses in the $100-$200 range that don't have matching plaids, stripes, etc. Just poor quality IMO.
totally agree! and so many things that aren't cut on the straight grain. They never lay right.
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