What was your first sewing project that you completed on your own?
Do you remember?
I do. I never wanted to sew or do anything even remotely related to anything domestic…you’ve all heard my stories…getting kicked out of junior high home ec…crying when my mom gave me a sewing machine for my first married Christmas…etc etc etc…so when my mom dragged me to a quilting class I figured the only redeeming part of the night would be the fact that the quilt shop shared a parking lot with Sonic and my night would end with a giant soda.
But that evening when I walked into the quilt shop and saw all the fabrics with their variety of colors and textures a light bulb went on in my brain and I’ve never looked back.
I still have my first quilt top that I made in that class. It was for my oldest child, Simon, who was still a newborn at the time. It’s funny now to look at it and think it was those colors, patterns, and textures that drew me into sewing…but that’s what happened…and for awhile there I turned into a total quilt junkie.
But then I had my first daughter, Grace, and quilt making quickly gave way to sewing for her.
I still have the first item of clothing I ever made for her. It was a simple elastic waist band skirt. And I was so proud of it. I remember dressing her in it for the first time and taking her over to a neighborhood gathering wearing it. I thought my heart would burst with joy seeing her wear it…which is still how I feel every time I make something for my girls that they like to wear.
During National Sewing Month this year we are excited about the idea of teaching others the skill that we all love so much but as we begin we thought it would be fun to look back at where we all started. So if you would like to share we would love to hear your sewing story…what was the first item that you made, and why did you make it?
(We really would love to hear about it if you have a minute to leave a comment telling us about it!)
-liZ
Mine was a project for me; I’m not entirely sure which exact project came first, but I think it was a suspender skirt- probably a 4-gore skirt from a 70s opshop pattern that I figured out how to add suspender straps to. I was doing a lot of swing dancing at the time, and wearing 40s vintage was very ‘in’ in the scene, but I was young and living alone and usually somewhat broke, and couldn’t afford the $200 price tags on real vintage; my mum had taught me to sew as a child, and I hadn’t really taken well to it, but I remembered enough and was crazy enough to take risks on changing a pattern when I barely remembered how to sew! I had the oldest hand-me-down machine in the family (still have it actually) and it took me through several years of sewing vintage reproductions and on-the-fly imitations, until I taught my husband to sew and promptly stopped sewing! Until recently, when I picked it back up to sew for my daughter, and promptly got hooked again!
I can’t remember the exact item that I first made, but I do know it was Barbie clothes. That’s how I learned to sew. My mother and grandmother taught me how to sew by starting with Barbie clothes. I still remember how proud I felt anytime I finished a little garment for my dolls. (I was a total Barbie junkie!) We always shopped in the remnants to find material to make doll clothes since you only need a little bit. And since my mom and grandmother made a lot of our clothes, we used the remnants to make doll clothes.
My mom taught me how to sew when I was 5. I made a skirt, and helped make the matching shirt. That outfit is around here somewhere. After that I did a pink and white polka dot skirt with a little slit in the back and a bow on the top of the slit. Man, I thought I was so cool! But thanks to my mom for teaching me how…I ended up making my own wedding dress.
I believe the first thing I made were Barbie clothes. My mother always made dresses for me and I learned to sew from her. Most of my sewing over the years centered around clothing. After I retired from the healthcare profession I decided to make custom home furnishings. Then, my younger sister introduced me to quilt making and I have since transitioned into quilt making, for myself and others. I truly have a love for sewing and would enjoy teaching someone else to sew.
I’m not sure what was first, but my mom set the example all along. Maybe it was the cross-stitched bookmark. I think I hand-sewed a coupon wallet for Mom, which she used a long time, despite its unfinished edges. I used a toy sewing machine to make doll skirts and other little things. I’m still sewing, and tonight I’ll get some little girls started on some simple stuffies. Wish me luck!
My first project as a kid was a Little House on the Prairie-style bonnet, hand sewn from white cotton. I vaguely remember cutting out pieces and fitting them together and now I’m surprised that it actually did look like a bonnet! My first project as an adult that got me into sewing was a ruched duvet cover made from three flat sheets that I had seen on a blog.
With three daughters, my mom sewed almost everything and it was but natural that we learnt to sew by watching her. I think I was around ten when I first attempted sewing for my doll on the old treadle machine. I was too short to sit and sew so I remember standing on the treadle to make it go. My doll used to have all marching outfits, and sometimes I would make doll clothes for my friends too.
Love your blog, all the way from India.
Oops I meant matching not marching. This autocorrect is out to get me!!
My Grandma Sydney taught me how to sew. Our first project together was sewing pillows for my mom’s classroom. I still remember sitting at her machine making button holes, and being in awe that you could actually make your own button hole!. But then I too had an awful Home Ec experience, I didn’t get kicked out but I serged a hole in my pajama top sleeve and got a D in the class, which was crushing for my junior high self. Now I love sewing for my girls! The first project I made all on my own, with my own brand new sewing machine, was a dress from a button up shirt, using Dana from Made’s tutorial. But one of my favorite projects so far has been sewing my youngest daughter’s blessing dress.
I made a skirt for the 4-Hclub I was in. my sister still has hers, don’t know what happened to mine I just helped my daughter sew her first skirt.
I sewed a simple elastic waist skirt for a 4-H project. I think I still have it. It’s amazing to look back and see how far I’ve come in sewing. I still have my first quilt too.
I took over the family sewing machine when I was about a junior in high school (my dad was the only one who used it to patch his pants) I made skirts. The ugliest things looking back. Then I made purses (knock offs from the DeLias magazine (do you remember it?) I spent hours in my room sewing.
My first sewing project was a Christmas apron for my Granny. My Mom held me on her lap and guided me through the process. I was so proud.
I later started sewing dresses for myself when I was in high school but my love for sewing really came when I started making cloths for my children. Making children items is still my favorite thing to do although I do a lot of quilting now. This summer I started having weekly sewing sessions with my 10 year old granddaughter. She loves it and I am loving spending time with her. The hardest part is planning projects.
I was 17 and it was Christmas time and I wanted one of those old style Christmas stalking caps that are super long. I looked everywhere and couldn’t find one then the light bulb went on. My mom had just started to get into quilting so she had a little sewing corner set up. I went to my mom and said make me an epic Santa hat and she said all show you how to use the machine and you can do it yourself. So I got my fabric combination bright orange faux fur with matching leopard print to match for the brim and pompon ball for the tip it came out better than I could have imagined. Ended up making one for my cousin and I ended up making a few more with John Deere print. I didn’t touch a sewing machine again until a few years ago when I tackled making a full pirate costume with a captain jacket to go with. But again did touch a machine until a few weeks ago I lost my mom a year ago and going through her stuff found a panel kit for a wall hanging for Halloween I made it in a few hours and well now I’m just sewing anything I can think about.