Sewing is a basic skill that I feel everyone should know.  You don’t have to be a master seamstress or anything like that, but it is helpful to know how to sew on a button or make a pillow.   Sewing can be fun and also bring people together.  I cannot count the number of times I have called up my mom and/or dad to ask them a question about sewing or pattern advice.  As long as I can remember I have loved to sew.  I guess I should tell you that I was homeschooled grades k-8 and went to public high school.  I’ve been told that this explains a lot of things to many people.  When I was 5, one of my favorite things to do was sewing on my mom’s machine.  My mom would print out different designs on paper for me to trace with the sewing machine.  She would take off all of the thread, so all I had was the needle and let me go at it (supervised of course).  I loved it!  From there, I was taught how to read a pattern and adjust the measurements to fit you.  I had an amazing babysitter when I was little who not only was part of teaching me how to knit and crochet, but she also taught me how to hand stitch.  We used to make all kinds of things from pillows to quilts and doll clothes.  She showed me the different types of stitches and how to use them.  She told me how each of them worked and why you would use it for certain thing and not another stitch.  At the time, I thought that we were just doing something to pass the time, but as an adult I cannot think of a way to express how much I appreciate the time that these women took to teach me something that has made my life so much easier.  I remember one time in the dorms at college, a girl came to me and said that she heard I knew how to put on a button and asked if I would put her button back on her coat because she didn’t know how.  It was then that I realized how much my family and friends loved me.  They helped to make me someone who would be able to take care of herself when it really counts.

Please share your stories about how sewing has influenced your life and any tips you may have.  As always, feel free to ask questions as well 🙂