My Hobby Began . . .

I thought I start my blog posting by sharing my first memories of learning to sew and explain where that love of sewing has taken me.

As a young girl, probably about ten, I began sewing doll clothing for my Barbie dolls. All that was needed was about a foot of fabric, a good pair of scissors, needle, thread, and a snap or two.

When I wasn't taking scraps from my mother's stash, I was asking my Grandmother for hers. Every now and then I came across a great piece of felt that required no stitching, just glue! These rare finds were often reserved for my trolls.

My Grandmother (on my father's side) was also a seamstress. She taught me how to sew small projects by hand. My first memory was sewing Yo-yo's to make a cute little clown with a plastic face for my hope chest. We all believed that someday I would have a family with children, but by the time I reach my early thirties, I gave my yo-yo clowns away thinking I would never be so lucky to have children.

Throughout junior high school and high school, now an then I would venture into a project of sewing clothing for myself. Usually my fabric investment ended up somewhere in some trash can cut to shreds due to great frustration over my need to be perfect.

I can especially remember hating to put a hem in anything, but eventually with a great amount of patience my Grandmother taught me how to "reverse stitch" (rip out) without destroying a project. (My mother tried to teach me this . . .I know she tried, and all I can say is Mom I'm sorry for anything I might have uttered under my breath!)

When I was about 15 my Grandmother taught me how to sew using her treadle wheel sewing machine. This was probably the last time I actually got exercise while sitting behind a sewing machine! I made a high-waisted long sleeve jacket, a grey suede and fake fur jacket, and a "red, white, and blue" plaid pant suit. I'll have to look for some pictures!

Now at the age of 40-something, and a mother of a joyous three year old, I have returned to sewing small projects. Most of the time she is willing to model for me so I'm sure she will be featured many times on this blog.

Hopefully someday this passion will be passed down to my daughter(s). I hope they are a little more patient with me, than I was with my own mother. I think I need to apologize again (so sorry Mom)!