I will never forget my first sewing project. I was signed up for 4-H in my home county in Montana. My mom was my leader and she was going to help me sew a drindl skirt without a pattern. She did all the math for the gathers, waistband, etc., and I had it completely done except the hem. I DID NOT want to do all that blind hem stitch! I was agonizing, sewing irregular stitches while sitting on the front lawn on a June afternoon. Thinking I could lessen the stress, I plopped a couple of cute little kitties on my skirt to entertain me while I picked at the cotton hemline of my skirt. Unfortunately, one little kitty did what untrained little animals do at random times right on my skirt. Whatever was in the dye of my skirt, it bled all over the urine spot my kitty left. Oops! My mom tried everything in her laundry arsonal to change the stain, but finally she decided we would have to cut that piece from the skirt. I had to redo the gathers, waistline, and yes, every bit of the hem. Never again did a kitty sit on my lap for sewing. I got a blue ribbon at the county fair. But can you believe this, I was ironing my skirt that fall before wearing it to school, and I scorched it by leaving the iron on the board too long. We added lace and ribbon to the hemline and I wore it proudly until I grew out of it. Now it sits in my cedar chest, the first of hundreds of garments I have made for myself in the 43 years since. I'll never forget my first sewing project!