I really hate to say this, but I think sewing has been a dying art since the 1970s, at least. Yes, sewing is fun and creative, but most women are busy with full-time jobs and have little time for hobbies. Of course, earlier generations of women were busy too--but then sewing saved money. Now it doesn't--people can easily buy cheap clothes manufactured in third-world countries and they have been trained not to care if these are low quality. As an author of books on making historic clothing, I see many people plunging into learning sewing, but it's because they need clothing for historic reenactment and living history that they can't buy off the rack. On general sewing e-lists, I primarily see people who sew because they are unusually difficult to fit.