My mother was an excellent seamstress, always in demand by people needing repairs or something made for them. She also knitted, crocheted, quilted, and embroidered. We had her mother's old sewing machine, an old Singer treadle from the late 1800s. My sister and I began wanting to make our own doll clothes but simply took some scraps, cut out some pieces, and put them on our dolls like a paper doll-type piece of clothing. Not satisfied with that, we began to learn the old treadle. Mom had us originally try to sew squares together, like a quilt piece. This taught us how to cut material, control the treadle, straight seaming, and how to thread and take care of the machine. Quilt squares quickly bored us as we wanted to do things more exciting. We made doll clothes. As soon as we were 9, we joined 4-H and signed up for sewing. (Mom was one of our two club leaders). This is when she and Dad decided it was time to trade in the old treadle for a new machine and we quickly had a new 1954 Singer desk model machine. (Dad said he didn't know why I would need an electric machine because I often turned the wheel with my hand on the treadle). Being a 4-H member, I was so proud at 13 to win a big purple ribbon at the county fair. The dress was a simple sleeveless dress with a gathered skirt. My sister later went to State Fair with a dress she made. She was 22 months older and I was extremely proud of anything she ever accomplished which was much. We also began home economics at school. There I made a "duster" (lightweight housecoat), and modelled it at a fashion show held for the parents and students. It was short-sleeved with a huge inverted pleat down the center back which began at the bottom of the yoke, and a bow at the top of the pleat. I was so proud of it I thought it was just wonderful! I am still sewing and just now learning to knit and try some beginner quilting (at 67!!!). I enjoy making clothing, home dec items, gifts, and craft items. My mother was still using her sewing machine when she became ill at the age of 90 and handed all her supplies and the machine to me along with an early Singer serger which was very limited but was wonderful to serge unfinished seams. Though I rarely use her desk model machine, I still have it. My sister has the old serger, as well as a very fancy new sewing machine that also embroiders. I now enjoy my Pfaff serger with all the bells and whistles. I have an electronic sewing machine that does all I need it to do and more. With all the sewing supplies we have today to make things so much easier it is difficult to leave my sewing area! Many times I have said, "If my mom had been able to use the tools we have today, I wonder what she could/would have accomplished!" I can't imagine. She made wedding dresses, coats, underwear, just anything and everything, using an old treadle and then a 1950s Singer. What a gal! I am so thankful that she taught us so much. Our families have definitely been enriched, also. Happy Sewing!!!