Hello,
I just wanted to say hello to everyone in the forum. I can’t sew anything. That’s going to change this winter. My kids gave me a sewing machine last yr “it’s still in the closet”.I wish sewing was like riding a bike. I would remember how I made my first thing in high school a hot pink jogging suit out of terrycloth.I worn that suit until it was a rag.That was 25 yrs ago.The worse of all my mother is a master in the sewing department. She can open a magazine and make anything without a pattern.I have tried to get her to come for a month to visit and give lessons.She just will not leave Baton Rouge,La. I live in New Bedford,Ma.You are wondering why I didn’t learn as a child. I remember thinking why sew you can just buy it. Mother never pushed sewing she said you had to enjoy it.
Replies
Hi,
Thanks for introducing yourself and filling in your profile, some of us here still haven't done that.
You will learn so much about sewing and other crafts.
Read as much as you can.
Remember no question you ask will be a 'silly one'. There is such a variety of talent on this forum, and we are all willing to help.
Have fun! You will gain many new friends from all over the world.
CherryP (australia)
Welcome, welcome!
At least the first thing you remember sewing, you actually enjoyed wearing! For many of us, our first attempts went directly into the waste bin. Try and try again.
"Why sew when you can just buy it?" Made me laugh. My mother sewed a little, mostly golf skirts, as she was more golfer than seamstress. I learned to sew back in the 60's. I was very interested in 'fashion', a VOGUE always in my hand. I COULDN'T AFFORD THE CLOTHES I WANTED, DIDN'T WANT THE CLOTHES I COULD AFFORD. Simple as that.
Love fine fabrics. Find Malls to be boring. You'll love it here! Gail
Thanks Gail for being forward enough to say that malls are boring to you. I've always found them boring, and overcrowded, as well as, too many of the same thing in the same sizes for a lot of people; along with not being worth a whit when it came to quality of fabric, seams, etc.
Most people I've come in contact with, women particularly, think I'm nuts because I don't like malls and shopping.
Oh I do like shopping! BUT.......................... I like shopping for nice things, not LOTS of things. People who know me, find it strange that I only have 3 every day dresses. I GO everywhere I want, I DO everthing I want. When one dress wears out, I make a new one. I'm not exactly poor, but I don't need 30 every day dresses! I have a washing machine.
Funny, those same people who think I need more everyday clothes WILL CRITICIZE what I do spend money on.
For instance, a friend of mine came over to teach me to crochet edging around a 44" square of flannel for a recieving blanket. She had recieved her recieving blanket 53 years ago as a gift and it still did not have any holes in it. Yet, she wanted to know why I bought the more expensive crochet cottn, when the cheaper was "Just as good", and why I bought the more expensive flannel, when the cheaper was "Just as good"? I just said that if I was going to put many hours into the project, I wanted it to be as nice as it could be.
I'll bet the woman who made HER 53 year old blanket didn't buy the cheapest quality SHE could find!
The bitterness of poor quality lasts far longer than the sweetness of cheap price!
Gail
"The bitterness of poor quality lasts far longer than the sweetness of cheap price!"
I like your quote, Gail. This is one of the reasons I don't like going to the mall any more. That, and I have trouble finding styles that I like that fit me.
I hate paying good money for something that won't last. Last year I finally found some pants at a department store that fit fairly well, but I still had to take in the waist. They were a "brand name", and a good price for pants to wear to work. Or so I thought. After I wore them twice, the fabric pilled so badly that I'm embarrassed to wear them.
I don't mind paying a bit more for quality that will last. I'm still wearing a pair of black wool gabardine trousers that I've had for so long that the lining has worn out. They were a little pricey, but they still look good (on the outside!) And if you calculate the cost per wear, they were a real bargain! :-)
Yes, Miss VKStitcher
I pretty much think when it comes to basic everyday clothing you have to calculate the price per wearing. At the very least the price per "expected wearing", we all get an unpleasant surprize from time to time.
The $5 bargan t-shirt is much less of a bargarn than the $105 blouse if the t-shirt bags or shrinks after the first washing and the blouse can be worn twice a week for a year, and still look good! A good quality wool skirt will last literally for years, even when worn hard (if you wear a slip). I don't wear pants, myself, but a denim or khaki jumper, skirt or dress, I've made myself, is a fine, long wearing investment, even if I end up paying a premium price for the goods.
Special occasion clothes, well, that is a little different......Do you want it special or do you want to be able to wear it several times to several different events?
"Good" clothes, "Sunday" clothes are the hardest of all to decide how to calculate value. I might want 5 or 6 different outfits each Summer and Winter, but I might only wear them for a half day, each, every month and a half! I want the best that I can have, so the designs have to be fairly classic and and the fabric good quality so as to last from year to year or they aren't worth it, whatever the price.
This is why I think if I can't sew ALL of my clothes, I especially want to sew my "Good" clothes. That way I can have exactly the style I want, in exactly the fabric I want, in a better quality than I could afford to buy off the rack.
All of which is WHY I learned to sew way back in the 1960's! I only wanted clothes that I couldn't afford and didn't want the clothes that I could afford! Sewing changed my world!
Gail
Welcome! We are happy to help out when you need us. I think you will have lots of fun sewing. Just jump in and try the new patterns, they are much easier than the old ones. Most of the difficulty for me is in fitting this 50's body. I gave up for awhile and made a quilt, it was fun to learn the techniques from planning to finish. Now, get that machine out of the closet and get stitchin'!!!
I was in exactly the same situation as you 1 1/2 years ago and I'm chugging along. I read and read and took any class I could. You'll do great.
Welcome to the site, I have met so many talented and wonderful people here from everywhere. It's been a joy.
Once you pull out that machine, it will be like riding a bike. You'll remember. I had stopped sewing clothes for 20+ years for the same reason, why sew when you can buy, but growing older and outward has brought me back to my sewing machine for outer wear mostly. I don't want to look like everyone else and I don't have to with my sewing skills. I can make an entrance.
You'll do great.
Hi! and a big welcome. You will find great inspiration and support here. No question is too small.
Small world - I was born in New Orleans, raised in Lafayette till my teens. Moved to Acushnet, I know you know where that is, and met my husband there. We lived in New Bedford after marrying for several years. Then it was off to NH for most of our marriage and now retired in upstate NY. I figure between New Orleans and New Bedford I have been able to eat the most wonderful cuisines in the world. Nothing like a piece of haddock right off the boat, or a malasada.
Great to meet you and hope to see you posting. Just ask away for help.
solo
Edited 10/14/2007 5:09 pm ET by solosmocker
Hello and welcome! You've come to the right place, as you'll find lots of information and inspiration here. Your mother is right--you have to enjoy sewing, otherwise it's a chore. I'm sure you'll get back into the swing of things again, just pull out your machine and go. Have fun, and let us know how it goes.
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