The Sewing Backstory
Thank you all for the compliments on my daughter's reading nook! She is a voracious reader, and spends quite a bit of time in her little nook. She loves fantasy books, the sort with dragons, etc, and likes historical fiction, too.
LindsayT's Sewing Backstory post has inspired many to post their sewing backstory, so here is mine.
I started hand sewing at the age of 6. Much like my own son, I'd get bits of fabric from whatever my mother happened to be sewing at the time. I learned how to knit and embroider at the age of 7. I've posted a few of my first projects in this post. Not tremendous, but not bad for self-designing the projects either at the age of 7. I taught myself how to crochet at the age of 8. I also designed and knitted an afghan about the same time made of strips of different colored squares. The squares were knitted so that the different colors formed a diagonal band up the afghan. The colors were brown, gold, yellow, avocado green, multi-colored avocado, etc. It was the 70's. Enough said.
I continued with those sorts of crafts, and adding counted cross stitch until I was 12. At that point, I ended up being able to use all my mother's sewing supplies, as she passed away. I had never sewn on a machine before, but logically thought that if my mother could sew, so could I. I picked out an easy pattern - elastic waist pull-on culottes, which even had a triple row of elastic at the waist. I made them in bubble gum pink brushed twill. It was the 80's. What can I say? After that, I sewed quite a bit of stuff, my school uniforms for the 8th grade, and all sorts of garments through high school, including costumes, prom gowns and regular clothes.
Once I got to college my sewing slowed down, as I didn't have a lot of time to sew nor a sewing machine. I'd use my friends machines on occasion to sew a few things for myself. I did do hemming of pants and hand stitching type of fixes for friends and for a little cash. I remember finishing a blue velvet dress for a suitemate who needed a new dark dress for performances - she played flute and cello - and didn't have time between rehersals and classes to finish it. I also made my boyfriend (who is now my husband) a pair of tailored men's trousers, fly zipper, welt pockets and all. I also did cross stitch and knitting in college, those were things I could without a sewing machine.
I got married the same year I graduation from college. I graduated in May and got married in August and made my wedding gown that summer. I had a job, so when I'd get home from work every day, I'd spend a few hours working on the gown. I'd only allow myself that much time because I didn't want to rush the job and make mistakes. You can see the gown and details in this post.
One of the first things my husband and I bought after we were married was a sewing machine. It was a White, and I always had tension problems with it, but I sewed on it for probably close to 10 years before the repair shop said it wasn't worth repairing. I did a lot of sewing on that machine: my own clothes, home dec, two maternity wardrobes, two nursery sets (including 35 yards of bias gingham piping for my daughter's set!), baby clothes, quilts and the ever present alteration jobs. Meanwhile, I continued with the smaller handcrafts, too, adding some beading skills to the repertoire.
As soon as I came home and told my husband that the White couldn't be saved, he immediately offered to fund a new machine. I went to the Janome dealer that my mother in-law had been going to for years and bought a 4800QC. It is the same machine I have today and since then I've bought two more Janome machines. It has been only in the past five years that I've been very serious about my wearable art. I have tried a lot of styles, but about three years ago really found my niche with vintage. Besides the wearable art, as you know, I continue to sew for myself, my family and clients.
As you can see, I've been working with fiber in some way or other for about 30 years. (Did I just type that? Thirty years?!?) Almost all of this was self-taught. I had a friend show me how to do the basic knit stitch and basic embroidery stitches when I was 7 and I've taken one online class with Kenneth King through PatternReview, plus a couple of classes at a quilt show one time.
It is strange, but no matter how frustrating or difficult the project, I still love to sew or create in some way. It is almost a compulsion to make something, in some way. Some people might call it a passion, but I know it is part of me and part of how I define myself.
Thank you all for the compliments on my daughter's reading nook! She is a voracious reader, and spends quite a bit of time in her little nook. She loves fantasy books, the sort with dragons, etc, and likes historical fiction, too.
LindsayT's Sewing Backstory post has inspired many to post their sewing backstory, so here is mine.
I started hand sewing at the age of 6. Much like my own son, I'd get bits of fabric from whatever my mother happened to be sewing at the time. I learned how to knit and embroider at the age of 7. I've posted a few of my first projects in this post. Not tremendous, but not bad for self-designing the projects either at the age of 7. I taught myself how to crochet at the age of 8. I also designed and knitted an afghan about the same time made of strips of different colored squares. The squares were knitted so that the different colors formed a diagonal band up the afghan. The colors were brown, gold, yellow, avocado green, multi-colored avocado, etc. It was the 70's. Enough said.
I continued with those sorts of crafts, and adding counted cross stitch until I was 12. At that point, I ended up being able to use all my mother's sewing supplies, as she passed away. I had never sewn on a machine before, but logically thought that if my mother could sew, so could I. I picked out an easy pattern - elastic waist pull-on culottes, which even had a triple row of elastic at the waist. I made them in bubble gum pink brushed twill. It was the 80's. What can I say? After that, I sewed quite a bit of stuff, my school uniforms for the 8th grade, and all sorts of garments through high school, including costumes, prom gowns and regular clothes.
Once I got to college my sewing slowed down, as I didn't have a lot of time to sew nor a sewing machine. I'd use my friends machines on occasion to sew a few things for myself. I did do hemming of pants and hand stitching type of fixes for friends and for a little cash. I remember finishing a blue velvet dress for a suitemate who needed a new dark dress for performances - she played flute and cello - and didn't have time between rehersals and classes to finish it. I also made my boyfriend (who is now my husband) a pair of tailored men's trousers, fly zipper, welt pockets and all. I also did cross stitch and knitting in college, those were things I could without a sewing machine.
I got married the same year I graduation from college. I graduated in May and got married in August and made my wedding gown that summer. I had a job, so when I'd get home from work every day, I'd spend a few hours working on the gown. I'd only allow myself that much time because I didn't want to rush the job and make mistakes. You can see the gown and details in this post.
One of the first things my husband and I bought after we were married was a sewing machine. It was a White, and I always had tension problems with it, but I sewed on it for probably close to 10 years before the repair shop said it wasn't worth repairing. I did a lot of sewing on that machine: my own clothes, home dec, two maternity wardrobes, two nursery sets (including 35 yards of bias gingham piping for my daughter's set!), baby clothes, quilts and the ever present alteration jobs. Meanwhile, I continued with the smaller handcrafts, too, adding some beading skills to the repertoire.
As soon as I came home and told my husband that the White couldn't be saved, he immediately offered to fund a new machine. I went to the Janome dealer that my mother in-law had been going to for years and bought a 4800QC. It is the same machine I have today and since then I've bought two more Janome machines. It has been only in the past five years that I've been very serious about my wearable art. I have tried a lot of styles, but about three years ago really found my niche with vintage. Besides the wearable art, as you know, I continue to sew for myself, my family and clients.
As you can see, I've been working with fiber in some way or other for about 30 years. (Did I just type that? Thirty years?!?) Almost all of this was self-taught. I had a friend show me how to do the basic knit stitch and basic embroidery stitches when I was 7 and I've taken one online class with Kenneth King through PatternReview, plus a couple of classes at a quilt show one time.
It is strange, but no matter how frustrating or difficult the project, I still love to sew or create in some way. It is almost a compulsion to make something, in some way. Some people might call it a passion, but I know it is part of me and part of how I define myself.
Parting Shot: Just a Child. Just like children, cats can not resist playing with things that are not theirs. Kiwi thought I made this for her to play with.
11 comments:
I wish I had a reading nook like that when I was a kid ! So comfy !
Possibly something she already has, but since your daughter likes fantasy/dragons, she would probably enjoy Anne McCaffrey's PERN series - I've been through it myself a few times now.
Wow, I did not know your mother was gone. You certainly have quite a repetoire of skills, and a talent/eye for these things. My grandmother taught me how to crochet, knit (hated that one), cross-stitch/basic embroidery, but not really sewing. That is self-taught. My mom assists me a bit, but she and I have different tastes.
Thanks for sharing your story! You were suppose to do exactly what you are doing...it is why you do it so well!
I have been sewing on & off & made my own maternity clothes too. Simple ones as I don't know how to read patterns. My 8 yr old daughter started sewing & embroidery since summer & I'm happy each time we sew, all self taught. Happy New Year from Tokyo!
It is the same machine I have today and since then I've bought two more Janome machines.
And fabric. And patterns. And scissors, cutting boards, glue guns, beads, sequins, specialty thread, beads, books about sewing, magazines subscriptions, tickets to attend sewing events, airfare to travel to attend sewing events, beads, shelving for the "wall o' sewing stuff", more shelving for the "closet o' sewing stuff", (both of which live in the "studio o' sewing stuff"), beads, lighting, vacuum belts choked on sewing detritus, and of course...beads.
And I wouldn't have it any other way. I'm looking forward to when you get the sewing machine of your dreams, someday. Love you. :-)
Oh how sweet (last comment). I wish I had such a understanding partner - perhaps in my next life...
And you lost your mother when you were so young! But look what you have achieved with your 30 years of fiberly crafts. Imagine where you will be in another 30? Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for sharing, after reading your blog for the last year, it's nice to know how you got started. I'll have to do my back story this week.
Ethan, you made me laugh out loud! You sound just like my hubby, so thanks for your sense of humor and understanding that when wife/mom is happy, everyone is happy!
Oh Summerset, I occasionally wonder when reading your blog, if it was you or Shannon (sorry, I get you two mixed up sometimes) that had lost their mother. I had no idea you were so young! I was tearing up reading that post. I lost my mother (also to a car accident, but she was a pedestrian) 10 years ago, and it was so hard, and I'm a "bit" older than you! I'm even MORE impressed by your accomplishments now (If that's possible). I'm thinking the wonderful support that your husband shows helps.
What a great read. Thanks for sharing! The wedding dress is amazing.
Wonderful back story, Summerset. Thanks so much for sharing it with us all. I really enjoyed your wedding pics. Your gown was gorgeous and you made a v. beautiful bride.
Me and your daughter share something in common! Tell her I'm reading the third book of the Eragon series now (I had to wait amost a year to get it after reading the first two books of the series!)
And I share a similar Sewing Backstory with you! I also started around 6 (sewing by hand mostly, I also started on crochet and knitting around that age; I remember making my toys using felt, all sewn by hand and stuffed with cotton!) and used a SM for the first time at the age of 12!! I had to slow down while I was taking my degree but I remember sewing many of my clothes since I was 12!
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