I know my mother had a Singer sewing machine, but I don’t remember her making me clothes. She did use it to make alterations. I believe in junior hight school I took Home Economics and learned how to use a pattern to make clothes. My best friend in college sewed a lot of her clothes and in fact made me a pants and tunic nursing uniform. I was the first nurse at my hospital to wear pants in the early 70’s!
Wow Joyce, I had forgotten all about about that nursing uniform
Way back when I was in high school, we had to take Home Ec and we were required to make a skirt to pass the class. I passed but refused to wear that ugly skirt. My mom made all of our clothes and I remember picking out patterns with her for dresses that she was going to make for me. Since I was the oldest girl, I got all of the new dresses and my sisters got the hand-me-downs.
Ha! My comment to theatre folk is, God gave me 5 sons for a reason….I don’t sew! My oldest sister was very proficient in that area. I made one t shirt in middle school and gave it to my other sister…she never wore it! I can hot glue and paint with the best of them, so put me on that side of tech.
I have never tried to sew my own clothes. I did sew some costumes for a Junior League performance years ago. I thought it was difficult. I am impressed that Mary could sew so easily.
I grew up in the country ( in the 1960’s) within a culture of girls learning to cook, clean house, and sew. I learned to sew at age eight and continue to make garments with or without patterns (thank you You-Tube). I sewed formal dresses for my three daughters, taught them to sew, and now teach my grandchildren (both male and female) how to use a sewing machine.