by asterixsew Moderator 04 Jan 2017

While slowly getting all my sewing stuff into my new room I keep finding bits and pieces that I haven't seen in ages. This is one of them. Every now and then someone asks about who helped them start to sew when they were young. One of my childhood memories of sewing is of my Grandpa who created the cushion cover below. When he was in his late 60's he had bowel cancer and for rehabilitation he was taught to embroider and over many years he created colourful mainly celtic inspired designs which he sewed out in 6 strand embroidery thread. This is rather frail and fragile and was used as a cushion by my mother. Following his operation and treatment my Grandpa lived to be 96.

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Comments (10)

by rsloan 05 Jan 2017

What a beautiful memory to cherish. My Aunt Ella taught my sister and I to crochet while we were quaranteed with chicken pox - I think we were 7 & 8. Later my sister and i made straight skirts in Home Economics (that's when schools used to have those courses) - and they even had zippers.. Neither one of ours was wearable (LOL). But when my sister became a majorette in hight school, she needed to have many costumes made for her various performances. Since my mom worked long hours, my sister and I made them all. We would hold the pattern pieces up in the air and try to figure out how to do it - how they ever got made I don't know, but somehow we managed because of the limited sewing skills we learned in Home Ec. Our Home Ec teacher is still living (she's about 90 y/o) and she considers us a success. When we were first married, my husband was in the Air Force and we had very little money. When the kids came along i took a course in Stretch-and-Sew sewing with what was then a brand new type of fabric - polyester! I made dozens of Tshirts and pants for the kids, pajamas, and even clothes for myself. I still have all those patterns - I cant seem to part with them. Good memories - thanks.