Wednesday, September 14, 2016

National Sewing Month

 

It’s National Sewing Month!

 

September is National Sewing Month.  According the National Sewing Month website, this observance of sewing came about in 1982 when President Ronald Reagan declared September National Sewing Month “In recognition of the importance of home sewing to our Nation.”

I don’t know where you learned to sew, but I got my start at school in Home Economics and from watching my mother sew. The first thing I ever remember sewing was a simple apron. The girls in Home Ec. took a length of fabric, sewed a hem in one side. Then we ran a twill ribbon long enough to go around our waists, and tie at the back, into the hem opening. I chose a gold, solid fabric, which was probably from my mother’s quilt stash. It wasn’t very pretty, but it was serviceable. I can still see that project in my mind’s eye.

From there, I learned how to sew my own clothes and made many of my dresses as a teenager. As an adult I often sewed doll clothes and dresses for my daughter. I even made a couple of suit coats and pants for my husband. Nowadays most of my sewing projects are mending for my daughter and quilts.

 My first sewing machine was a gift from my husband on our first Christmas together. I remember the thrill of opening the box and finding a heavy, metal, portable Kenmore sewing machine, which I still have. Later, he made me a cabinet to hold the machine.

To celebrate national Sewing Month, why not stitch a project or two. There are two weeks left in September, which is enough time to complete a simple project, like the apron I talked about earlier. It’s an easy project you can do with a daughter or son who likes to cook. Decorate it by stitching their name on and letting them paint a picture of food on the fabric using fabric markers.  When children have their own aprons cooking with Mom is a lot more fun.

 Here are some links to free projects on the National Sewing Month website.

Free projects at Sewing & Craft Alliance (SCA) website
 
Free project on the national sewing month website


I've told you my first sewing project. Where did you learn to sew and what was the first thing you sewed?
 
 
Catherine Castle is not only an award-winning author, she is an award-winning gardener. You can see her gardens and read about her book, The Nun and the Narc, at her website.  http://catherinecastle1.wordpress.com

9 comments:

  1. I watched my grandmother and mother see and my first projects were clothes for my fashion doll and they were handstitched. Fourth grade allowed me to join 4H and I made an apron and potholder. It wasn't until I had a little girl that I began to want to sew and in turn, love to sew.
    Thanks for sharing!
    Connie
    cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. I remember sewing doll clothes on my grandmother's Singer treadle machine. Think of how much exercise we'd get today if we still used those.

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  2. My first sewing project was in Home Ec....a pair of stretchy pants. They didn't turn out exactly perfect, but I got a passing grade. I've sewn a few projects over the years, but not enough to call it a serious hobby.
    debsbunch777(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Was anything we made in Home Ec perfect? Mine weren't. LOL

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  3. My mother taught me to sew. She still makes most of her own clothes. I rarely sew any more. It's more mending really.

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  4. Except for quilting, most of my sewing is mending, too. Thanks, everyone for dropping by.

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  5. Except for quilting, most of my sewing is mending, too. Thanks, everyone for dropping by.

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  6. My mother taught me to sew, along with having sewing for 4-H projects, starting at age 10. I did embroidery prior to that age. Mother made all our children's clothes until each one of us girls started sewing. I've sewn for others, including Christian school uniforms, and even for a fabric store in the past. I do not sew as much now, but once I'm retired I want to sew more and learn quilting.

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  7. Quilting is fun. I need to retire from writing to finish all my quilt ufos, but I don't think that will happen. :-)
    Thanks for dropping by.

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