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Who I am

3078 views 10 replies Latest reply: December 29, 2009 at 1:46:57 PM

Member since:
Dec 13, 2009
Posts: 27

auroranova message #1
Who I am
December 14, 2009 at 6:24:04 PM

Hello, everyone. Or at least, everyone who will follow. This is a new forum, and the first post, so I guess I get to start the ball rolling.

I'm Laura, and I'm 53 years old (as of this writing). I've been sewing in one form or another since eighth grade, so that's been quite a while. At first I sewed what I was told to make, then learned enough to sew the things I wanted to make.

Back in my Stupid Twenties (we've all gone through them, don't pretend you haven't...unless you haven't!) I used to go to Science Fiction conventions and made costumes to sell. Problem with that, though, is that it takes a LOT of fabric to make adult-sized costumes, and that meant money I didn't really have to spare. When I got married and started having kids, we stopped going to conventions, but it was a really good learning experience for me.

As my boys (the two older of my three kids) grew up, I used to make their Halloween costumes every year. What??? A store-bought costume??? Are you kidding me??? I have made Spiderman, two Power Rangers, train engineers, and (my personal favorite) Robin Hood (the fox) from the Disney movie). I've helped my older son put together a "Legend of Zelda" Link costume, and eventually made a Princess and a harem costume for my daughter. While the boys were still small, I hired myself out to make costumes for other moms who wanted that custom look, but didn't have time to sew. Over a two-year period, I made Dorothy (yeah, that Dorothy), a unicorn, penguin, cowboy and a Killer Tomato, to name a few.

Now my boys are grown and my daughter is getting old enough to start thinking that staying home with her brothers to hand out candy might be more fun than going out trick-or-treating herself. And in the meantime, I've discovered a new sewing love....doll clothes!

Back in 2004, I re-discovered some Topper Dawn dolls at a flea market and bought them, which led to finding more of them on a certain auction website, and scrounging around doll shows and flea markets to add to my collection. It's quite extensive now, and has spread from just collecting the Dawn dolls, to collecting any 6-1/2" fashion doll, to adding other dolls of different types and sizes to my growing collection. And I discovered I really like to sew for them. It doesn't take nearly as much fabric or time to make a set of doll clothes.

It also occurred to me that the male fashion dolls seldom had as many or as nice clothing as the ladies, so I focused on sewing for them. It's something that seems to have caught on, and I'm hoping to be able to put more time and effort into it.

Anyway, that's about it. I've been sewing since I was thirteen....a nice long forty-year run with no end in sight.

So please tell me about YOU!

Member since:
Nov 24, 2009
Posts: 1

fabricmkr message #2
Re: Who I am
December 14, 2009 at 6:34:34 PM

Hi:

I also have been sewing since I was about 7-8 years old. I learned by making aprons. In high school, I sewed all my own clothes and then as I got older, I started sewing more items for my home and less clothing. While my son was in high school, I became involved with the school musicals and served as the costume designer for 10 years. (Yes, long after he had graduated)

Now, I'm back to sewing some clothes but I also enjoy sewing tote bags, some doll clothes, and aprons. I tend to sew items that I can't find readily in the stores.

I also knit and that's where the name of my business came from, it's Knit n Sew Studio

visit www.knitnsewstudio.com

Member since:
Nov 24, 2009
Posts: 270

wizdmzchyld message #3
Re: Who I am
December 14, 2009 at 7:17:54 PM

Hello Ladies, I'm Charlene. I haven't sewn a thing since I was in my teens. I'm in my mid 50's now. I've a yen to sew some basic things like my own skirts (which as I remember wasn't too taxing) and maybe one day a dress or a blouse.

In any case, I'm glad this venue has opened, so I can watch and learn. Nice to meet you!

Charlene

Member since:
Nov 24, 2009
Posts: 270

wizdmzchyld message #4
Re: Who I am P.S.
December 14, 2009 at 7:19:07 PM

DO please post pictures.

Charlene

Look at that smile! (Photo guaranteed unretouched)

Member since:
Jul 1, 2009
Posts: 4584

Stitchboard Admin message #5
Re: Who I am
December 14, 2009 at 8:38:10 PM

I have to echo Charlene's post...DO please post pictures!

Melanie (cat slave and Official Feline Can Opener) =^.^=
~~~~~
I'm a beading, knitting and crochet addict. If that means I'm admitting I have a problem, then I admit to nothing. Please refrain from helping me.

Member since:
Dec 22, 2009
Posts: 1

cacshantih message #6
Re: Who I am
December 25, 2009 at 9:46:39 PM

Hello everyone,

I'm Cathy, 56 years old. I've been sewing since I got my first Barbie doll at age 5. In high school I started making my own clothes (Catholic school will do that to you when you wear uniforms!) and once I was married and had babies I started making kids clothing. I started doing alterations at home for a couple of dry cleaners so I could be home with the boys, and continued doing that until they were in high school; then I opened an alteration and custom clothing shop. What a learning experience! After five years I decided that it was too much work for the money so I went to work for Edison Brothers, then a private shop, then Liz Claiborne. Somehow I ended up working for Hancock Fabrics as a manager trainee, then as manager for an outlet for designer fabric. After having emergency heart surgery I stopped working and went on disability.

I'm now back in the work force as a tailor for a police/fire uniform supplier due to my husband losing his job. I won't be doing this much longer due to my health, but in the meantime I'm enjoying the challenge of working again.

I enjoy making challenging items, manipulating fabric and trying new techniques. Restyling castoffs into new items is both fun and rewarding. Thrift shops are my favorite hunting spots for new ideas and things to work with.

I also crochet, knit and hand smock, but they are so time consuming that I only do these things as labors of love for very special people.

Another love of mine is teaching - I had a sewing school for five years and taught children age 7 to 12 - they can do anything you show them if you have patience!

I know I will enjoy this group!

Cathy in Fenton, MO (near St. Louis)

Cathy in Fenton, MO
www.spittingnickels.blogspot.com

Member since:
Nov 24, 2009
Posts: 270

wizdmzchyld message #7
Re: Who I am
December 25, 2009 at 10:06:07 PM

Nice to meet you. You sound as if you have loads to contribute to this site and I look forward to hearing more from you.

Charlene

Quote:

Hello everyone,

I'm Cathy, 56 years old. I've been sewing since I got my first Barbie doll at age 5. In high school I started making my own clothes (Catholic school will do that to you when you wear uniforms!) and once I was married and had babies I started making kids clothing. I started doing alterations at home for a couple of dry cleaners so I could be home with the boys, and continued doing that until they were in high school; then I opened an alteration and custom clothing shop. What a learning experience! After five years I decided that it was too much work for the money so I went to work for Edison Brothers, then a private shop, then Liz Claiborne. Somehow I ended up working for Hancock Fabrics as a manager trainee, then as manager for an outlet for designer fabric. After having emergency heart surgery I stopped working and went on disability.

I'm now back in the work force as a tailor for a police/fire uniform supplier due to my husband losing his job. I won't be doing this much longer due to my health, but in the meantime I'm enjoying the challenge of working again.

I enjoy making challenging items, manipulating fabric and trying new techniques. Restyling castoffs into new items is both fun and rewarding. Thrift shops are my favorite hunting spots for new ideas and things to work with.

I also crochet, knit and hand smock, but they are so time consuming that I only do these things as labors of love for very special people.

Another love of mine is teaching - I had a sewing school for five years and taught children age 7 to 12 - they can do anything you show them if you have patience!

I know I will enjoy this group!

Cathy in Fenton, MO (near St. Louis)

Look at that smile! (Photo guaranteed unretouched)

Member since:
Jul 1, 2009
Posts: 4584

Stitchboard Admin message #8
Re: Who I am
December 26, 2009 at 4:31:04 AM

Charlene,

Well said!

Cathy,

It sounds like you have a great chance to use your creativity to work with someone's "once-loved" clothing! It's so good to find those treasures and make them into something new and innovative. That's a wonderful talent, and I'm sure the recipients of your restyled clothing truly appreciate the items you invent!

Hope you'll post some pics for us, so we can see what you do!

Member since:
Dec 13, 2009
Posts: 27

auroranova message #9
Re: Who I am
December 26, 2009 at 8:43:53 PM

You are most welcome here, Cathy. There are a couple topic threads in this section, dealing with Favorite Techniques and Sewing Hints and Tips. I know you'll have a lot of wonderful things to share with us there!

Member since:
Dec 28, 2009
Posts: 7

dlowe8 message #10
Re: Who I am
December 28, 2009 at 3:01:35 PM

Hey everyone, my name is Deidra, but I normally go by Dee. So much easier for people to remember.

I've been crafting since I was in single digits. There isn't much that I haven't done, or can't do...knit, crochet, bead, sew, quilt, embroider, tat, etc.

As for sewing...some of earliest memories are of helping my grandmothers quilt on the family 'everyday' quilts that we used on our beds. My very first sewing project was a hand-pieced quilt. It was an "Around the World" that my grandmothers cut the squares out of old clothes and blankets that I'd used as I child. I learned to use my mom's sewing machine when I was in my early pre-teens. I got my very own machine in my early 20's. Since then I've aquired and use 2 machines and a serger, and I usually have at least 1 quilt frame set up with a project for hand quilting. My current sewing projects are all for a volunteer group that sends quilts to the front for our wounded soldiers. Many of us make litter quilts, pillow cases, etc. Some of us also receive hand signed denium squares that we stitch into large quilts. These are called the "four freedom" quilts. Everything is sent over to the front hospitals where our wounded are coming in to.

Outside of the crafty world ... I'm a mfg engineer for Ford and I live in SE Michigan...brrr right now. I am married to a truly wonderful man...but don't tell him I said that. We've been married for 4 years now, and have been together for about 10. Through him I have 3 kids (son 26, son 22, daughter 20), a granddaughter 2, and a soon-to-be grandson. I like to read, listen to books, cook, bake, make candy, swim/work out, and craft of course. I look forward to getting to know all of you.

Look at that smile! (Photo guaranteed unretouched)

Member since:
Jul 1, 2009
Posts: 4584

Stitchboard Admin message #11
Re: Who I am
December 29, 2009 at 1:46:57 PM

Dee,

Quote:

As for sewing...some of earliest memories are of helping my grandmothers quilt on the family 'everyday' quilts that we used on our beds. My very first sewing project was a hand-pieced quilt. It was an "Around the World" that my grandmothers cut the squares out of old clothes and blankets that I'd used as I child. I learned to use my mom's sewing machine when I was in my early pre-teens. I got my very own machine in my early 20's. Since then I've aquired and use 2 machines and a serger, and I usually have at least 1 quilt frame set up with a project for hand quilting. My current sewing projects are all for a volunteer group that sends quilts to the front for our wounded soldiers. Many of us make litter quilts, pillow cases, etc. Some of us also receive hand signed denium squares that we stitch into large quilts. These are called the "four freedom" quilts. Everything is sent over to the front hospitals where our wounded are coming in to.

What a lovely thing to do! I do love your description of the "Around the World" quilt and think that's a wonderfully wise way of using old clothing that's no longer suitable for wearing.

Come to think of it, I have some old clothing which could be repurposed for that sort of thing.

Thank you for the inspiration!

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