so-and-so sews

When I am at a party, networking event or any gathering, inevitably people will ask what I do for a living. When I respond that I am a dressmaker/designer, people are usually surprised. I do not look like a quilting granny or a stereotypical dress designer, so people start asking questions. They usually ask where and how I learned to sew. They also usually reminisce about a time when they either had something made for them, or tell me about a person in their life that sews. The conversation is usually pleasant and comforting. I love to hear about other people's sewing experiences or learn about people that sew in any form. When I tell whomever I am speaking with that I also give sewing lessons, their eyes usually light up with interest.

My sewing classes are getting more and more popular with kids these days. I took some time recently to investigate why. It turns out that anything your parents don't do is cool with "the kids" (surprise, surprise!). It also turns out that most parents have not got the time or learned experience to teach their kids how to sew. In fact, most parents come to me and say "I can't even sew a button on!" or "I can't even thread a needle!".  I was intrigued by the multitudes of parents and peers that came to me with stories of embarrassing tries at sewing, and botched hems, etc. They would shyly look down admitting the defeat of "bringing the garment to the cleaners" for alterations (and paying through the nose for it!!). They marvel at the idea that I can sew at all, let alone sew a variety of items from hand beading and kids toys to couture evening gowns. I have taken my skills for granted! 

I learned how to sew from my grandmother (hand stitching), and from a 6th grade sewing class, which remains one of my favorite teacher/student memories. I asked some of my peers if they took Home Ec in school, and subsequently if sewing was even taught in their Home Ec courses. Most people my age (graduating HS in the 1990s) said they indeed took Home Ec in middle school, however 75% of them told me that sewing was not part of the curriculum. This surprised me. I must have grown up in a town where Home Ec was not limited to cooking and laundry. I also got the impression that most of the women in my peer group thought that sewing was somehow not "feminist", placing women behind the sewing machine instead of out in the workforce (i.e. Corporate America) and that it would somehow ruin their "Fem-Cred" (I use this term when two or more of my feminist friends are gathered, one-upping each other with their feminist ideology!). I have always considered myself a feminist and never felt that sewing a button on a jacket or repairing a hole in my jeans would deem me unfit for my "We can do it!" compatriots. In fact, I feel it is the very essence of feminism! However, I can see where there might have been a label (sewn) on people who stitched in the past. It was certainly not common among my childhood friends to sew, but some of their mothers were great sewers. I think the generation gap between my peers and their parents was evident; "mom sews, so sewing is NOT cool". Now, of course, the children of my peers are in the opposite boat; "mom doesn't sew, so sewing IS cool!".

Whenever I meet another sewer, I get excited to "talk shop" with them (much like a musician or artist would do) and find out where and how they learned to stitch, what kind of machine(s) they use, and where they get fabrics and supplies. I like that I may be the "where and how" for the kids I teach, and that someday when they are at a party, they might mention me or my classes as a part of their sewing history. Do you know anyone who sews?