Sew and Sew Part 3

Home Economics in ninth grade pushed me a little harder. I had to make a two piece outfit with a collar, long sleeves, and cuffs with buttons. That meant lots of buttonholes since the blouse buttoned up the back. The skirt had to have pockets, a zipper,a set in waste band and a kick pleat. It taxed me. I ripped out at least half my stitches and redid them. Sewing a straight seam is harder than it looks. To make matters worse, the teacher assigned a home sewing project with the same specifications as the in class project due at the end of same grading period.

The home sewing project was a bigger challenge since I didn’t have the teacher casting her expert eye on every stitch I made. In theory, I would remember all the skills I’d learned in class and practice them on the home project. Sadly, I’d retained little. I struggled with every step. Of course, I didn’t get right on it, so my meagre skills diminished as each day passed. That project was a total misery, but I did finally get a barely acceptable product turned in. I was grateful for a c+ on it.

A couple of girls in the class turned in projects made by their mothers and got A s. I was so jealous!

I wore both those outfits till they wore out. After I struggled through that class, I had sufficient skills to start making my own clothes, though I still had a lot to learn.

18 thoughts on “Sew and Sew Part 3”

  2. It’s so sad for today’s youth that the schools have removed home ec and wood shop. Those were the best classes.

    Glad you did the assignments your self. Look at the life skills you have and you did it on your own.

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  5. I sewed a lot when I was younger. In 7th grade home-ec we had to purchase fabric from a local store, cut it, and make an apron. I remember doing it in class, I remember little about other classes from that year. I think that must mean I was either out of my mind with stress or enjoyed it. I can’t remember which, lol. I sewed a lot of baby coveralls for my sons and cross-stitched the front bib area. I still have remembrances of those days in photographs.

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    • I would just love to see your photos. I really stretched our budget and bought a sewing machine when my second was tiny. I made everything the children and I wore for years. I even made Bud a few shirts and a jacket. That machine paid for itself a dozen times over. I quit sewing for the kids when they got old enough to insist on name brands.

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