I dragged out my sewing machine yesterday for the first time in many years, and am trying to get up to speed. I am a novice, but want to do more with it, and teach the kids to use it properly.

I also do some knitting, embroidery, cross-stitch and whatever else catches my eye for the moment.

Who is talented at these things? I know I don't have a great "gift" for any of it, but I keep plugging away!

How did you learn? Did you take classes, or did a family member or friend teach you? Have you kept at it, or put it aside? What great things have you made?

I love everything you mention. Ummmm, talented, lol....maybe not, but I do enjoy it. The knitting and crocheting was taught to me by my mom. Grandma and aunts all did it and I learned when I was little. The embroidery and cross-stitch I taught myself.
Quilting was a challenge and I was fortunate to join a very inexpensive class at adult education. I made some great friends, had lots of fun and have some beautiful quilts.
I also took pottery at a local college for many years, the pottery wheel is my favorite thing in the whole world, but I haven't done that in over 20 years, .

So that's what I do, but the reason for it....
Besides using my skills to make things for family and for various charities, encouraging hobbies is my passion. I have taught my dd and ds various crafts and arts.
I think it is absolutely essential for sanity to have a creative outlet. To create something with your hands, and with your mind, is so fulfilling. We discuss this passion, this need, with extended family members all the time. They paint, sew, build, etc. We all say that we need it to destress. It is the ideal thing to dwell on mentally when you are trying to fall asleep. Whenever worries beset me, and I am through praying, I just set my mind on making something and relax.

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I knit and crochet when the mood strikes. I was taught by my grandmother. She didn't teach me embroidery but I picked it up from a neighbor. I mostly embroider pillowcases and tablecloths but I've embroidered jeans, sheets, and shirts. I always wanted to make a quilt by myself but I never have. Learning to quilt will be my New Year's resolution - again. LOL!

I can sew, but just the basics. I learned from my mom, she was a professional seamstress. I can make basic clothing. I also can cross stitch, do embroidery but haven't in years also learned from my mom. I can knit, but only straight knitting and pearl stitch and crochet, but only the straight stitching (but have made plenty of scarves and afghans using the 1 stitch) also learned from my mom. My grandma taught me how to quilt when I was a teenager, but I have never done anything with it as an adult. I think the sewing must skip a generation as my middle DD sews all the time and learned everthing she could from my mom before she passed away (she has even made a prom dress when she was in high school) she is a wonderful sewer and is currently making a quilt, she sews all her dresses. And my 12 year old can sew too, she had made pj's, skirts, shorts, fannel pj pants, my oldest shows no interest in sewing though.

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I LOVE LOVE LOVE to sew clothes, purses, curtains, crafts whatever but I don't really have the space I have not made anything since May when I made a purse for my fairy costume for the fairy festival.

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I can sew but don't do it often.I can also crochet my granny tried to teach me how.She was right handed I;m a leftie.Very frustrating..I made my neices prom dress and when my oldest dd was small I made her Easter outfit.

I sew a lot. For several years, I was sewing a couple of hours a day. DS used to sell handmade things at craft fairs and festivals. He doesn't do that anymore, but I'm just starting to list things on etsy. I find sewing to be peaceful and relaxing...well, most of the time.

I love to sew. Literally anything, curtains, clothes, crafts... I used to cross stitch but my hands won't let me plus I end up with a headache everytime I start something. When the boys were little I made lots of shorts and pj's for them.

My mom taught me all I know in this catagory. She makes quilts and machine quilts them as a business.

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I crochet more than anything. I can knit ,cross stitch, embroidery, crewl,but my fav is crocheting. I crochet lap afghans for my clients, christmas stockings, scarves, baby sweaters.knitting is fine but just to slow going for me.

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I love to sew. I quilt, make clothes for my kids, doll clothes, curtains, pillows -- anything, really. I used to do cross-stitch and embroidery but I haven't picked it up in years. My mom taught me to sew and crochet. I took a quilting class whe I was in my mid-twenties. I also like to scrapbook.

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Cecilia

"We must love them both--those whose opinions we share and those whose opinions we reject. For both have labored in the search for truth, and both have helped us in the finding of it."
Saint Thomas Aquinas

I sew as in fixing rips in pants etc. I also do cross stitching. I have done several pictures and other things as gifts and some for my home. I enjoy doing it all.


Here are some I have done.

http://s256.photobucket.com/albums/h...ross%20Stitch/

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I was very blessed to have my Grandma who had taught me to knit, crochet, embroider, and macrame' (yep, I did an owl! -- talk about dating myself!) by the time I was eight or nine. When I was in college she taught me to sew and I picked up cross stitch on my own. It's great to have those memories of her so patiently sitting next to me encouraging me to rip out my last several rows...

Thanks for the memories, OP!

Nice job ErikNVicky, love the baby blanket!

I really enjoy just about any type of crafts, and I especially like being able to create something of my own design. However, it's been a couple of years since I've really done anything crafty. Most of the things I've sewn, I've done so without a pattern. I made all of DSs Halloween costumes when he was growing up. I've also made myself some outfits, throw pillows, curtains for MIL, matching curtains & shower curtain for BIL.... and about 2-3yrs ago I made some dress-up clothes for my niece. One dress in particular my SIL said my niece wore all the time, even to the grocery store, etc. (LOL) I haven't made anything since then, but I'm hoping to bust out the machine soon and start making some stuff for my OCC shoe boxes.

I guess I picked up sewing from Home Ec in Jr High, because clothing repair is about the only sewing I can ever recall my mother doing when I was a child. She does sew some things for her home now though, like curtains, shower curtains, throw pillows, etc.

An older lady, who was a friend of mine, taught me how to do embroidery and candlewicking.... though it's been ages since I've done any of that. I can also cross-stitch, but I can't even remember how I learned that one. (LOL) I'd really like to get back into the thread work, but I don't foresee that happening anytime soon.

I use to do ceramics when I was a young teen and always wanted to do pottery (pottery wheel). It just looks like fun. And I always thought glass blowing would be something I'd like to try, too.

I had a Knit Magic when I was about 11. (Still have one. ) I made lots of snake door draft stoppers and sweater tube dresses for my Tuesday Taylor doll , but that was about the extent of my knitting skills. (LOL) Someone attempted to teach me to crochet once, but the chain stitch was as far as I got. I'd love to learn to crochet and quilt.

.

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LOL--I completely forgot some of these crafts! I made sooo many macrame plant hangers in junior high!

And candlewicking I used to love! Don't know if I would remember the knots now.

I have taught my younger kids basic crocheting, cross-stitch and now they are making hook rugs which we'll make into pillows. I love to see them sitting quietly, so proud of their creations while they work. Much better than seeing them use a DS.

Right now I'm making a diaper cake for a shower, and I've been making french memo boards for my dd's friends to put their pix on.

ErikNVicky--What beautiful work you've done! I am going to take your idea and start taking photos when I complete a project. I've given away sooo much stuff that I wish I had kept. At least the photos will remind me.

I cannot knit or crochet, but I love to sew. I have made a total of 34 wedding gowns now. Number 34 walked down the aisle tonight, and she was beautiful. I also do lots of quilts, table toppers and kids clothes. Going into a fabric store is like heaven to me. I could literlly spend hours looking a fabric. I think the best thing about sewing is that you get to decide what is right for you. I once made a vest out of satin and burlap. I was told by a friend that it would never work and would look hideous. I loved the contrast of textures and went ahead with it anyway. It turned out great, and she thought so to.

Have you ever heard of esty? It's a place where you can sell your handcrafted items on line. Someone just brought it up on the arts and crafts forum, so I thought I'd mention it here too.

i learned to sew in Jr. High and I had a fabulous teacher. I think I was the only one who liked her as she was very strict and fussy. That is why i liked her tho because I learned how to do good work. Now I mostly sew my square dance outfits because they are quite expensive to buy. I also like to make 'interesting' tote bags. I haven't done much sewing since my right hand is still not back to normal from to the stroke I had in February. But I do love to sew and I enjoy designing my square dance clothes.

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I cannot sew at all, but my Grannie taught me how to knit, crochet, embroider, crossstitch and needlepoint. I love needlepoint and crochet.

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i love to sew, but don't really have anywhere to do it right now. It takes time to take it out and put it away so it has stayed away for a few years.
I wish that it didn't cost so much, but i found myself spending so much at Joann fabrics that i had to stop!
I would make sweaters, blankets, halloween costumes (including a medieval bride dress, so pretty!)
clothes for my cousin etc.

I find it hard to buy halloween costumes now because they are not the quality i am used to

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-Kristi

I love to sew and do many other crafts but when I sew I like to be able to sit down and finish it in one sitting !
I used to have my own business making bridal gowns but I met 1 too many bridezillas and quit!

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I can't sew to save my life! I can fix a seam and minor things like that, but can't make clothes. My mom tried to show me but I never got the hang of it. My big things was crocheting big granny square blankets. I dabble a bit with embroidery and counted cross stitch, but with the hours I work I just don't feel like doing anything when I get home since it's so late.

I love love to Cross Stitch. Just the counted, do not like stamped. My mom tried to teach me to quilt, but I didn't keep it up. I did buy a book long ago to teach myself to crochet, and I made my neice a blanket when she was born. Maybe once the weather cools off, I'll whip that out again. I enjoyed it.

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Eileen

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Thanks everyone for the compliments. I enjoy doing them all!

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I sew. Mostly kids clothes, some baby blankets too.
Here is an album of some stuff I have made and a few of my fabric stash!
I think I made everything in the albums(well I didn't make the fabric) except for the red dress, it's Gap, but I made the leggings to match.
mindid/fabric - Page 1 - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

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