A dying art...

[shiredancer]

How much does it suck to be the "Mom Who Can Sew"? Well... it sucks sometimes, anyway. It would help if I could keep my own mouth shut, wouldn't it, because they wouldn't *know* I can sew if I didn't keep offering to help.

Right now I'm in the midst of my own little production-line sweatshop, creating fifteen (15!) Victorian-era, Dickens-reminiscent skirts to be worn over hoops, for all the girls in Kidlet's singing group to wear when they go Christmas caroling this season. Yards and yards of red and green taffeta plaid, or woven burgundy and green, or solid colors. I spent all last weekend on the draft sample (Kidlet's), which came out very nice, and then went into production mode. My three-day weekend was a lost weekend and *not* the good kind, but they're all cut and stitched, and I've started putting in the gathering threads for the waists. Tonight at sewing class I hope to finish all the gathers and start attaching waistbands. Then a final fitting for each girl before putting in velcro closures and hems. All to be done by Thanksgiving.

So while in production mode, I've been musing on the millions and millions of women who have done this all their lives throughout time, and the garment workers of today. Even composed in my mind a little letter of appreciation to the ladies' garment workers union. And as always, I can't help but wonder about all the moms who *can't* sew -- younger than me, I guess, those who came up after the junior high required sewing classes were abolished. And what a pity it is. Seems fewer and fewer women... or people in general, not to be sexist... will have this ability, except the professionals in the industry. They'll miss out on making their kids' costumes, and they'll have to shell out big bucks if they ever take up theater or, say, belly dancing.

Okay, so it *doesn't* suck being The Mom Who Can Sew. It's actually quite a wonderful thing, and something to be glad of.

Comments

[haleth.livejournal.com]

Shoot. I can sew a little bit. I wouldn't volunteer to do it for anyone else, though. I'm just too slow and with the kids... no, not worth my time. I sure do wish I'd taken some kind of sewing classes when I was younger, though, cause I don't know what I'm doing mostly.

Hi Sally!

[shiredancer.livejournal.com]

Hi Haleth! Well, yes, I am rather glad I had the opportunity to learn to sew -- it's a *very* useful thing. Maybe you could find an adult ed course somewhere nearby? I am a firm believer in the merits of adult ed... *hugs*

[nonniemous.livejournal.com]

You're not just the Amazing Mom Who Can Sew, you're the Generous Mom Who Volunteers to Help Out All the Other Kids Who Have No Sartorial Parents. *g* Pictures of the skirts!

And I feel that connection to women through the ages when I spin, not so much with the knitting. But the spinning and weaving, yeah. We've been at this a long time, ladies!

[shiredancer.livejournal.com]

Ulp! *runs over to dictionary.com to look up sartorial* Heh, you got me with an unknown word! And now I am edified. So *that's* what sartorial means.

And yes, there will be pictures! Just have to get the darn things done, first.

[dimity-blue.livejournal.com]

Fifteen dresses?! WOW! Better you than me. I'm sure you'll feel extremely proud though when you see Kidlet and friends go off carol-singing. I hope you get to take some photos too, so you can show off the end result to family and friends.

[shiredancer.livejournal.com]

Yes, I've already decided I'll *have* to get a picture -- if I survive, that is!

Ha, that's exactly what the group leader said as she gently manipulated coerced tricked conned asked me to take this on -- how proud I'll feel when I see the group in their beautiful skirts... *bg*

[baylorsr.livejournal.com]

I've never sewed anything, and I'm rather sorry that I've never been taught the skill. We had home ec when I was in 7th grade, but halfway through the year it was changed to "Skills for Adolescents," and instead of learning how to sew or cook a simple meal or do laundry or buy healthy food at a good cost, we learned how to say no to smoking and to feel good about ourselves and embrace our inner children. Personally, I would rather know the basics of sewing.

[shiredancer.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's exactly it -- 7th Grade Home Ec! One semeter was cooking and one semester was sewing -- the boys got woodworking and auto shop. Ah, the good old sexist days. That really was a great foundation, and I wish Kidlet would have the chance to learn those things.

But that's why there are adult ed classes in sewing now -- that's what my Monday night group is. Some are absolute beginners, learning the first basics -- and others, like me, go to work on individual projects and have some concentrated time and a big workspace with wacky women to talk to. Maybe you could take up a sewing class near by?

[haleth.livejournal.com]

Dangit. Now I want to take girls' _and_ boys' home ec. And I didn't get any. Bummer.

I think about taking adult classes sometimes, just have never managed to schedule it around kids and Frank's job and finances. Eh. But I have a book! And the internet, I usually just look up stuff I need to know how to do. But I'm not skilled, that's for sure.