Gender, Society, and Sewing

PFFFRRRRTT!

WELL DONE! It's your party, so sew if you want to.

Nope! Son & heir to the fambly debts is 14 and a 5'11" rugby-playing swimmer with ambitions to own a few nice base layer fleece shirts to keep him cozy on Sccouts camps and the like... I said I'd buy the fleece, but he can sew the shirts. I downloaded a free pattern for him from the Shelby web site. There arte LOADS of blokes in the camping/mountaineering circuits who sew their own gear (clothings, tents backpacks, sleeping bags, etc.)

This shirt project (3 fleec shirts) will be James's second clothing project. His last one was 14 months ago, when he was 12 and 6" shorter than now. He made a pair of jeans:

third week in December is the last week of term here. That week I'm in school all week, sewing with the kids... Me, some bags of fabric, a herd of 10 or so sewing machines, lots of scissors, lots of fun. The year group is 10-11 YO's - Year Six. There are 16 of them, and half are boys. I've been teaching lads and lasses this age to sew like this for 5 years (since James was in Year Five). The lads are AT LEAST as good at it as the lasses. Oh, and for sublime examples of straight blokes wot sew, try these: different, but both masters of their craft.

Good grief I would have thought we'd gotten past these gender things by now. :) I am a 55 year old straight woman happily married (30 years) with two kids. I am a professionally trained sewing machine mechanic (a great side business) and work at a full time job as a technology procurement manger....but do you see me as a lesbian because I'm into fixing things and not into nail polish and lipstick?

I know a lot of straight guys who sew, quilt, cook, etc.....>Hi,

I'm a guy. I've sewn for almost 8 years. I'm 55. I've gotta tell you, women find me very interesting when I tell them I sew. And I brag like hell that I sew. If you're a guy, something like that makes you stand out, and in a good way. If I have on a shirt that I made, and I don't think you know that I sew, you will soon know that I made that shirt.

I've sewn my own backpack. I've designed and sewn prototypes for backpacking equipment. I'm about to sew some meditation cushions.

Maybe you could start by making the backpack, and stifle any testosterone spray coming your way. I can point you to the pattern online.

If you're going to be sewing clothes, one hurdle you're going to run into is that commercial pattern instructions presuppose that you have more experience than you actually will have as a beginner. Some things are going to be impenetrable no matter how many pictures they show, and particularly how much they describe it. You'll just need to have someone show you. Or you will need to work on practice pieces sometimes. Some non-chain fabric stores offer lessons or workshops where you can bring in your own project and the teacher will help you with any snags.

One time I ended up sewing a shirt sleeve into the neck hole, and then something else got screwed up too, and I ended up with a topographical anomaly that probably defied mathematics and created extra dimensions in space-time. It certainly defied my attempts to put it on to see how it looked. I just had to laugh at myself after that.

I'm exceedingly proud that I can sew (evidently, from all the bragging I do).

If any guy calls you gay, lick them on the face. THAT will shut them up, at least momentarily. You might want to run in some cases. But they'll think twice before calling you gay again. ;)

Speaking of clothing, I picked up a cowboy belt that I had customized with a name on the back. I'm from Louisiana originally. I'm also a buddhist. The name on the belt is "BUBBHA". Can't wait to see if I hear snickering behind me at the meditation center.

Kate, Thanks for providing the links. They are both most informative! Barbara in FL

but until

I've never

because it

Sewing is for

to sew

I've become

my mother an

books for

sewing with

to sew

oh yes ! and when you walk into the fabric store you will instantly fit the profile of weirdo and a couple of workers will follow you around the store keeping a close watch because they know you are one of those people and up to no good. (a joke)

try it ... you will be another step closer toward conquering societal norms.

don't wait untill your age immunizes you against societal tendencies you may miss out on some fun life experiences.

i guess it may be a geographical phenomenon as i have not met anyone who was concerned wih sewing gender

robb

Welcome!

Ah, the ripe old age of 21! (just teasing, I am only 29, not holding, next year I will be 30!). I know lots of guys who sew, even my husband knows how to operate a sewing machine!

There is something just awesome about understanding how a sewing machine works & how a garment is constructed. Would people fault you for knowing how to use a drill press or a scroll saw? A tool is a tool right? Would people fault you for knowing how to put together a chair or a table from scratch? Building materials are building materials no matter which medium!

Also, check out

I think you will be greatly impressed. And also google "thread heads" I just discovered them recently and there are guys on there too!

Stick around here you will learn so much, I know I did. I taught myself to sew, read patterns and even do some simple drafting and draping from the advice of the men and women here!

Nope. My husband taught himself to sew as a kid because the ventiloquist's dummy he got one year for Christmas had really lame clothes. He raids my cache of neoprene, leather and velcro and uses my industrial machine to make custom cases for his various electronic toys. He also does minor mending when he knows I'm not going to get around to it any time soon. He doesn't sew garments not because he thinks it's gay, but because he's easy to fit and not terribly picky so off-the-rack suits him just fine.

And if anybody razzes you about it, remind them that a sewing machine is a power tool.

Mikeru had written this in response to

:cool. I guess I really just don't understand women =\. Over all, itwasn't what other guys thought about me that mattered the most to me. After all, I've never been a jock type or sports fan, rather a computergeek type. I was more afraid that women would get the wrong idea youknow, "Oooh look, a guy who sews, must be gay, he can be my gay husband!" But at least these fears have been alleviated from all the responses I'vegotten. Eh, I worry too much.Yeah, I'm not sure where to start. At this point, I'm too busy with mysenior year of undergrad to dig into researching beginner sewingtutorials, guides, etc. But come winter break when I get my sewingmachine and have lots of free time, I'm sure I'll be head deep andoverwhelmed with a sewing project. I can't wait! The backpack you mention, what kind of material was it made of?

For me, I eventually want to get to the skill level where I can sew garments, in particular costumes. Not sure how I'd get to that point from

0 skill level. But if anything, my greatest strength is my ability to self-teach myself, and it's what has provided me with all the success I've experienced so far in my relatively short life :P. So I'm eager to learn a new and useful skill.

doofy wrote:

------------------------------------- \"Any man who is under 30, and is not a liberal, has not heart; and any man who is over 30, and is not a conservative, has no brains.\" ?Winston Churchill

##-----------------------------------------------## Delivered via

Community of the NetWeb and RSS access to yourfavorite newsgroup - alt.sewing - 35153 messages and counting!##-----------------------------------------------##

The third week in December is the last week of term here. That week > I'm > in school all week, sewing with the kids... Me, some bags of fabric, a > herd of 10 or so sewing machines, lots of scissors, lots of fun. The > year group is 10-11 YO's - Year Six. There are 16 of them, and half > are > boys. I've been teaching lads and lasses this age to sew like this for > 5 years (since James was in Year Five). The lads are AT LEAST as good > at it as the lasses.

------------------------------------- \"Any man who is under 30, and is not a liberal, has not heart; and any man who is over 30, and is not a conservative, has no brains.\" ?Winston Churchill

##-----------------------------------------------## Delivered via

Community of the NetWeb and RSS access to yourfavorite newsgroup - alt.sewing - 35153 messages and counting!##-----------------------------------------------##

Don't think about what others think of what you do. Do it for your own enjoyment and let the others seek their own enjoyment. I am a man, 63 years old, and have been sewing for 40 years of our marriage.

My journey into sewing started like this: My wife was working and I had not found a job yet when we moved to a small apartment in a new town. We needed drapes for the two windows in our apartment. Not having money to buy what we wanted, we rented a sewing machine and bought some material. I had played on my mother's sewing machine growing up, so making the drapes for the windows was fun and quickly completed. There were three weeks left on the rental of the machine, so we bought some more material and a pattern to make some sports wear for my wife. She liked what I made for her, so made some more from the same patern. By the end of the one month rental of the machine, we decided to buy a machine. I took advantage of the sewing classes provided with the machine. Books on sewing, more material and patterns, many fits and starts followed. My sewing has been primarily self-taught and for my own enjoyment.

In the years since then, sewing has been added to the hobies that I like. My sewing has been primarily for my wife. Over the years, I made square dance dresses with matching vests for me, a suit for me that took the entire time between the birth of my two daughters. One summer, there was a need for culottes for my daughters so they could attend summer camp. Not being able to find culottes in the stores, I took a pants pattern and a skirt pattern and made them. Three pairs for each daughter lead to many pairs for several of their friends who were going to the same camp. It became a very busy summer devoted to the 30 or so pairs of culottes.

My youngest daughter was married in a dress of my own design and construction based on what she wanted the dress to look like. Her bride's maids displayed my work as well. The oldest daughter decided to buy her dress, but her junior bride's maids, flower girls, and ring bearers had clothes I designed and made for them.

My enjoyment from sewing is taking a two dimensional piece of material and making a three dimensional piece of clothing that fits the person wearing it. Sewing has enriched my life beyond measure. It has given me confidence to tackle other things that needed a piece of cloth made into something to "complete" it.

Sewing is completely acceptable among the circle of friends I have. Several of them also sew, which gives me one more thing in common with them.

Some of my other hobbies include wood working, reading, computer repair and building, making holes in paper targets with guns, ham radio, flying, and bicycle riding. There are many places where sewing crosses paths with my other hobbies. I make dust covers for equipment, clothes for riding bicycles, vests for shooting to hold the ammunition, aprons for the shop, tool rolls, etc.

Take the sewing hobby where ever you would like to go. It enhances the enjoyment of other hobbies you may have and will provide hours of creative enjoyment for you. Take sewing with you and enjoy it. Have fun with it, and make sure you come back here often for advice and to show what you have made recently. You are also welcome to share advice with others here as well. There are a large group of very knowledgable people on here that are very willing to help you if you run into a problem with your sewing.

I didn't mean to make this book, I hope it helps. John in South Carolina

No problems at all. I'm now 66 and started sewing when I was in my late teens - early 20's. Then it was to make the occasional dress for my wife - she's forgiven me, we're still together! Now it's mostly dressing porcelain fashion dolls that I've made. Sewing and doll-making, now how weird can you get! :-)

Oh, If you notice, most of us have replied within and/or under your message. Top posting, which you are doing, is generally considered bad form in this news group.

Ripstop nylon and some other cheap waterproof material from Walmart.

It weighed 11 oz. at completion. It was designed to be ultralight, but you can't really carry over 20lbs in it or your shoulders will be killing you.

Google "G4 backpack" and see what you come up with.

Rubbish! (Well, I actually wanted to use a somewhat stronger swear word beginning with B and ending with S but thought better of it! ;-) )

Anyone can sew - anyone - regardless of any external factors that may be listed on job adverts by those trying to be politically correct.

My dad can use a sewing machine - not particularly well, but good enough to do patches, repairs and straight seams. The only reason he's not better, is because it's not his hobby / job. Even my husband has been known to sew a button on - in a functional kind of way.

If it's any help to you, I'm a female chartered electrical engineer, who sews as a hobby, so you could say I'm also going against what is considered "normal" in my choice of career (in that the majority of engineers (excluding the IT profession) in the UK are male). Mind you, in this day and age, even being able to sew (regardless of sex) is regarded as a little unusual by some people....

So - what are you waiting for? Go for it! If nothing else you will soon be able to sew your own buttons on and hem your own trousers, and that's no bad thing.

Sarah

I've been sewing for years. I started out to slip cover furniture, but had to learn to sew a straight line first. I really enjoyed what I did, so I kept it up. I took a class to learn to read patterns. I hated making shirts until I read Coffin's book--that really helps. Finally, I took the tailoring classes at the local community college. They wanted to put me in "how to run a sewing machine' class, until I brought in some of the stuff I had made.

Do what you want to do!

BTW, I am also a registered nurse--so I'm way out on the sexual stereotype limb. Who cares what others think? Jon

How about getting people to think more rationally? Not stereotyping people by gender, race, national origin, religion, age? Let everyone follow his or her own interests and talents and develop them as we each wish to do. No more pigeonholes!!!

Methinks thou doth protesteth too much, "Dr. Jon".

Of course not. Sewing is an activity, not a primary or secondary gender related organ of the body.

Go for it. My Grandfather who had 17 children did the most superb handicraft including sewing. He lived in Victorian times and had been a sickly only child so had to spend a lot of time indoors with his governess so learned his skills from her.

LOL. We had a horse mad daughter and took her along to Pony Club for years. My husband very quickly noticed how few young males there were who were also into horses and made the comment about how it would have to 'improve their chances of scoring'. Given the age of our daughter at the time, I made the obvious comment that if any of the boys did score with our daughter, it'd be the first and last score he'd ever make after I got to him.

:-)) There is more variation within each gender than there is across the gender lines.

Over all, it

:-)) Well this woman has always found brains more attractive than brawn. Brawn is frequently nice to look at, but it becomes boring if all you can do is to look at it rather than talk to it. I'm sure I'm not the only woman to have this attitude.

A book we frequently recommend here for beginners is the Reader's Digest Complete Guide to Sewing. It's as cheap as chips second hand so hunt for it.

I have sympathy for your need to learn from basics as I wanted to learn fine furniture making and most blokes do at least some woodwork in their schooling so get some basics so I was in a similar situation. Girls of my age did samples by hand in Primary school and later in High School, moved onto a machine.

I'd still recommend samples by both hand and machine. If you buy some reasonable quality plain cotton and cut it into 4-6 inch blocks, you can practice on that and get the basics right at the very beginning of your sewing career. The Reader's Digest book shows all the basics that would be worth trying to do as samples. I still have a book and a folder where I put new samples and keep old ones. Its a valuable resources when I need to refresh my mind about how to make a welt pocket or somesuch.

Amateur dramatic societies all seem to need help in the costume department. Hunt around and see if there is one near you that you could join and at least in the early stages be a step and fetch it/handyman whilst you watch and build up your skills. You might even find a nice soul there who will tak eyou under thier wing and teach you.