Gender, Society, and Sewing

Oh, who keeps score? ;-)

Dear Mikeru,

I taught fashion design for years. Some of my best, and most serious students were men. Most had doubts at first about taking courses with so many women; but when they ventured the step, they found that the women welcomed them and nurtured them. I have to say that the successful ones that are still out there are mostly men. I got comments like, "I got an engineering degree for my Dad; now I'm taking design for myself." Or, "I want to make my own unique clothes." That particular comment led to an internship with a London tailor. Another one of my male students wins award after award for his beautiful women's wear. He has private clients for whom he makes entire wardrobes and special occasion garments for trips. Yet another makes one-of-a-kind show stopping gowns.

You're young enough to be my grandson. I have grand nieces older than you by several years. I hope that if you have a dream to fulfill, you'll pursue it, and don't worry about what others think. I thought the world was changing. When I was in highschool, girls could become nurses, teachers, go to art school, or study philosophy to find a husband. Thank goodness that's changed. Now let's take another step and accept all people just as they are. Now that I think about it, there are other cultures where certain tasks are gender related-- basket making for men, farming for women, hunting for men, preparing hides and clothing, women. How lucky we are to live at a time when we can pursue all kinds of careers or avocations.

Teri

I'll shut my mouth, rather than tell you how rude you are.

J>> I've been sewing for years. I started out to slip cover

Oops. It snuck out.

I made my first garment when I was twelve. You just have to pick something easy for your first try.

Back then we wore aprons frequently, and skirts were simple rectangles pleated onto a waistband. It's harder for beginners to practice these days, but nightwear is still good.

You do need lots and lots of practice handling a needle -- I suggest embroidery; it's more fun than sewing seams, and you don't have to worry about stuff falling apart if you do it wrong.

In the mid-sixties, I checked a book called _The Stitches of Creative Embroidery_ out of the library and made a set of samplers to fit a three-ring notebook. I didn't meet my goal of making a sampler for each chapter, but I learned a lot.

Then I went back to using chain stitch, running stitch, back stitch and outline stitch for everything.

When I get my hands on a child for an hour or so, I have him make a few stitches on a small piece of cloth, then I stretch it over a cardboard circle to make a small medallion. Never got a chance to follow up, but several children have learned that sewing is fun. Few realize that what they were doing was sewing, though; they call it "doing a craft". But most notice that there is a difference between making something and gluing pre-cut pieces together.

Joy Beeson

Oh dear god, a top-poster who claims that quoting Shakespeare is rude! What next?

"Thou dost top-post too much"

LOL!

"The rest is silence."

Beverly

Good Night, sweet ladies...

"Get thee to a Sewing Room..."

Beverly

Darting is such sweet sorrow.

"A Mid-Summer Night's Seam"

Hallo Mikeru !!! Welcome into a new exciting world ,, In our modern life we are more open minded about people liking crafts . I advice you to read some books or articles about former times in Textiles , Many crafts were first for Men Only and with time they became Women Only ,, now we have reacherd the times , when whom ever wants to do a craft can study it and try to become best ,,, Even though you will see that many of the crafts are made by women , the Persons climbing to the top are still males , thus you are looking into a good future . One sees more and more males knitting and nobody raises an eyebrow about it ,,

Learn your chosen craft , try and read and learn as much as you can about the Background of it and HAVE FUN [ ps don`t forget to sew something nice for your mother !!!!! mirjam