Denyse shares her earliest sewing memory in honor of National Sewing Month!
My
first sewing project was a dress for my Barbie.
I knew then that this was my calling and I had to continue to put needle
and thread to fabric.
I learned to sew from my mother. She was
'doing it all' before it was a thing – she raised four kids, earned two masters
degrees, worked full time and somehow found time to entertain, reupholster
furniture, and make clothes for herself and her kids. My mother learned to sew
from her grandmother, and I remember my mother telling me she made everything,
including underwear! I found out after I started my business that my great
grandmother also made utilitarian quilts – the kind of quilts that I love --
made in a hurry from old clothing and out of necessity.
When I was a kid, I had a toy sewing machine
that always jammed which was super frustrating. I remember wanting to sew on a
'real' machine early on – I think my mother knew I would be a serious stitcher
at that point! I sewed softies, doll clothes and home accessories for my
dollhouse.
In my high school Home Economics class, one
of my projects was a linen, double-breasted skirt suit with bound buttonholes
and pockets. I was always pretty ambitious and impatient! My first 'professional' sewing job was
working in the costume shop at the Boston Ballet. Early in the season, I made a
terrible mess of a tutu – sewing yards and yards of delicate silk tulle to
essentially a pair of underpants – but managed to keep my job! The rest is
history!
Make sure to sign up for a chance to win fabric from Denyse along with our Coats Quilt+ thread! You will also be entered for a chance to win our Grand Prize giveaway featuring SEW many goodies including a Janome AMH-100 Machine! SIGN UP HERE
2 comments:
Denise, your mother sounds like an amazing woman!!! I read what you wrote two times, to make sure I read it right. WOW! What I wouldn't do for her dedication and energy. Thanks for the post I love learning about peoples history and how it brings them to where they are now.
;-> Toni Anne
What a treat to read about how your story began! It makes using your designs even more special. My love with textiles began with a clothespin doll kit under the Christmas tree. All those bits of fabric spoke to me. Now they have their own room! Thank you for sharing.
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