Trending on Twitter today is “International Women’s Day”. To celebrate I want to tell you about two women who influenced me when I was young. I wouldn’t be the crafter I am today if it weren’t for them.
The first is my mother, Doris Wood. She is the one who taught me to sew and inspired me to challenge myself. The first things I remember making by myself were Barbie ™ clothes. Most of my first efforts weren’t really sewn, just scraps of fabric cut, wrapped and tied masterpieces. Maybe that is where my obsession with wrap dresses comes from. The first real sewing project I remember was a simple 4-gore skirt in dark blue. It had a side zip and waist band. It was 1976 and I paired this skirt with a snazzy red & white striped T-shirt with a Liberty Bell applique. It was a 4H project and I’m pretty sure I got a blue ribbon at the county fair that summer. This was the first of about 10 years of 4H projects, each one lovingly directed and taught by my Mother. Her patience and guidance were so valuable. I gained so much self confidence through participating in 4H; sewing, knitting, showing horses and my Mom was there for all of it. She is so very talented in her own right. She made us many clothes; dresses, bathing suits and more. She also created wonderful home dec. projects and beautiful quilts. I remember her making dolls and stuffed animals for church bazaars and flower girl dresses for cousins. Everything she made was unique and original and impeccably constructed.
The second woman I’d like to acknowledge today is Nella Taylor, also from Marlette, Michigan. She was also a 4H leader. I learned how to knit from her. Once a week after school the school bus would drop about a dozen girls, ages 8-16 or so, off at her house. We’d sit around her tiny living room learning to cast on, increase, decrease, cable, yarn-over and cast off while constructing a variety of garments. Everything from simple garter stitch scarves up to knit bikinis and lace dresses. Also in 1976 I made a pair of simple garter-stitch slippers out of red, white and blue variegated yarn. By the time I was in middle school my older sister, Pam was a very accomplished knitter in her own right and we didn’t go to Nella’s anymore and Pam was able to give me any guidance I needed. Pam and I just got together for lunch earlier this week and we got to reminiscing about our afternoons at Nella’s. We both are so thankful she was a part of our young lives. It’s interesting to wonder where we’d be if she hadn’t been there to teach us this skill that has been such a big part of our lives. Would we have learned to knit from someone else? Would we have done it as such a young age or would we have come to it as adults?
What women have influenced you? Did you teach yourself to sew, knit, crochet, etc? If you did, then YOU are a woman to be celebrated today! Is there someone in your life that had they not been there do you think your life would have taken a different turn? Share in the comments.
My grandma was the crafter. She did everything - cook, can, bake, knit, sew, crochet, macrame, needlepoint, etc, etc.
ReplyDeleteI had sewing projects in 4H and my friend and I would muddle thru - sometimes having to ask my grandma for help. She sewed all our special occasion clothes - graduations, etc. She even made me a very warm full length winter coat for my first winter in college - when I had to walk about a mile to classes. I made most of my clothes starting in high school and well into adult hood - all my formal wear, work dresses, dress pants, bathing suits and even a men's suit, some jackets.
Knitting was a challenge - I learned by watching my grandma but I am left handed and so my 'knit' is a right handed person's 'purl' and vice versa....made it hard for her to help me when I got 'stuck'.
I still have many of the things she 'crafted' for me - including a beautiful crocheted bedspread made of ivory squares with pink roses in the middle. I have never put it on the bed! I need to figure out how to display it. I also have a macrame hanging she made for our entry way which is about 6 ft 'tall' - way taller than she was!
Not too long ago I found some boxed up macrame hanging plant holders (remember those) that Fred's mom made for me. Why is it hard to throw away things people made for you?
Fabulous post. I too started sewing by making Barbie clothes and it was my Mother who taught me. She made me many outfits, every bridesmaid dress/flower girl dress etc. She gave me quite a bit of time at her sewing machine and I am so grateful. My Mother and my Grandmother taught me to Crochet. What would I do without Crochet in my life? Eek.
ReplyDeleteQuilting though...that I am trying to teach myself!
Happy Int. womens day! You fabulous woman you.