There was only one elective in the curriculum as I started high school. In addition to English, Algebra, Religion, Latin, PE, and study hall, I had the option of Home Ec, Art or World History. Why my parents pushed Home Ec is beyond me. I think I would have done much better in Art. I know I learned more about cooking from my mom, aunts and grandmothers, but I have to admit that the semester we spent learning to sew was worthwhile - even if I didn't think so at the time.
My Nonna had an old fashioned Singer sewing machine - the type with a the foot treadle and wooden drawers - but I had no clue how to use it. At sometime during my early teen years, my mother managed to get a sewing machine that she probably paid for by sending ten dollars a month to Sears. Once I was assigned the project of making a blouse and jumper in Home Ec, it was up to me to figure out how to use our machine.
While Sr. Raphael wasn't exactly Rachel Ray in the kitchen, she did know her way around a Singer. She taught us everything from the mechanics of the machine, to how to select a pattern, buy material, lay it out, cut it and put the whole thing together. She was very particular about things like knowing the grain of a fabric and fitting sleeves (no puckers). I did get an A on my blouse, but as I got going on the jumper, time was running short. We were allowed to wear our completed outfits instead of our uniforms on one special day before the end of the school year - but of course, first we had to get a passing grade from Sister R. I ended up with a C+ on my jumper because I used a double thread on my hem and in tacking down the facing around the neck and arms - a real rookie mistake and clear evidence of rushing to get it done.
Despite the mediocre grade in home ec, the class did provide me with the basics - and the courage (foolhardy or not) to take on other projects with the sewing machine. I think most girls my age were expected to know how to sew - at least a little. It wasn't unusual to see an outfit in Seventeen Magazine and then go to Wiebolt's to find the Simplicity or Butterick pattern, buy the fabric and have a new skirt or blouse inside of a couple weeks. Lots of girls made their prom dresses - a bit too daring for my abilities.
Junior year I was in Glee Club. We were rehearsing songs for our spring recital and early on, Sister Sheila announced that we all needed to wear the same dresses for the performance. Then, she turned to the blackboard in the choral room and wrote the Simplicity pattern number for the dresses we were to MAKE. There were groans from the altos to the sopranos. The dress was simple and actually rather stylish, considering a nun picked it out. It was sleeveless, scoop-neck, and floor length with an empire waist (pronounced "ohm-peer") and it had to be white. The only unique option was the ribbon at the waist - we could pick any color.
We probably wiped out the supply of patterns at all the local department stores - because those of us who were the same size ended up sharing the pattern. Since the dress had to be white, we searched for the most inexpensive cotton fabric, so many of us used bed sheets. Quite a few moms ended up pinch hitting for sewing machine-phobic daughters. Mine didn't turn out half-bad but the back of it could have been duct-taped together since it only had to last for one performance and we would be far from the audience up on the stage. I don't think anyone used the dresses for prom, but considering everything was handmade, we all looked pretty good up there for the recital. I used a shiny green ribbon on my "ohm-peer."
As I got older, I got braver. I made a button-down white shirt with black polka dots for a friend in a rock band. During my freshman year in college I actually took apart a brand new winter coat and put it back together. I thought it was too big and instead of trying to return it, I figured I could alter it myself. I made all kinds of clothes as I prepared to go away to school (only to spend most of my time in jeans and t-shirts).
I got my own Kenmore sewing machine for a shower gift and I can't list the number of sets of draperies I've made, duvets for comforters, shams for pillows, shower curtains, and on and on. One of the dearest memories I have is finding a quilted material and making heavy drapes to cover the glass doors to our balcony from the nursery, preventing my newborn twins from any winter drafts. The machine came out for a few Halloween costumes, and eventually got tucked away in a closet.
Not too many people sew anymore. I retrieve the sewing basket to hem skirts or pants by hand, sew on a button or to dig out the measuring tape when I'm convinced I have to keep track of the size of my waist and hips.
In all these years, the machine hasn't failed me once. I can still pass the thread through all the tensions without a hitch, but I do need glasses to thread the needle. I have bobbins with many colors of thread in the sewing basket, ready for any new project - but lots of them are in the earth colors of the 70s.
I pull the machine out every once and while for the odd decorating project or to hem jeans. I know I could probably get a new machine that can do a lot more tricks and at a pretty reasonable price. But seeing as there are few outfit/drapery/costume projects in my future, I think I'll just keep the one I have. It has served me well.
