My primary school, Davidson's Mains (or D'Mains), was where I was first exposed to sewing and the other "female" arts. My best friend was a staunch feminist and I remember worrying that I was letting her down by not feeling as strongly as she did that I should have the same options as the boys - to do woodwork. Although I'd grown up around my dad's side hobby of woodwork, it was sewing, cooking, knitting etc. that drew my interest. Consider me both a feminist (I agree everyone should have a choice) and a "throw back" in that my interests are more traditionally gender oriented. Here is a recent photo from my old primary school which I visited last August.
I learned to sew when I was around 10 years of age. I'm a little fuzzy on the details but I do strongly remember my sewing teacher, Mrs. Ross, scolding me for "playing trains" on the sewing machine i.e. sewing too fast. What can I say? I had a natural aptitude and it didn't seem strange to sew much faster than my classmates. We young girls sewed outfits for a fashion show in either primary 6 or 7 and I remember mine very well. It was pin whale cord, red with tiny flowers and I made a skirt with a small flounce and a matching waistcoat. I was ridiculously proud of that outfit and my sewing skills. I do remember dabbling in some hand sewing of shapes around that time - hexagons. I'm not sure that I actually created anything specific but I was wildly enthused at the geometry of it and enjoyed the paper piecing process.
When I went up to the 'big' school, i.e the local high school (Royal High by name), I continued my interest and chose both academic and creative courses. I was always an A student, excelling in mathematics, English, language etc but equally enjoying cooking and sewing. My mum wasn't terribly thrilled with me about my non academic choices but it's something I enjoyed and was good at so I stuck at it. I've never been able to draw and, although I played guitar and piano, both those interests faded away when we emigrated to the States in 1980.
Sewing took a back seat through the remainder of my education in California - the last two years of high school. But my graduation present was my first machine, a Singer knock-off sold by JCPenney. I sewed occasionally, mostly clothes, and then things for my kids when I had them.
Slowly my interest in fabric increased and transitioned from a desire to make my own clothes to a curiosity about quilting. I was vaguely aware of the history of quilting and, of course, I'd grown up reading the Little House books, Anne of Green Gables etc and must have had some awareness of 'patchwork.'
So about the time my daughter was a toddler in the late 90's, I started exploring the idea of making a quilt. My first one, for a good friend, was done without a pattern or any of the tools I've come to embrace since. I just puzzled it out and chose fabrics I thought she would like and then pieced together a quilt that became her birthday present. I was hooked!
I checked books out of the library, invested in some tools, bought more fabric, and generally made everyone I'd ever met a quilt over the next few years. My then husband was very supportive and complimentary and my quilt gifts were well received. His parents generously bought me a Bernina quilting machine around that time and it's smooth operation allowed my skillset to improve. Around the year 2003 as I went through a divorce, remarriage, and out into the workforce outside the home I started to consider that the items I was making as gifts may also be something I could sell too.
Slowly, over the past years I've become more confident of my design ability and now I'm regularly referred through former clients, colleagues, and friends. I sell via Etsy, Facebook or word of mouth and I'm equally happy working on custom quilts or finishing someone else's for them. My only regret is that I have to work full time and can't, yet, transition completely to quilting for my income. But I enjoy it nonetheless.
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