Posted on 04/04/2016 10:48:34 AM PDT by Lorianne
That’s why we all hang out in our cars in the parking lot. I can handle about ten minutes in Michael’s. No chance I’ll ever step foot in a fabric store.
That said, I met a guy who designed and sewed his own tent. It was a big group tent. Could probably sleep 20. It was pretty incredible.
My wife got a degree in vocational home ec nearly 40 years ago. The degree was almost obsolete before she got it. Most screwls dropped the program I think.
I’m told that kids today don’t know how to do much domestic or practical at all. I’m disconnected with the world today. We raised our children nearly in a June and Will Cleaver home in the 80s and 90s.
Interesting. Cosplay???
One bout of salmonella years ago killed my craving for eating out. Plus I’m allergic to so many things it’s not worth the risk.
I have a younger sister that can’t won’t doesn’t cook. She’s heavy and lethargic, no kids. Complains about having no money yet eats out daily. That crap is slowly killing her.
Ugh! Just the thought of that place makes me groan. All those agonizing hours of utter boredom when my mother would drag my brother and I there. How we would suffer as she whiled away the time perusing through the McCall patterns and yarn and all that stuff. And the ironic part is that I can hardly remember her ever sewing a stitch. I could barely get her to sew my scout badges on.
Long ago I ironed for people too. The money was good and I like doing it.
Skills. Simple life skills. Learned once are forever a plus.
You can never have too much fabric stashed. (I am a quilter, too!)
Learned it all in Scouts and from my Mother. All through my college years I washed, starched and ironed on Friday nights. You could just about cut yourself on the creases in my jeans, shirt pockets and collars. I also cooked a roast for Sunday dinner lunch.
None of it hurt me. That was decades ago.
..... today I can still do my own sewing and ironing if required.
**************************************
Uncle Si ... is that you? :-)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jR7QrpZJ7xA
I too feel disconnected.
I remember being in awe of my sewing teacher. Making suits for her husband. The talent she had was incredible.
I came from a Cleaver home, ran my home the same way but my kids live so totally different. What I call disorganized.
I can only imagine how my grandkids will live with no life skill guidance. I mean that in a good way, not putting down their parents. Some things in life NEED to be passed down.
Some of the online sites will send you fabric samples. I have bought some fabric online. Prices can be better, too.
I happen to think self sufficiency is the best gift parents can give their kids. No one ever knows what curve balls life is going to throw them and it’s important to know how to fend for yourself. In a marriage, sharing the workload builds love and respect. I’m sure your boys appreciate every day what you taught them.
Put another way, there is no such thing as ‘too much’ fabric!
I’m also a (hand) quilter.
That will leave us with Joann Fabrics, Hobby Lobby, WalMart (some of the stores), and some specialty shops here.
GOOD NEWS is that the 5 year old granddaughter may be interested in learning to sew, and she seems to have an appreciation of the feel of fabrics.
“I’ve resorted to buying...at thrift stores...”
I’m a guy who has been shopping for bargains at thrift stores for years. Last week I found a brand new pair of Duluth Trading bib overalls for $4.00. I’m all set for yard and garden season. Last year I bought a nice money belt for a couple of bucks and when I got home I found two $50 bills inside. I feel kinda sorry for the guy whose wife donated the belt. :^)
Asian trade has destroyed our once-vital U.S. textile business, both manufacturing and retail.
Short for “costumed play”. Basically dress up. If you’ve ever seen the crowd shots of any of the various comicons and seen all the people dressed like characters you recognize (and probably many others you don’t) that’s cosplay. Then the whole Steampunk revolution started, and cosplay dove into this whole “make your own character” thing. Plus of course there’s the old anchor point of nerddome the SCA (medieval re-creationists) who’ve been making their own costumes since the 70s. Suffice it to say that in the nerd community (which is now big enough to be the primary group tent-pole blockbuster movies are targeted at) probably well over 50% have at least rudimentary sewing skills, and at least a quarter are good enough at it that they could (and often do) make some money at it. The costume contingent has gotten so much momentum it’s actually reversed the flow. It used to be some folks were so hardcore they’d put together costumes, now for a lot of folks they want to costume so bad they’re fans of things to get costume ideas.
At least you now have an appreciation of how much she tried to please you with the matching doll clothes. I am sure I did not fully comprehend the breadth of my mother’s work and talents, when I was a child. I always envied the neighbor girls, who got matching shorts outfits from the Sears catalog..... Possibly they envied my “made with love” (and out of necessity) clothing.
They rarely say it but every once in a while it sneaks out.
LOL.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.