For the Record - My Needle Art History

I just read Hannah's latest post about her sewing projects and thought I'd write a bit about how I came to do the things I do.

I remember my mother teaching me how to knit.  I didn't like it one bit.  My needles were like size 20's and wood and they didn't click the way hers did. 

She taught me to do counted cross-stitch.  I started with needlepoint on hard plastic pre-colored "canvas".  The first one I loved.  Then I got 2 more - they were hexagon boxes.  One had an apple tree on it and the apples were a full cross-stitch.  It went well.  The 2nd on, that I wanted to do first ... was blue and it was clouds and a rainbow.  Some portion of it (I remember this part being white yarn) was a satin embroidery stitch.  I didn't get it.  I argued and argued and I think Mom finally gave up and let me do it however I wanted.  I did my first counted cross-stitch on aida fabric in 1984 (I was in 1st grade).  It was a Christmas ornament and I still have it.  I was hooked.  I've done tons of counted cross-stitch.  Even did one sitting through band practices in high-school (don't ask how I was allowed to do that - I think Mr. Becker had too many other things to worry about).

Machine sewing.  Mom had, and I think still has, a treadle sewing machine (there's no power, just your feet on the pedal).  I remember begging to be allowed to use it.  I sewed lots and lots of newspaper.  I'd done it enough that I was allowed to do it whenever I wanted.  Mom was at work and Dad was on the roof working on re-roofing.  Uncle Bill had come over and was going to take me out in the canoe.  I'm guessing I was in 1st or 2nd grade.  Anyway, I managed to run the needle through my finger.  I wasn't using thread, which was a good thing.  I remember backing the needle out of my finger and going upstairs and telling Dad what I did.  He sent me over to see Aunt Joyce.  My only real concern was being able to go out in the canoe with Uncle Bill. 
   Looking back on it all now, the needle through my finger really put a damper on my desire to use a sewing machine.

Mom made me take a sewing class at Lowry's one summer.  If I go through the pictures at her house I can tell you exactly when, but I think it must have been 3rd or maybe 4th grade.  I made a pair of culottes.  I didn't like the class.  I don't remember doing any more machine sewing until Jr. High Home Economics class.  I made a pillow with darts. 

By High School I really liked embroidery and cross-stitch.  My Mother taught me to crochet.  I picked out some really horrible colors at K-Mart for an afghan.  I did enough that I knew how to crochet.  Mom finished the afghan.  I really shouldn't be allowed to pick out colors.  (Still mostly true to this day.  I have to have Brian or Hannah check colors for me if I'm trying to put anything different together.)
I crocheted some doilies.
Mom taught me to spin.
I knit one of a pair of fingerless gloves.  Never finished the second one.
The summer between high school and college I decided to quilt a Christmas tree skirt for my mom.  I bought the fabric - all white and had to do 2 straight seams to make it big enough.  Did that.  Quilted it but had to give it to her not finished because I didn't know how to get the binding on.  She finished it.  It was the size of a double bed bedspread.  I was nuts.
I tried knitting in college - didn't like it.
I took mom's old portable Singer when I got married "because everyone needs a sewing machine".  I don't remember what I sewed, if anything with it. 
Then in 2000 or 2001, my best friend from high school, Sarah-Ann, asked me to be a bridesmaid.  She had a pattern she wanted us to make or have made.  I was living in New Hampshire and didn't have anyone to make it for me, so I had to figure out the machine.  I think I made some curtains for my living room first.  I remember thinking, "Okay, I'll make a flannel shirt for Brian, then I'll make this bridesmaid dress."  The shirt wasn't great, but the sewing lasted longer than I thought possible and I threw the shirt out years later as it was totally out of style.  I got the dress done and it fit.
I think it was about a year later, living in Wisconsin, that I decided I wanted to learn to smock.  So I had to sew because you have to do something with the fabric that you smock.  That's probably where I got hooked sewing.
As for knitting.  Hannah started knitting long before I did.  I started knitting for real when I saw a pattern for a Lily of the Valley Lace Stole.  I wanted to do it.  Figured I could and bought the stuff.  I did it.  I know where the mistakes are ...

And that probably covers the history.