So long to sewing
Generations ago, one of the most treasured possessions in a household might have been grandma's sewing machine. The humble machine was often a necessity to clothe children, mend overalls and keep the family warm.
But sewing machines are gathering more than fabric these days — many are gathering dust. The craft's most ardent enthusiasts often say home sewing, particularly of clothing, is becoming a thing of the past.
The change has been gradual, yet unmistakable over the past few decades. Local professionals in the field point to a variety of factors, including the changing lifestyle of women as they entered the work force in increasing numbers.
"If you are a working mother, and you have two or three free hours in the evening, are you going to spend that time in front a sewing machine, or are you going to spend that time with your child?" asked Justine Brown, chairwoman of the Family and Consumer Science Department in the Butler School District. "Even those of us in the field — none of us sew for ourselves. And we all majored in it."
"Up until 20 years ago," Brown noted, "I made everything I wore. I didn't buy any clothes. Once I had a family, it became too laborious. I love sewing, but it takes too much time, time that I don't have."Helen Vogler of Unionville, leader of a 4-H Club dedicated to sewing, agreed. "My friends, there aren't many of them who do home sewing anymore. Even myself, I don't do the same kind of sewing that I used to do," she said.Economics also plays a role in the decline. While making homemade clothes was once economical, it is no longer cheaper to sew than to buy ready-made wear, several educators noted.In addition to the initial cost of a sewing machine, the cost of fabric, patterns and notions such as zippers and buttons must be factored into the overall cost of the project. Supplies are also not as readily available as in the past."Years ago, all the major department stores had big fabric departments," Vogler said.And though time and money are both issues, society's changing attitude about material possessions is also a key factor."This is the disposable generation," said Knoch Middle School teacher Rebecca Hilterman. "They might just throw a shirt out if it loses a button."It's a shift that Brown also recognizes. "When I was growing up, you had to keep a pair of pants until they had holes in them," she said. "None of us expect to wear our clothes until they have holes in them anymore. The styles will change before they wear out."Brown also noted the popularity of branded clothing, which cannot be created at home."I think what has happened," said Carole Toubakaris, Family and Consumer Science educator with Penn State Cooperative Extension in Butler, "is that with people working, they did not have the time to learn to sew. That generation has just hit it. They are now the parents and they don't have the equipment or the knowledge. The people who sew now are really talented. They do it as a hobby. They do it for the creativity."School programs have also changed over the years. What was once the home economics program is now Family and Consumer Science, reflecting a curriculum that is no longer focused on homemaking skills. While sewing is still a component, student projects are less complicated than in the past and more focus is placed on basic skills.
"Part of the reason we still teach the sewing course — it's fun, but it is also an excellent exercise in reading and following directions," said Hilterman of the required course for middle school students. Sixth graders learn such life skills as sewing on a button and using an iron, "just in case they have to press a shirt for a job interview some day," she noted.Machine sewing is taught in seventh grade at Knoch. Brown said Butler Junior High students all make a pair of boxer shorts during eighth grade. Elective sewing and needlecraft classes are offered at the intermediate high school. Butler offers seasonal craft classes, but neither district has sewing classes at the high school level.Although interest in sewing is on the decline, there are still options for those who would like to learn to sew. The 4-H club led by Vogler, along with Peg Herold of Butler, will begin weekly meetings in May and work on projects to present during the Butler Farm Show in August.The group includes about a dozen children. The club is open to youth ages 8 through high school, with most of the current members 9 to 10 years old.The sewing club has been around for at least 40 years, Vogler said. "We have a really enthusiastic group right now."Students choose from several simple projects their first year. The second-year students make a project that includes an elastic waistband, such as shorts or a skirt."The third year, they can do whatever they want. We have had all kinds of projects, which makes it fun," Vogler said, noting one former club member of several years sewed gowns, including her own prom dress."It was something I liked to do, and it was a challenge. My dress was pretty complicated to make," said Moniteau graduate Danielle Fishel of Washington, Pa. "It meant a lot to me to be able to make my dress for the senior prom and to look good in it."Although she has less time these days, Fishel said she still sews. "I have some things I want to make. I don't have as much time as I used to, but I still like it. I find it relaxing and I like to be creative. When I've finished, I feel like I've accomplished something."You get a lot of satisfaction, working with your hands and creating something," she said.
Adults who would like to learn the craft of sewing or sharpen their existing skills also have some options. Jo-Ann Fabrics in Cranberry Township has a variety of sewing classes, which include basic sewing techniques and clothing construction, according to the store's education coordinator, Patti Sewald.Sewald sees a wide age range of students, from youngsters to retirees. "The young kids, they might get a little bit of sewing in school, then they want more so they come to us for classes," she said. "Sometimes they have gotten a sewing machine for Christmas or a birthday present and they want to learn how to use it."The classes are an economical option for those who want to give sewing a try without making an initial investment in a sewing machine. "We encourage it, because then they have a comfort level with the machine, but it is not a necessity," Sewald said.New sessions will start in May; classes range from $5 to $75, depending on the class. Discounts apply for early registration.Despite the decline in popularity, sewing skills are still valuable and rewarding to have, all agreed."I can't wait to get back to sewing sometime," Toubakaris said. "I've been sewing since I was a 4-Her. I've been sewing for 50 years. I love it."Hilterman notes a practical reason students should possess some sewing skill."I keep one machine open and ready," she explains, "because every week, I have a student who brings in something that needs mended, and I allow them to mend it or I help mend it."She told the story of a soldier, about to be deployed to Iraq, who came in with his uniform and asked for help with sewing on the patches he had earned at basic training."He was having trouble sewing them on by hand," she said, adding that she was happy and honored to help."That's why I teach the kids that they need to know how to do some sewing, because they can't take their mother or their grandmother to college, or to Iraq, to mend things."
