There are countless reasons we are thankful for our mothers. Add nurturing our creativity to the list!
My mom is the sweetest most selfless person I know. Yes, I am blessed and not only for the way I was raised but also for instilling a love of caring and creativity in me from a young age. I can thank both of my grandmothers for that as well.
Don’t ever underestimate the impact you are making on your children, grandchildren, and other youngsters who are fortunate enough to share your time. As a child, I was introduced to a variety of handcrafts from the women in my family--crochet, hand embroidery, sewing, knitting, and hairpin lace, to name a few. We were always making something. It is not just the making. There is so much joy in giving. It just meant more.
I have both of my great grandmothers’ treadle sewing machines. Scrappy quilt blocks. Wooden spools of thread. An antique thread holder with a pin cushion. They are some of my most treasured possessions.
It is important to further family traditions. So many skills are lost over the generations. My great-grandmother tatted lace edging. She and her daughter, my grandmother, made quilts on a regular basis. Fortunately, today’s embroidery and sewing machines make short work of techniques that once took hours, if not weeks, to accomplish.
Shortly after my youngest daughter moved out, she made me a hand-sewn and hand-quilted table runner with the hope that I would “show her how to do it the right way.” She didn’t have an iron so she ironed the fabric with her flat iron! It touched my heart.
My mom, and her mom, made clothes for me and my siblings. I did the same for my girls. Now, I’m sharing my love of making with my granddaughter.
Mothers are the thread that binds us all together. Ensure that the project never unravels. Keep the creativity alive in your family!
How do you share your love of making?
Debbie Henry
Sew Inspired by Bonnie
Bonnie Welsh - May 17, 2023
Terri—What great memories! My mom used to make skating patterns for my sister and myself out of newspapers. She also used kitchen knives for weights. They were so frugal back then and we’re so spoiled with all the fancy gadgets and toys. lol
Bonnie Welsh - May 17, 2023
Linda—That would make a pretty design wouldn’t it? I don’t know of one out there at the moment. Hmmmmmmm =)
Terri Crawford - May 17, 2023
You are so right! My mom made school clothes in elementary school. She bought one pattern and made 5 different dresses every year. One grandmother made her own patterns for us from newspaper pages. Another grandmother taught us handwork. I have the treadle machine of my aunt willed specifically to me! She did alterations at one of the major department stores I downtown Ft. Worth. I remember her telling me she preferred doing alterations to making the garments from start to finish. I’ve taught a few grandaughters…who were interested….how to sew. What a treasure to receive and pass on!
LINDA - May 17, 2023
I would love to make this on a Tshirt. is there a pattern for this?