Did your mother sew your back-to-school clothes?

I was thinking how this was the time of year when Mom & I would go to the fabric departments of the local stores.  We'd see if the new fall & winter patterns & wools & corduroys had come in yet, so Mom could start sewing some school dresses & jumpers & skirts (we weren't allowed to wear pants to school).  I helped pick out the fabrics and the trims, and got to watch the clerk running the yardage through the meter at the cutting table  -- that fascinating machine that measured and then made a snip so the fabric could be torn or cut off the bolt.  When the pattern was cut out later at home, I remember hanging over the back end of the sewing table, watching my new clothes take shape. 

We always had a big shopping trip in August for store-bought clothes & shoes, but summertime meant sewing those hand-made things for school.  

Did your mother (or grandmother) sew your school clothes?  Did you sew them yourself?  What are your memories?

Yes, when I was in elementary school. I remember that fabric meter. I loved that thing. I loved the fabric store--- I still do LOL

When I was really little, apparently I was napping when my mother took the pattern off the fabric because I could never figure out where the tissue paper went since it was not in my clothes LOL

We had two different school uniforms - summer and winter.  The winter clothes we bought, but the summer one for girls was a shirt-waister which we girls had to make ourselves in home economic class!  I do remember my mum knitting our winter jumpers (sweaters) though.

That was all my mum bought in the way of clothes for us - everything else she made, and I started making my own at a very early age.

My mom and my aunt both made lots of my school clothes.  I remember the trips to the fabric store, looking for just the right pattern and fabric for skirts and jumpers.  When I was little I had many handmade dresses with puffy sleeves, a sash in the back, and smocking or embroidery on the bodice.  I remember particulary a powder-blue dress (not linen but the fabric looked like linen) with a round white collar.  Mom had just gotten a new sewing machine and it did embroidery so she embroidered a Greek key pattern on the collar in blue thread that matched the dress.   

My mom didn't, but I sure did. 

My brother's girlfriend was a great friend to me and sewed such pretty clothes.  I made a comment once, so she gave me the basics (and was always around if I had a question to ask) and I was off to the races. This was when I was in jr high & I sewed what they then called a Mama dress and real pretty layered type blouse.....as I went into highschool it was mostly straight skirts (I still remember it took me one yard of material) and then I'd buy sweaters or blouses to go with them.

Yeah...those were the days!!!

No, my mother did not have time. Twice a year a seamstress would come in every day for a week and did mending and sewing of simple dresses. Good clothes were sewn by a different seamstress who had 4 grils working for her. Latter did  things like smocking (by hand), corded French lace and all kinds of fancy things and embellishments. Also coats and tailored suits.suits. Only after my parents retired did my mother do some sewing, she made a few thngs for me when the yvisited us but never sewed any dresses  for herself..

My mother made mine and I made my DD's.

Debbie, those were the kinds of dresses I had, too -- puffy short sleeves, white Peter Pan collars, and the sash in the back, either made from the same material or from wide ribbon.  Often there was an underskirt of solid color & then a sheer organdy overskirt -- two layers.  And of course, the Her Majesty slip underneath with the layers of tulle to make it all stand out!

My mother embroidered or smocked some of my dresses, when she had the time.  Her machine only sewed a straight stitch, so I never had any fancy stitching unless it was done by hand.

LBrouse, my mom also used the scraps for Barbie clothes.  In fact, that was how I learned to sew!  Started with things like little pillows and bedspreads for Barbie's house, and "graduated" to her clothes.  Those were TINY seams & armholes & hems!  

that fascinating machine that measured and then made a snip so the fabric could be torn or cut off the bolt. 

What a Sweet memory your words brought to me, Summer!

My Mom made 85% of the clothes for my Sister and I until we started High School.  I still remember many of the dresses she made for me.

What a Fun Question!

Krissy

I wish I knew what the "real" name of that fabric measuring machine was.  It had the round dial face to indicate the yardage, and then an arm (?) that came down with a "chunk" sound to snip the fabric.  Anyone know what it was called?  I've tried to find pictures or references to it online before, but with no luck.  

i hated 'standing still' while my mom , with lips full of pins, went around pokin em thru the paper, UGH

It was called a FMM.

AKA...A Fabric Measuring Machine.

Nice memories Summer!!!  My mom and grandma made ALL of my clothes except undies and socks...I never had a store bought dress until I went to work after high school!  I loved the trips to the fabric store.. grandma seldom took me but she had such great tastes that everything was always perfect... Mom and I would argue over fabric..but dad always was the one who pinned the hems..he was very generous!!*LOL* Mom would always say that is too short!! he would always say she has NICE legs let her show them!  mostly they were 2-4 inches above the knee!  He hated when the fashion was below the knee!*LOL*  (midi's)  we were not allowed to wear pants to school until my Senior year and then they had to be "dress" pants no jeans..so they even made those!! When I got married... my grandma and mom made my wedding dress together...

Oh Summer, yes, she did ... great school clothes and beautiful party dresses!  I agree, what fun going to the fabric store (where the owner knew his customers by name) and choosing the fabrics and trimmings.  My mom didn't use many patterns - maybe a basic one, and changed things like necklines and sleeves.

Sometimes I would get a dress or skirt, in the same fabric as one of my Mom's dresses.  I thought that was so cool.  Little did I know at that time, it was my Mom being thrifty, not wasting any little thing, lol.

And often, yes, a dress for my doll (never had Barbie, but did have a couple of dolls, no idea what they were, lol).  Those dresses usually ended up on the cat since I wasn't much for playing with dolls, lol.

She taught me how to sew, first by hand, then with a machine.  I still enjoy sewing, but haven't made any clothes in many years.  And I love the smell of a good fabric store!

What a pleasant memory ... thanks for bringing it up