A good skill to have

Last night, I taught a sewing class.


I had pitched the idea to the Higher Education Council in town and the whole month leading up to it, only one person had signed up. Part of me was relieved because I felt so busy and thought that teaching a class may stress me out. It didn't look like my class was going to run, but then another person signed up. With two people, the class would go on. The day before my class, I got an e-mail and I would have four students! I started to get excited.

A few hours before my class, the nerves were setting in. Am I ready for this? (I had typed up some handouts and had all the equipment, so logistically I was, but mentally?) My husband told me as I confessed my nervousness, "These people want to learn. They signed up for the class because this is something they want to do. You know what you're doing. You'll do fine."

[He is a keeper, for sure.]

I asked all the students to introduce themselves and share why they wanted to learn how to sew. Each had what I like to call a goal and over the next two classes, I hope that I am able to help them get closer to that goal.

My goal? I would like to make all of my clothes.

Yes, that is a large task, (well, unless I just made three things and wore them all the time...) but it is something to work towards.

I love sewing. I have a few hobbies, so I don't sew as often as I'd like, but it is a good skill to have. I am constantly mending and patching my husband's work jeans. We are able to save money by fixing things instead of going out and getting a new pair of jeans every time a new hole wears through.

Many people have the mindset to just throw out what can be fixed or throw out what is no longer trendy, but may still have some usefulness left. I absolutely support donating unwanted clothes instead of throwing them out. Most of my clothes are bought second hand and that's not because I work at a thrift store. It's economically important. The clothes still have use and cost significantly less. I don't have credit card debt, but I don't look shabby either.


By the end of the three week class, each participant will know how to navigate their personal sewing machine and have sewn a tote bag. It's a small step, but it's closer to his or her goal.

 My example of the tote bag.



Strive to leave a smaller footprint.
Learn a skill. Make something with your hands.
Handmade is powerful. <3