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A Sewing Renaissance

By JUDI KETTELER

In the early 1940s, the saying "Sew for Victory" helped resurrect the waning art of sewing in the United States. Sales of patterns and fabric skyrocketed as women -- both young and old -- used their sewing skills to turn out clothing, blankets, and other goods for European war refugees; they also learned to repurpose old clothing into new clothing to help save fabric for the Allied war effort. Women took classes on remaking and mending clothing at sewing centers, and met in church basements and living rooms all over the country to put their sewing skills to use.

While needlecrafts have never been off the radar, the 1940s were probably the last big sewing renaissance. It was the last time young women had a strong purpose to pick up the needle and thread -- until today.

As today's young women grab their dressmaking shears, tape measures, and skeins of embroidery floss, they're sewing for victory too: a victory against ready-made, throw-away culture. Many are deeply influenced by their mother or grandmother's generation -- but they're taking sewing and making it their own.

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A Sewing Renaissance

Jennifer Ackerman-Haywood
Jennifer Ackerman-Haywood was always curious about those tech podcasts her husband was listening to. One day, he suggested that she make a podcast about crafting. So Ackerman-Haywood, a Michigan journalist who writes frequently about art and craft topics, started CraftSanity in 2005. Her podcasts feature discussions with crafters all over the world. "Everyone has a great story," she says. "It's a great way to talk to the movers and shakers in the craft world, plus, it has really inspired me to stay focused on my own projects." Her podcasts have an enormous following: At first, she was thrilled to reach 100 downloads; now, she gets in the thousands.

Julie Sarcona

Ackerman-Haywood is a self-described crafting junkie, but she especially enjoys sewing and crocheting (she set herself a goal of making a new apron every week for a local TV segment she tapes-so far, so good, even if it means a few late nights before the taping). She's also a mother of two daughters, and is thrilled when her daughters show interest in crafting.

Jennifer Ackerman-Haywood

Jenna Lou Dauer
Sometimes her friends call her "the world's youngest grandmother" because she takes such pleasure in the domestic arts like sewing, baking, and gardening, but that doesn't bother 21-year-old Jenna Lou Dauer, who started Jenna Lou Designs in 2006.

Jenna Lou Dauer

Dauer, who lives in southern Minnesota, is having the time of her life selling her striking hand-made bags, sewing patterns, and other items on Etsy.

Jenna Lou Dauer

Dauer may be young, but she's full of creative energy and business savvy-and although she's part of the generation that came of age on the Web, she's astute enough to see that while technology is moving us forward, it's also making it possible to take a step back make more mindful choices. "People are sick of cheap items made and imported for pennies, and they're getting smarter about where their money goes," she says.

Jenna Lou Dauer

"I feel very lucky to have become part of the indie craft movement. It's an indescribable feeling to get feedback directly from the consumer and the acceptance for careers like mine has never been broader."

Jenna Lou Dauer

Kymy Johnson
Kymy Johnson, who runs the blog Everything Your Mama Made, fondly remembers tagging along with mother and grandmother to craft bazaars, and hearing the familiar refrain, "we could make that."

Kymy Johnson

Now, Johnson, a mother of three (2-year-old twin girls and 4-year-old boy), in Whidbey Island, Washington hears herself saying it too whenever she sees something interesting made from fabric. She grew up being crafty, but turned to sewing again as an adult to soothe her soul. "When I got a divorce and was a single mom, I used it as a way to deal with my kids going to visit their dad," she says. Now, the soon-to-be-remarried mom squeezes sewing projects into naptime and works on her wares late at night.

Kymy Johnson

Her newest interest is repurposing old clothing, what she calls "upcyling." T-shirts, thrift store finds, clothing from yard sales-it's all fair game, and provides fun (and inexpensive) fabric for recreating something new. Johnson, who is just 25, dreams of starting a sewing-related business eventually. "It seems like a whole new generation wants to learn it, which excites me," she says. "I just hope that I can teach and inspire others like my grandmother did for me."

Kymy Johnson

Amy Karol
Amy Karol comes from a long line of crafty and talented women, and has been sewing as long as she can remember. Fabrics were a playground growing up, and she continues to make things for one simple reason: "Because I can," she says.

Amy Karol

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jackfreeman030 06:02:38 AM Nov 08 2009

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jackfreeman028 10:46:21 PM Nov 06 2009

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Sherelledozier 08:35:12 AM Sep 16 2009

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I love to SEW!! I was encouraged to take HOme EC when I was in high school by my Auntie and have been doing it ever since. Since my maternal grandmother and all of my 5 aunts and Mother sewed it just comes natural. The women in my family have really been blessed when it comes to using our hands. A generation of women who could sew, cook, bake, craft , create and garden. I have a passion for sewing and really hate that HOME EC is almost non existant. I met a Home Ec teacher from Buffalo, NY while at my booth at the Farmer's Market in Florida and she mentioned there was one other Home Ec teacher she knew in the state and that she was retiring. I was so excited to meet her because I grew up in Rochester Ny and wondered if I could perhaps start a business to teach sewing ,crafting, baking etc...For me sewing is relaxing and my passion.!

CPete52426 06:48:55 PM Sep 09 2009

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I've hesitated to buy fabric off the net because I can't feel it or really see how it looks or hangs. It appears those of you who have done it are happy with the process. What if it turns out not what you wanted at all? My WalMart still sells fabric, for a while at least. I also buy clothes at thrift stores or yard sales and rework them.

Bagman520 02:16:38 AM Sep 09 2009

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Wow!! what a great word... "repurpose"!!!!Please...I am not being sarcastic or disrespectful. That is a *Great* word!!Well done, Judy Kettleler!!Bernie520Seattle, WA

Seattleite4 12:56:40 AM Sep 09 2009

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Some schools do offer home ec. My son had it and it was awful. For a class that could have been so much fun it was filled with worksheets! At one point I counted 39 worksheets. They would have worksheets that showed pictures of different needles for kids to identify. Can you beleive that? When you could give them hands on activities that are fun they used worksheets. As if you can tell one needle from another by a little black picture. There were also word searches for words like 'beaters' or 'ladle'. Nothing like taking a great class and making kids hate it!! My son gets a A in challenge math and a D is sewing and cooking. Oh well.

Seattleite4 12:55:59 AM Sep 09 2009

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Some schools do offer home ec. My son had it and it was awful. For a class that could have been so much fun it was filled with worksheets! At one point I counted 39 worksheets. They would have worksheets that showed pictures of different needles for kids to identify. Can you beleive that? When you could give them hands on activities that are fun they used worksheets. As if you can tell one needle from another by a little black picture. There were also word searches for words like 'beaters' or 'ladle'. Nothing like taking a great class and making kids hate it!! My son passed challenge math and got a D is sewing and cooking. Oh well.

mallenrohslvr 12:19:40 AM Sep 09 2009

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both my grandmothers sewed, all the women on my dad's side of the family were seamstresses and homemakers. . . when I was little my grandma taught me how to mend my clothes when I tore them and my granny taught me how to embroider. . .I didn't do anything w/these skills for 15 years til I got the notion in my head that I wanted a skull pillow to match my blanket my mom bought me and she told me I could make one and that very day I bought a yard of broadcloth and sat my ass down at her tiny mending machine and figured it out thru trial and error and now I'm absolutely avid for it and my grandma's teaching me how to quilt so that I can keep our heirloom quilts in good order when she's gone. . . it's definitely a skill I advocate anyone, young or old learning. . . I am gradually working my way up to making my own clothes and every day that I learn something new, I find myself like a kid in the candy store, excited for it and eager to rush home to show my mom what my granny showed me (I am

CGIROD 11:50:07 PM Sep 08 2009

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To Nncynwt: Obviously, you have the internet at your fingertips. Just think of it as the world's biggest fabric store. I buy fabric from small fabric stores all over the country. Patterns, notions, books, tools...I even bought my last two sewing machines off the internet.

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