I consider sewing to be a noble pursuit as well as a practical one and for those in the sewing business, it is recession proof. People always need clothes, along with food and shelter and if they cant buy new because of a tight budget, they can fix what they have.



The good news today is that home sewing is making a comeback. For many, it is out of financial necessity and for others, it has to do with the sheer pleasures of creating something beautiful. Sewing gives you the opportunity to design, and to play with colors and textures. Whether you make a skirt or a dress or slipcovers you will have created something wearable or useful, and will have saved money over the price of a store bought article.

Home sewing is part of my family traditions. My grandfather, a tailor, emigrated from a small village in Austria to New York City in the early 1900s by himself at the age of 12. Eventually, he learned to use a sewing machine and officially became a tailor who was always busy, mending, designing and fitting clothes to a long list of clients, many who would travel far from another borough to pay for his sewing skills.

My grandfather(who always seemed to have a thimble on his finger) repeatedly said that sewing requires patience, planning and time. Many people who start to sew want to get finished too quickly. They seem to forget that if its worth doing at all, its worth doing well.

My grandfather never seemed to use a pattern so it is an enigma how he made the clothes he did. He always had a tape measure around his neck and a piece of chalk in his pocket, his eyes darting from one side to the other as if creating a balance in his mind. When he was done measuring, the pattern was in his head and the customer could leave, confident that the clothes would fit even though some adjustment may have been necessary later, but only if the client gained or lost weight in the meantime.

The first sewing principle my grandfather taught me was to proceed slowly and carefully and to know what you are going to do before you do it. My grandfather did not relish ripping out his sewing work if a mistake was made, so careful planning and a clear notion of the steps involved helped to prevent frayed nerves and a feeling of frustration.

So, sewing is practical work and you will have a tremendous sense of satisfaction if you are enthusiastic and are willing to be patient. If you are new to the area, practice first to develop confidence. When you begin to work have your mind free of all the distractions of the day. Think positively. And most importantly, prepare to enjoy yourself while saving money.

My grandfather did and brought up three children with a tailors recompense, one who went on to become a surgeon.