WHY I SEW

I was reading a fellow blogger's blog Anita by Design, she announced her 1-Year Anniversary of blogging and she was having a GIVEAWAY, you had to comment by telling her something about yourself, such as "How long you've been sewing, what do you like about sewing, do you sew for yourself only or for others?", then there was another post asking "Are you a blogger?". Well, I posted a very long comment about why I sew, how and why I started sewing to the wrong post.  I posted my comment to the "Are you a blogger?"  LOL!!!  I spoke with Anita to let her know what I had done and that she could remove it since it was posted to the wrong blog post.  Anita is such a sweetheart, she said she will leave it "because she thought my post was a powerful one, and in her heart, she truly believe someone out there needs to hear it."  I told Anita I would post my comment to my blog, so below is "Why I Sew"

I began sewing in High School. My mother was a single mother at the time, we didn't have a lot of money, I'm the oldest of five children, I have two aunts, we are 3 and 4 years apart in age.  When it was time for us to get new clothes, my sisters and brothers got new clothes and I had to wear my aunts clothes because we were close in age and just about the same size. Moving forward to High School, when it was time for me to take Home Economics, it was a choice between cooking and sewing. I didn't want to learn how to cook, I wanted to learn how to sew, so I wouldn't have to worry about wearing someone else's clothes again.

The sewing class was only offered for one class session at that time, after I completed the class, I asked the sewing instructor if I could come to her class during one of my free periods to sew?  She told me "yes", but I would have to sew in the back of the classroom so I wouldn't disturb the class while she was teaching.  I agreed, so I would take my materials to school and I couldn't wait for my free class period to start.  I would head to her classroom with my sewing materials and sit in the back of the class to sew.

Moving forward, I started reading books and I grew so much in my sewing that I would make a skirt at night at my dining room table and wear it the next day.  As I grew in my sewing, I would go the mall and look at clothes that I wanted to duplicate, I would take pattern pieces from several patterns to create a unique garment (in sewing it's called "Frankenpattern").  I was sewing as a "hobby", my friends kept telling me I needed to take my sewing to the next level. I didn't see what they saw in my sewing.  Some of my friends told me I didn't have the confidence in my sewing to move forward.  I didn't like hearing that, I tried to force myself to see what they saw but I couldn't see it so I continued to sew as a "hobby".  I was making 90% of my clothes at that time.

Years went by before I would see for myself that I was a very good sewer (I didn't consider myself a seamstress at that time).  One day it was as if a light bulb went off and that's when I saw what everybody had been telling me for years.

In 2006, I created my home based sewing business "CreationsByLaToria".  I started sewing for others and I advertised on Craigslist and I would leave my business cards in Hancock's Fabrics that was near my house.  At that time, 80% of my business came from Hancock's fabrics because the employees knew me from stopping by there on a regular basis and I would help other customers pick their fabric and supplies when I saw them looking confused.  I made a name for myself in that store.  LOL!!!  The employees told me to leave my business cards in the store and with them too so they can pass them out to customers who are looking for a seamstress.  During prom season, just about all of my clients were referred to me by the employees at Hancock's fabrics.  My business started booming, it got to the point that I stopped advertising on Craigslist (I'm glad I did because of the horror stories I would hear about people answering ads on Craigslist).  Now about 80% of my business comes from referrals.

Also in 2006, I joined the American Sewing Guild as well as a neighborhood sewing club where I'm still a member.  Being a member of a sewing club allowed me to be around like-minded people, learn different sewing techniques, make projects I would not normally make and I enjoy our annual trip to New York's Fashion Garment District.

In 2010, I was unemployed due to a contract ending, I needed some extra money to make ends meet.  I was talking to one of my girlfriends on the phone about trying to find a way to make some extra money.  She told me "you have it in the palm of your hands".  I looked at my hands, LOL!!!  I was confused.  She said "teach sewing".  I said "Really?"  She was teaching Interior Decorating at a local Community College, she was well known there.  She told me to call the college and ask if they have a need for a sewing class and to let them know she referred me.  I did just that.  They did not have a sewing class but they were open to me creating one. 

The Administrator told me to submit a proposal describing the class I want to teach, what days and time I want to teach.  I submitted my proposal and it was accepted with NO changes.  I started teaching sewing in 2010 and my business blossomed from that.  I teach different levels of sewing, i.e, Beginning I and II, Intermediate Sewing, Advanced Sewing, and Fitting.  I now teach at several Community Centers in my area, and also at home as well.

Sewing is no longer a hobby for me, it's MY PASSION!!!!!  

Thanks for visiting my blog.


Your talent is God's gift to you.  What you do with it is your gift back to God.  
                                                                                                       Leo Buscaglia