Writing prompts help with memories, thoughts and ideas. Recently one such prompt made me think of two classes I took in junior high, which were grades 7-9 at Northeast Junior High School in Minneapolis.
One class was Home Economics – they no longer call it that – now it is called FACS: Family and Consumer Science.
I learned to sew in my 8th grade home ec class. I can’t remember the teacher’s name but I can picture her, and the classroom. Our first sewing project was a waist apron made from gingham check material. The color yellow comes to mind, and we had to sew on a pocket and embroider the pocket too.
After that sewing class I was able to use those skills to sew a lot of my own clothes, mostly through high school. I would sew downstairs in our semi-finished basement on an old Singer sewing machine, using a knee pedal to control it.
I enjoyed walking up to Minnesota Fabrics in Apache Plaza and sitting on a stool at the high slanted counter, paging through the large pattern books to find the right design. Once decided, the patterns were in drawers underneath the counter. It was fun to look at all the fashions in the pattern books; Vogue, McCall’s, Simplicity to name a few I remember. After I picked a pattern I’d peruse all the fabric and select just the right material for my project.
It was fun and economical to sew back then, but I stopped sewing clothes and now use my table-top sewing machine for mending and occasional miscellaneous items: valances, pajamas and shorts for my two boys when they were young, and recently, an apron from some fun fabric I acquired in Africa. I am grateful for that home ec class in junior high. Sewing is a skill that has served me well over the years.
The other class brought to mind was my typing class. I was in 7th grade. I can picture the classroom set up but not the teacher. I remember pounding out fff, jjj, etc., but I don’t remember if it was an electric typewriter. I don’t think so. Typing has been another skill that has served me well over the years. I continue to use it everyday.
A fun typewriter story: we attended a wedding where an antique, non-electric typewriter was used to “sign” the scrolled paper as the guest book. We were standing behind some young folks who were confused…they didn’t know how to move it to the next line so we showed them how to use the carriage return.
You have just stirred up memories of those same classes i took at Marshall High School. Plus cooking! Oh what fun we had in those good old days.
O yes, cooking too!
They were fun classes.
Like you, I sewed nearly all of my clothing through junior high and high school. I also sewed dresses for my grandma. I loved sewing back in the day, but haven’t touched my sewing machine in years. Kind of sad. You brought back wonderful memories of paging through pattern books and filtering through files to find the right size.
And typing, ah, one of the most valuable skills I ever learned in school. We had a classroom through of manual typewriters with one or two electrics. At my first writing job out of college, I pounded out news and feature stories on a manual typewriter.
I love the idea of guests signing in on a manual typewriter.
I find it interesting that most people use the keyboard daily and those that never had typing have learned their own methods on the keyboards because they have to.
Then there’s texting…that’s a different skill set!
I like your wording…filtering through files to find the right size. Yes, that was a part of the process.
My Home Ec class aprons were navy blue… we first made triangle head scarves. Yup, sewed my clothes, two prom dresses.
I remember the hard/fancy patterns were by Butterick?
Triangle head scarves…that’s fun.
Yes, I sewed my prom dresses also.
I had forgotten about Butterick patterns.
What about the typewriter story…recognize it?
In my 7th grade sewing clas I made a green plaid sleeveless ( easier ) sun dress with a little bolero (?) . A couple years later I made my prom dress.
I made a denim suit for Tony and almost gave up putting in my first pants’ zipper!
When my three children were little
Sewing was a fun hobby . The fabric store in town offered half price off your fabric if you made things and volunteered to be in their style shows.
That was easy.
One highlight was the year I made 3 matching brilliant yellow slickers and hats, with dresses to match the olive flowered lining of the coats.
We had to model the things I made for all of us. Kara, Maia, and Maren didn’t ever balk at walking on stage and twirling around. I will have to ask each one what they remember about those experiences ! I am still making memories, they are different though…
These are great stories Kay! I love the idea of yellow slickers and hats….and the style shows!