Sew This is My Story

My grandma attempted to teach me how to sew while I was in middle school. I don't recall much about it, except her machine always seemed to have an issue of some sort which made a tomboy like myself lose interest REAL quick. I never completed a project, never had one in mind to even work on. I wasn't interested. I just wanted to get done so I could go play outside.

Junior year of high school I moved back in with my mom. She was excited and wanted to fix my living quarters up. She was GIRLY and I was not. You pick one of her obviously girly traits and I was the opposite. She had a ceramic business for awhile and did great work. I liked her stuff but never volunteered to help her in the shop. I preferred to help my stepfather build things in his workshop. Anyway, she had the grand idea of me making a comforter, pillow cases, curtains, etc. Aside from the fact that me moving there was a prison sentence in itself (in my mind) this was not my thing and in no way shape or form was I excited. With FORCE  she made me complete a really summer blanket with her doing the rest of the stuff. The room turned out nice but I can't say it had me wanting to sew. Not in the least bit.

One of my favs. This was a peach linen fabric. 

Fast Forward to 2006.  I registered in the NOI, where it is stated that all women should know how to sew. No biggie. I'll get to that, but who knows when. I purchased a few items for myself from a sister that was (is) a really good seamstress but that still did not make me want to learn how to sew. Then I purchased outfits for my daughters. I began to do the math... and the spark was there. Emphasis on the word spark.

What caused a raging wild fire was when I went to Sears, yes Sears, to purchase a few things for my eldest daughter who was 7 at the time. I looked at the clothes. Disappointed but what else is new? So I went to the underclothes section and what I saw floored me. They had SEXY underclothes being sold for children. I was in disbelief. For some, you may think so what, what else is new. Well I am not a shopper, never was. I can probably count on one hand how many times I have been in a mall in the past 3 years.  Oh, I forgot to mention that prior to joining the NOI I dressed fairly modest anyway so the average stores never appealed to me. Going to the mall was futile. Nonetheless I hightailed it out the mall while calling my husband to let him know I don't care how but he had to tweak his schedule so that I could take a sewing class. I realized at that moment that if I wanted to dress my daughters modestly I was going to have to do it myself.

Peace skating at the Phoenix, Az zoo

I enrolled in a sewing class at an adult school. I purchased a machine. A good machine. The machine itself was an adventure. Although I had basically never sewn before and didn't know if I would like it I refused to buy a cheap machine. I began to have flashbacks of sitting in front of my grandma's machine trying to figure out what was wrong now. I looked at a few machines, tried a few, read reviews, talked to a bunch of folks and made my decision. The price was a little unsettling to me. My husband said to go for it but I just couldn't. Then I did the math. If instead of buying my girls clothes from others and made them myself I would have to make this many outfits to at least break even. I forget the number but I recall thinking,  "Oh, that's it. I can commit to that." And like that, I purchased the machine with no regrets. I have well exceeded the minimum requirements.  I have yet to use all the great features on the machine but I plan to, soon.  I finally think I am at a point where the girls wardrobes are stable enough which will allow time for a little more creativity.  Instead of being in a sewing for a need mode. I am also pleased to say that almost 5 years later to the date I have never had any problems from the machine.

This fabric is from when I went to Ghana in 97. Pre-children.  Faith loved this garment.

So here I am 5 years later still sewing a good portion of my girls clothes. I wouldn't say that I am a seamstress or that I even enjoy the process, but I like the outcome so I continue. I love to see sisters that are all into it and creative. I recently joined a FB group and it is refreshing to see many of the sisters trying to master this skill. I think this is my favorite fb group even though I am not an avid sewer. Maybe one day I will have that drive and passion. As for now, I must admit, it is a means to an end. And if I say so myself, I am not too bad at it either. (Praise God) The girls make their request and I try to fill them. My girls and I recently read a book, The Power of Modesty by Kevin Muhammd. While discussing the book I asked them if they ever experienced wearing something that was inappropriate and the different energy that surrounded them. One of my daughters looked at me with a blank stare and said, "I don't have any inappropriate clothing. So i do not know." I cocked my head back to ponder and said, "Praise be to Allah! You don't!" That was one of those proud Muslim momma moments. I pray that I and they keep this trend going. So with that I plan to get my chores done so that I can sew to keep us dressing modestly in a manner to please God. In case you are wondering, YES I plan to teach them how to sew.

Faith really liked this garment too. She would wear Amber earrings that her father gave me with it.