Mom taught me to sew when I was about 10 or 11, then home-ec classes in grades 7 & 8. When I learned to Square Dance, I couldn't afford to buy dresses new, so I made my own for the next 30 years (along with matching shirts for DH).

Now my personal sewing is mostly repairs and mending, but I do make the Lycra bodysocs used on our recumbent bikes (like the one in my avatar).

And after 40 years of sewing, I still hate zippers!

Here in Portland, I love http://montavillasewing.com/ , they sell everything but fabric, because we have http://fabricdepot.com/ :-) I can spend hours in there :-)

Edna