HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! It has been a couple of weeks since my last post. I trust those of you who follow this blog had a very enjoyable holiday season; and for those who are just seeing it, welcome to “This I Know”…a continuation of my journey through life with God orchestrating every detail of it. I didn’t always see it that way, but as I age and look back, only God could have brought me to this place and time…only God.

My journey began on the plains of Alabama with migration to Illinois. Struggling through life in Alabama never prepared me for the plans God had for me in Illinois and states thereafter, including my need to “dress for success”. To be perfectly honest, success was not in my line of sight or future when I became acquainted with needle and thread…making clothing for myself.

I have always been thin (skinny) most of my life…that is until age and gravity paid a visit. Not only was I very thin, the circumstances growing up did not lend to my having clothing that fit. Most of them were “hand-me-downs”…clothing from the daughter of my mother’s employer who was much larger. The clothing, albeit of good quality, did not fit me properly. My mother used safety pins attached to the slip underneath to keep things in place. Since we did not have a floor length mirror, I can only imagine what I looked like in public. Wearing clothing that was too large was exacerbated by the teaching of the church I attended…modest dressing. Modest dressing was defined as dresses below the knees, long sleeves, loose fitting…and forget about pants or shorts. (I put on a pair of pants at age eighteen and there is also a story about it.) It was only when a pastor’s wife made a few things for me to wear to a church conference, that I realized my clothing could fit. I was excited to wear something that didn’t require safety pins…thus my desire to make my own.

My mother could sew and I used to watch her, but she never thought it necessary to show me what she was doing. Most of the time she would sew by hand. Every dress she made for me had puff sleeves and if there was a zipper, it was never quite right. In time, she got a treadle machine (manually operated) from someone…most likely an employer who was getting a much better one. It didn’t hurt that it was manually operated because the electricity to the house was disconnected more than it was connected. I remember once it being disconnected for two years. Daylight hours were luxurious because a kerosene lamp was the only lighting at night…and not multiple ones either. One lamp moving from room to room. Oh the thought of it now is enough to bring me not only to my knees, but prostrate in gratitude to God for how He has delivered me from property!!!

It was in fifth grade I became familiar with needle and thread. As part of “arts and crafts”, our classroom teacher taught embroidery. My first embroidery challenge was the hem of a pillowcase and then an apron. The designs on both were such that I became very familiar with using a needle…but not a thimble…not even to this day. I didn’t sew that much at all from that time of embroidery until the treadle machine at age fifteen.

The treadle machine did not work without rocking the treadle back and forth with your foot. I always found it fascinating. The speed of the machine depended on the motion of your foot on the treadle. The faster you moved your foot, the faster the treadle and machine would go. That in itself took dexterity…correctly guiding whatever was being sewn under the presser foot and needle while rocking the treadle back and forth. I used to take great pleasure in rocking the treadle with my hand just to see how fast I could make it go. But that was the extent of my using it because I was forbidden by my mother to go near the machine. “Do not try to use the machine. You will get the needle stuck in your finger.” Well…you might say that went in one ear and out the other.

Entering High School meant Home Economics. I know I am dating myself, but this is not about me…but about a loving and merciful God who has been with me through thick and then. Here again, Home Economics and another teacher is the reason my sewing skills improved. The teacher of the class challenged us with a ‘fashion show’ to display our work. The show was during a Friday assembly when the entire high school was in attendance. I went out on a limb and made a style that was being introduced but not widely accepted, “a boy suit”. The pattern included a skirt and pants with a jacket. It was shown with the model wearing a tie. I chose the skirt, especially since pants were forbidden…and included the tie…’say what???’ That went over like a lead balloon. But it awaken my interest for style and fashion.

I was able to buy pattern and fabric from the earning I made ironing clothes for another teacher. I worked on the outfit while at school and at home when my mother was at work. It was a success and the beginning to the end of “hand me down” clothing. I continued to do odd jobs to make money to buy patterns and fabric…F.W. Woolworths was all I could afford. Here again, my mother never complimented me…but took the opportunity to remind me I had disobeyed her by using the machine. Fortunately, that did not stop me.

I continued to make my clothing even after the migration. My mother bought an electric machine that was more user friendly, making sewing much easier. Needless to say, there were more fabric stores with a myriad of sewing patterns…notions in Illinois. I took a liking to Vogue patterns. I loved the styles and fortunately thin enough to wear them as pictured. At the time I did not recognize the designer names until much later. With those designer names came a more intricate and detailed pattern to sew. Vogue patterns were complicated, but I loved the challenge. When you finished, you had a well made garment…and I soon learned a garment I would not see. In time, I was making everything I wore, including coats. I enjoyed not seeing myself ‘coming and going’. What I wore was, for all practical purposes, haute couture. Along the way, I’ve been able to purchase good sewing machines the first one being a Singer and now my favorite a Bernina or two. However, nostalgia has a way or remaining with you. I also have a working treadle machine.

Today, I continue to sew…for how much longer, I don’t know. I use the skill to make home decor as well as alter clothing for others. Frequently, I am asked how and when did I learn to sew. Up until a year ago, I would reply…”I taught myself”…but did I?? I has become very clear that the skill I have came from God. He equipped me with it so that I would be “suited” in positions that required I dress for success…especially when my earnings were not commensurate to do so. In time, that would change as well and I continued to make my clothing. I was never concerned with my clothing being a reason for not being accepted when I sat with CEO’s, Presidents and Owners of companies throughout my career.

In Scripture, we find God giving Moses, his servant, a pattern of the tabernacle for worship he was to build on earth. Moses was not to build it; he only had the pattern for it. God made provision for this special place to be built…

“The Lord said to Moses, “See I have called by name Bezalel,…And I have filled him with the Spirit of God with the ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, cutting stones for setting and in carving wood to work in every craft.” Exodus 31: 1-6 ESV Just as God gave Bezalel the ability and intelligence to become a craftsman, He also me the ability and intelligence. He is the same God then, today and forevermore.

I am eternally grateful that I am no longer a “rag muffin”. Along the way, just as with the teachers earlier, I have learned tips and techniques to hone my skill from others. God, however, gave me the ability and intelligence to become a seamstress to make clothing for myself as well as serve the needs of others. He also gave me an “eye” for color, fashion and style. It has and continues to serve me well. Grateful!!

Vivian