Sewing coming back into vogue?

I was listening to the radio yesterday and heard an interview with a demographer (possibly Bernard Salt) who was talking about the return to frugality for many people due to the economic downturn.

He was discussing how people are becoming more likely to reuse and fix things rather than throwing them away. Darning socks was mentioned, and the interviewer wondered whether anyone actually darns socks anymore – I DO!! But the idea of making things and the satisfaction that that brings was also discussed. The demographer suggested that people are returning to the idea of personal satisfaction from making things and being able to think “I made that!”

Well, for people like you and me, we never left that idea behind! But it is interesting to see that others are returning to it as well. One of the callers to the program told about how her daughter and daughter-in-law came over on the weekend to replace zips in their clothing, and alter clothing that had dated a bit. She also said that both her sons can sew, and have even made dresses for their girlfriends. Wow!

The demographer even said that sewing classes are well booked out because there is a whole generation who missed out on learning these skills at school, and who now realise that they want to know how to sew.

It was interesting to see how much of a focus the whole field of sewing was talked about. Potentially the discussion could have flowed into many other areas, but callers and the discussion were very much stuck on sewing.

I was so encouraged! If it takes an economic downturn to bring on a return to the finer things in life (sewing!) then at least that’s one good thing that can come from it!

Maybe sewing is the new knitting?