,SEW+ ,0,RAMONA ,WALH( ,RAMONA ,WALH( GREW UP 9 A SMALL F>M+ -MUN;Y 9 RURAL ,I[A4 ,%E & H] BRO!R & SI/] 7 BORN BL4 ,YE>N+ = "S?+ 6D DUR+ "O L;G1 DULL SUMM]1 ,RAMONA ASK$ H] "M 7:O 0 AN A3OMPLI%$ S1M/RESS7 6T1* H] 6SEW4 ,! /ORY T FOLL[S IS H] A3.T (A LIFE"T ( SATISFAC;N & PRACTICAL GD--F HO2Y1 6EMPLOY;T1 6FAMILY BUDGET-/RET*]-- GA9$ F ? RAPIDLY 4APPE>+ >T4 ,AL;G ! WAY1 ,RAMONA 7:O 0 WID[$ 9 H] E>LY #BJ'S7 AL RAIS$ TWO *N1 [N$ & MANAG$ A -M]CIAL BAK]Y1 TAUN$ 6SEW1 ,I N"E ?"\ M* AB BL;S4 ,I DIDN'T AVOID ?9K+ AB BL;S4 ,X 0 A "P ( ME4 ,B :5 ,I NE$$ A ME?OD 6D "S?+ T O!RS DID VISU,Y1 ,I J DID :AT SEEM$ MO/ LIKELY 6"W4 ,NOBODY SU7E/$ T BL;S %D PREV5T SEW+ UNTIL ,I KNEW BETT]4 ,Z ,I GREW OLD]1 ,I CAME ACR BL GIRLS & WOM5 :O _H BE5 ACTIVELY 4C\RAG$ F DO+ ?+S ,I LE>N$ Z A *4 ,SEW+ = ME HAS PROVID$ EMPLOY;T1 RELAX,N1 *ALL5GE1 & A3OMPLI%;T4 ,X HAS HELP$ ME 6LE>N AB FABRICS1 /YLES1 & COLORS4 ,"! >E ?+S ,I N"E ATTEMPT$ 7"S 2C ( BL;S7 B MO/ 2C ( LACK ( "T4 ,P]H "O "D ,I MAY / TAKE UP "S NEW K9DS ( SEW+ S* Z QUILT+4 ,I "K X WD 2 DELI4 ,WE 7 V GLAD 6G HOME AT ! 5D ( ,MAY EA* SPR+1 B WE DIDN'T H A LOT ( FRS 9 \R HOME T[N1 & WE GOT TIR$ ( N HAV+ 5 6D4 ,WE TOOK SWIMM+ LESSONS1 "PICIPAT$ 9 LOCAL *UR* ACTIVITIES1 HELP$ ) CL1N+ & COOK+ 7WA%+ DI%ES 0 ! WOR/71 VISIT$ ) GR&P>5TS & C\S9S4 ,WE HAUL$ Z _M ,BRL BOOKS HOME F S*OOL Z WE CD FIT 9 ! C> ) ALL \R CLO!S & O!R POSSES.NS4 ,MY BRO!R MANAG$ 6TALK \R ,DAD 96"S HAM RADIO EQUIP;T & 5T]TA9$ HMF ) T4 ,MY SI/] & ,I G5],Y R,N$ \R BOOKS "S & GOT ,BRL MAGAZ9ES1 B "! N"E 0 RE,Y 5 6D4 ,"O SUMM]1 7! "O AF MY FIF? GRADE YE>71 ,I DECID$ TO TRY 6SOLVE ! PRO#M4 ,I ANN\NC$ 6MY "M )! DIPLOMACY CU/OM>Y = ME AT ! "T1 8,? SUMM] Y >E GO+ 6T1* ME 6SEW40 ,MY "M _H BE5 MAK+ CLO!S = U Z L;G Z ,I CD REMEMB]4 ,WE GOT "S S*OOL CLO!S F /ORES & F CATALOGS1 B ! "OS %E MADE 7 ALW NICE1 & WE CD HELP DECIDE :AT !Y WD LOOK L4 ,S"EAL P 9 \R FAMILY SEW1 & MY "M _H A BUTTONHOL] ON H] MA*9E1 S P WD BR+ _! G>;TS 6\R H\SE 6D ! BUTTONHOLES4 ,S X SEEM$ NATURAL = ME 6WANT 6SEW4 ,MY "M DIDN'T RESI/ AT ALL4 ,%E RESPOND$ )A "Q1 8,:AT D Y WANT 6MAKE80 ,I N"E ASK$ H] :AT %E ?"\ AB X1 B ,I RE,Y DON'T ?9K %E 0 %OCK$4 ,P]H A LL UNC]TA9 AB "S (! TE*NIQUES4 ,ACTU,Y1 TE*NIQUES 7 N A PRO#M4 ,I TOLD H] ,I WANT$ 6MAKE GYM CLO!S4 ,I FIGUR$ A FEW MISTAKES CD 2 TOL]AT$ 9 GYM CLO!S4 ,I ?9K T NEI MY "M NOR ,I KNEW T BL;S 0 M* (A FACTOR1 S X WASN'T4 ,WE DECID$ T ! GYM %IRT %D H A PLA9 R.D NECKL9E ) CAP SLEEVES4 ,? 0 MY IDEA S T ,I WD N H 6GA!R ! SLEEVES & SET !M IN4 ,MY "M CUT A PATT]N \ ( NEWSPAP]1 DESIGN+ X F "S?+ ELSE %E _H4 ,I P9N$ ! PATT]N ON ! MAT]IAL & CUT X \4 ,!N MY "M R1LIZ$ T %E _H =GOTT5 ! CAP SLEEVES1 S !Y _H 6BE SET 9 AF ALL4 ,? MADE ! PROJECT M -PLICAT$ =A 2G9N]1 B ! GYM %IRT LOOK$ GRT 6ME4 ,I LE>N$ 6GUIDE ! MAT]IAL "? ! SEW+ MA*9E US+ A QUILT+ GUIDE MY "M _H4 ,I LE>N$ 6P9 S1MS & HEMS CLOSELY & REMOVE ! P9S J 2F !Y CAME 6! PRESS] FOOT4 ,I LE>N$ 6MOVE ! GA!RS ON ! GA!R+ ?R1D & PUT !M ": !Y %D 2 :5 ,I P9N$ ! GA!R$ PIECE 6! "O X NE$$ 6BE SEW$ TO4 ,RE,Y1 X WASN'T Z H>D Z ,I _H FE>$4 ,I WORE T GYM %IRT ALL "? SIX? GRADE4 ,I DON'T ?9K WE "E GOT 6! %ORTS4 ,M>K+ D>TS CD 2 D"O ) P9S OR BA/+ ?R1DS4 ,"! 7 S _M DI6]5T K9DS ( D>TS T X TOOK ME "S PRACTICE 6GET !M ALL FIGUR$ \4 ,GRADU,Y1 ,I GOT S ,I CD JUDGE ! SIZE ( D>TS PRETTY A3URATELY )\T HAV+ 6USE ! M>KS F ! PATT]N XF4 ,:5 WE CAME HOME = ,*RI/MAS T YE>1 ,I MADE A YELL[ SKIRT4 ,X TURN$ \ ALL "R1 TOO4 ,? "T ,I US$ ! TISSUE PAP] PATT]N4 ,MY CUTT+ TE*NIQUE SEEM$ OBVI\S 6ME1 & MY "M N"E -;T$ ON X4 ,ONLY LAT] DID WE LE>N T BL P W]5'T SUPPOS$ 6BE A# 6CUT >.D TISSUE PAP] PATT]NS4 ,I HELD ! SCISSORS ) MY "R H& ! WAY MO/ P D4 ,I LOOP$ MY LEFT H& OV] ! TOP (! SCISSORS )! ?UMB & F+]S OPPOSITE EA* O!R "R AT ! "P (! SCISSORS T DID ! CUTT+4 ,IF ! $GE (! PATT]N 0 AT ! TOP (! BOTTOM SCISSORS BLADE1 ,I CD FEEL TISSUE PAP] ON "O SIDE & FABRIC ON ! O!R4 ,IF ! SCISSORS 7 N "R AT ! $GE (! PATT]N1 ,I WD H PAP] OR FABRIC ON BO? SIDES (! BOTTOM BLADE4 ,! M PRACTICE ,I GOT1 ! BETT] ,I GOT1 B EV5 Z A 2G9N]1 ,I CD CUT R1SONABLY WELL AL;G ! $GE (! PATT]N4 ,PATT]NS -E 9 AN 5VELOPE 9 BIG %EETS1 & MY "M WD CUT ! PIECES A"P & TRIM ON ! CUTT+ L9ES4 ,%E N"E RE,Y R1D ! 9/RUC;NS 6ME4 ,R1 %E TAU1 ETC4 ,%E AL TAU;TS 0_! %APES4 ,SLEEVES WD T5D 6BE R.D AT "O 5D & SQU>E AT ! O!R4 ,BL\SES & DRESS TOPS _H BIG >CS CUT \ ": ! SLEEVES WD 2 ATTA*$4 ,! CURVES AT ! FRONT & BACK ( SLACKS & %ORTS 7 %AP$ DI6]5TLY F SLEEVE CURVES4 ,! CURVE AT ! BACK 0 BI7] ?AN ! CURVE AT ! FRONT = SLACKS PATT]NS1 B ! CURVE 9 ! FRONT (! TOP ": SLEEVES >E IN- SET IS BI7] ?AN ! "O AT ! BACK4 ,M* LAT] ,I LE>N$ T ! 9/RUC;NS PR9T$ )! PATT]NS CD (T5 2 HELP;L :5 TAK+ ON A NEW /YLE ( G>;T4 ,I AM SURE MY "M R1D ! 9/RUC;NS1 2C %E (T5 US$ !M :5 WE 7 LAY+ \ FABRIC 2F WE CUT X \4 ,B WE (T5 F.D BETT] WAYS 6MAKE E6ICI5T USE (! MAT]IAL ?AN ! PATT]NS %[$4 ,I DON'T REMEMB] :AT ,I MADE DUR+ ! SUMM] AF MY SIX? GRADE YE>1 B ,I AM SURE "! 0 "S?+4 ,9 ANY CASE :5 ,I 5ROLL$ 9 HOME ECONOMICS 9 SEV5? GRADE1 ,I ALR KNEW "S (! BASICS AB SEW+4 ,\R T1*] 0 NEW T YE> & _H NO BACKGR.D "W+ ) BL GIRLS4 ,\R F/ PROJECT 0 6MAKE AN APRON4 ,"! 0 NO CUTT+4 ,"EY?+ 0 ON A /RAID$ ? 9/RUC;N )\T TOO M* T1*] PROTE/4 ,I LE>N$ AB ! S1M GUIDE 9 T CLASS4 ,Y C BUY A LL METAL HUMP T SCREWS 96! TOP (! MA*9E CAB9ET : IS BETT] ?AN MY "M'S QUILT+ GUIDE4 ,=! RE/ (! F/ SEME/] \R HOME ECONOMICS CLASS COOK$4 ,SECOND SEME/] 0 ! R1L SEW+ CLASS4 ,MY FR & ,I DECID$ 6MAKE TANG]9E SKIRTS1 B !Y 7 DI6]5T PATT]NS4 ,! T1*]'S F/ NO;N 0 T %E WD CUT \ ALL ! PATT]NS4 ,UN=TUNATELY = H]1 ,I 0 "! 6OBJECT4 ,S ,I CUT \ MY [N PATT]N4 ,I AL (F]$ 6HELP O!R KIDS LE>N 6D X4 ,"S (! GIRLS RE,Y DIDN'T H M* TR\#4 ,"S T5D$ 6PLACE ! F+]S ( _! GUID+ H& AT ! 5D (! SCISSORS 9/1D ( ": ! CUTT+ O3URR$4 ,!Y 7 3/ANTLY 2+ W>N$ 6BE C>E;L N 6CUT !MVS4 ,S9CE ,I ?"\ "EYBODY KNEW BETT] ?AN 6CLOSE ! SCISSORS ) F+]S 2T ! BLADES1 ^! W>N+S SEEM$ UNNEC4 ,C]TA9LY1 "S (! /UD5TS 7 M FE>;L ( SCISSORS ?AN !Y NE$$ 6BE4 ,WE AL LE>N$ H[ 6ASSEM# ALL \R DI6]5T PATT]NS4 ,:5 ,I CUT \ MY BL\SE1 ,I MADE AN ]ROR4 ,I %D H LAID ! BACK ON ! FOLD1 B ,I CUT X ON ! $GE (! FABRIC1 ?US REQUIR+ A S1M ": "! %D H BE5 N"O4 ,IF ,I _H N BE5 S DET]M9$ 6D X MYF1 ! T1*] D\BT.S WD H F.D ? ]ROR 2F X 0 D"O4 ,"S /UD5TS 7 M* TOO COOP]ATIVE 9 MY JUDG;T & DID N D Z M* (! "W !MVS Z !Y CD & %D H4 ,WE CD ALL ?R1D A REGUL> NE$LE US+ A NE$LE ?R1D] )A F9E WIRE LOOP4 ,:5 ! WIRE LOOP IS 9 ! EYE (! NE$LE1 ! ?R1D IS BR"\ "? ! LOOP4 ,:5 ! NE$LE ?R1D] IS REMOV$ F ! NE$LE ! ?R1D PASSES "? ! EYE4 ,L>GE EYE NE$LES MADE ? EASY4 ,\R T1*] 5C\RAG$ BA/+1 B MO/ ( U DIDN'T L 6D X4 ,WE ALL LE>N$ 6BA/E1 ?\<1 2C WE 7 REQUIR$ 6BA/E ZIPP]S4 ,WE AL LE>N$ 6HEM G>;TS ) AN OV]CA/ /IT*4 ,X 0 DESIRA# N 6SEE ! ?R1D ON ! \TSIDE (! HEM4 ,) PRACTICE1 "S ( U GOT PRETTY GD AT ?4 ,?R1D+ ! MA*9ES PRES5T$ ANO!R *ALL5GE4 ,:5 ?R1D+ ! MA*9E1 "O NE$$ 6PASS ! ?R1D "? S"EAL METAL OR PLA/IC LOOPS4 ,NO "O _H TR\# LE>N+ ": 6PUT ! ?R1D1 B WE WD N NOTICE LOOPS ( ?R1D T GOT CAUN$ 6TELL F ! /IT*+ XF :5 ! TOP & BO29 T5.NS 7 BAL.ED4 ,MY "M 0 CASUAL AB MAK+ 3/RUCTIVE SU7ES;NS AB ?+S L ? & M HELP;L ?AN ANY"O ELSE 2F OR S9CE4 ,%E WD TELL ME :AT %E LOOK$ =1 & ,I CD TRY 6LE>N ! SAME 9=M,N 0T\*4 ,M (T5 ?AN N X "W$4 ,"EY"O 79CLUD+ ME7 T5D$ 6RELY ON "SBODY'S EYESI+ (! CLO!S4 ,I AL 5JOY$ MAK+ ?+S = O!RS1 B SELDOM _H 5 3FID;E 6D X4 ,I MADE A %IRT = MY DAD &A BABY DRESS =A C\S91 & ,I ?9K !Y 7 ,,OK4 ,DUR+ COLLEGE ,I DID N H A3ESS 6A SEW+ MA*9E & DID V LL SEW+4 ,%ORTLY AF ,I 0 M>RI$1 ?\<1 A SEW+ MA*9E SEEM$ IMPORTANT 6H4 ,WE B"\ A *1P "O1 A PORTA# "O T WEI<$ A TON4 ,X 0 V H1VY 6LIFT ON & (F ! D9+ ROOM TA#1 S X /AY$ AT "O 5D :ILE WE ATE AT ! O!R DUR+ _M WEEKS4 ,I USU,Y PUT X AWAY ON WEEK5DS4 ,I TOOK A SET ( BIG BA? T[ELS T _H BE5 W$D+ PRES5TS B 7 N 2+ US$ & MADE MY HUSB& A BA?ROBE4 ,HE 0 PL1S$ & WORE X A LOT : PL1S$ ME4 ,WE / H A PICTURE ( HM SLEEP+ 9 A RECL9] 9 T BA?ROBE ) \R F/ BABY ON 8 %\LD] AL ASLEEP4 ,:5 ,I GOT PREGNANT1 ,I KNEW ,I CD SAVE M"OY 0MAK+ MAT]N;Y CLO!S4 ,I DID MAKE "S1 & MY "M MADE ME "S1 TOO4 ,WE DIDN'T SP5D M*4 ,!N1 ( C\RSE1 X IS EV5 M FUN 6SEW = YR *N4 ,KNITS 7 ! BIG ?+ 9 ! E>LY #GJ'S S ,I TOOK A %ORT C\RSE AT ! ,,YMCA 9 /RET* & SEW4 ,WE DIDN'T SEW DUR+ CLASS4 ,WE TOOK \R ASSIGN;TS HOME1 S ! T1*] _H NO O3A.N 6WORRY AB BL;S4 ,IF %E DIDN'T EXPLA9 "S?+1 ,I ASK$1 B ? 0 EASY = ALL4 ,I MADE PANTS &A %IRT = MY DAU M VALUA# ?AN ,I _H "E DR1M$4 ,"S ( MY /UD5TS 7 2G9N]S1 & "S _H F> M SEW+ EXP]I;E ?AN ,I4 ,? 3C]N$ ME AT F/1 B ,I F.D T WE CD LE>N F EA* O!R 9 WOND];L WAYS4 ,S"EAL ( MY /UD5TS W5T HOME & TOOK UP SEW+ A LOT4 ,O!RS DID LESS B 5JOY$ X4 ,"O "Y WOMAN _H BE5 A PROFES.NAL S1M/RESS 9 AN ALT],NS DE"P;T =A BIG /ORE4 ,%E *OSE 6MAKE A JACKET T _H ?REE P>ALLEL R[S ( TOP /IT*+ = TRIM T 7 SUPPOS$ 6BE D"O 9 ?REE DI6]5T COLORS4 ,I CAU;N$ H] AB ?1 B T IS ! K9D ( ?+ %E LIK$4 ,I ?"\ T H] 3TROL Z A NEWLY BL9D$ S1M/RESS MIS1 B ,I GA9$ A LOT ( EXP]I;E4 ,X 0 DUR+ T "T T P 2GAN US+ MA*9ES ) CAMS & O!R K9DS ( FANCY /IT*ES4 ,^! MADE SEW+ EV5 M FUN6 ,MAK+ DECORATIVE ITEMS OR DECOR,NS ON CLO!S 0 "S?+ WE _H 6D4 ,WE J CDN'T IGNORE ^! 9T]E/+ NEW SEW+ MA*9E F1TURES4 ,:5 MY DAU PIECES ( POLYE/] KNIT FABRIC4 ,TURN D[N ! TOP 5 6PULL ?REE-QU>T] 9* ELA/IC "?4 ,TURN UP ! BOTTOM TWO 9*ES & SEW R$ RICKRACK >.D AT ! TOP (! HEM4 ,"! 0 ONLY "O S1M REQUIR$ & NO H& SEW+4 ,! GIRLS CD USE ! SEW+ MA*9ES IF _! "MS WD LET !M4 ,! SKIRTS 7 CUTE Z !Y CD BE1 &! GIRLS 7 PR\D Z P1COCKS4 ,0! "T MY DAU 6ME T %E WANT$ M CLO!S ?AN ,I 0 WILL+ 6BUY4 ,I TOLD H] %E CD PROBABLY H M CLO!S "?\T JUNIOR HI< & HI< S*OOL IF %E WD LE>N 6SEW4 ,%E 0 M ?AN EAG]4 ,%E *OSE 6MAKE A ?REE-TI]$ :ITE SKIRT ) PURPLE TRIM4 ,! GA!RS ON ?REE TI]S WORE H] \1 S ,I HELP$1 B %E DID ! RE/4 ,%E WORE X = H] SIX? GRADE GRADU,N & LOOK$ GRT4 ,:5 %E 0 CALL$ 6! FRONT =! TOP AW>D F ! S*OOL1 ,I _H TE>S & WI%$ "O M "T T MY HUSB& CD H BE5 "! 6%>E X ) U4 ,ANYWAY1 ,LAURA 0 A 3FIRM$ SEW]1 AL? %E / _H A LOT 6LE>N4 ,WE 2GAN 6LE>N AB NEW K9DS ( PATT]NS TGR4 ,:ILE %E 0 9 HI< S*OOL1 %E MADE CASUAL CLO!S1 B ,I DID ! M =MAL "OS4 ,:5 KIDS NE$ "S?+ = S*OOL1 Y DON'T ALW GET M* NOTICE4 ,:5 ,LAURA JO9$ ! OR*E/RA1 %E NE$$ A BLACK =MAL4 ,H] FR'S "M KNEW ! "R PATT]N1 & ,I MADE X4 ,= H] F/ =MAL D.E1 ,I MADE H] A M9T GRE5 L;G SAT9 DRESS ) PU6$ SLEEVES & AN 9V]T$ ;V 2L ! BU/4 ,%E _H A GD BU/L9E1 &! DRESS LOOK$ GD ON H]4 ,%E TOOK X 6COLLEGE ) H]1 :5 ! "T CAME4 ,N[1 ,LAURA DOES M SEW+ ?AN ,I D4 ,%E GOT PRACTICE DUR+ COLLEGE & MADE A FR'S W$D+ DRESS4 ,TD1 = ME SEW+ IS A HO2Y1 B X IS "! :5 NE$$ OR WANT$4 ,I LOVE 6%>E ? EXP]I;E ) O!RS4 ,X IS A WAY ( 2+ CR1TIVE & BUSY4 ,"O SUMM] ,I W5T LOOK+ = CLO!S & J CDN'T F9D M*4 ,2F L;G ,I SWIT*$ 6%OPP+ 9 FABRIC /ORES & _H ! CLO!S ,I LIK$4 ,MAK+ A "W DRESS C 2 D"O 9 AB ! "T NE$$ = TWO %OPP+ TRIPS1 & IF %OPP+ ISN'T GO+ WELL1 SEW+ IS M SATISFY+4 ,I AL C MAKE CLO!S FIT ! WAY ,I WANT !M TO4 ,IF ,I "E H GR&*N1 "! W PROBABLY 2 ?+S 6D = !M4 ,"T W TELL4 ,IF ,I "E H AN OPPORTUN;Y 6T1* SEW+ AG1 ,I W 2 M* M 3FID5T AB :AT PROJECTS MY /UD5TS %D ATTEMPT4 ,"O M ?+4 ,=A BL P]SON :O LIKES 6R1D RECORD$ BOOKS & MAGAZ9ES1 SEW+ IS "O ( ^? ?+S Y C D :ILE R1D+4