IN the 1950s and 60s sewing was taught at school to prepare us to be good mothers. It often began in Infants School with both boys and girls learning simple cross stich. 

In NSW State schools, serious sewing for girls began in third class. We started by making samples of embroidery stiches such as tacking, laced whipped running, satin and stem stitches, which were glued into our sample books. Once perfected, we embroidered pastel-coloured lawn to make pin wheels, needle books, tray cloths and drawstring bags. 

Our needlework equipment was kept in a special sewing basket, usually a Christmas or birthday present. It was of woven raffia or plastic around a cane frame and lined with satin. It had a padded lid and sometimes came with scissors, needles, a crotchet hook and thimble. Often its size, colour, design and accessories were a source of competition and envy for girls at school. 

By fifth class we graduated to serious sewing, making actual clothes! We began by perfecting button holes and French seams for our sample books. This was in preparation to hand-sew, from scratch, a 'peasant' skirt of printed cambric and a puffy-sleeved blouse. 

Girls in other schools made pillow cases, summer pyjamas, aprons or petticoats. I've even read that at one school the girls sewed the school's basketball uniforms even though they weren't in the team.

By High School we were still having Needlework lessons. In Year 7 we made a trendy hessian carry bag, an embroidered baby’s pillowcase and learnt to use sewing machines. Unfortunately, my bobbin always got tangled and I never mastered the skill. In fact, it turned me off sewing clothes for life. 

However, there was one advantage from my years of school sewing, I can still do fine neat stitches and take up a hem when required.