The observance of National Sewing Month began in 1982 with a proclamation from President Ronald Reagan declaring September as National Sewing Month “In recognition of the importance of home sewing to our Nation.”

So for me back in the day before sewing became a business for me, sewing was just something I did on a regular basis from my first hand stitched Barbie Doll ensemble to my first machine stitched apron for the 4-H project when I was about 9 yrs old.  Then it grew into sewing something fun and fashionable for myself and amazing my classmates with well sewn, styling fashion not available at the tiny little JC Penny department store in our small rural town. Well as a matter of fact outfits found nowhere else. I was choosing the fabric and the pattern from the endless selections  of Butterick, Vogue, McCalls, Simpicitiy and New Look patterns.  Back then one actually saved money sewing clothes. The saving was in you furnishing the labor!  Clothing manufacturing began in the USA at the turn of the century and eventually a major of the sewing factories were relocated to other countries at a fraction of the labor cost.  And so I stopped making clothes due to the increased cost of fabric and I fell victim to the readymades at the expense of exploded labor from an unseen corners of the world.

So in a nutshell, I really was not sewing to create for myself because it turned into a business of creating for someone else through clothing construction and alterations to home decorations such as pillows, slipcovers and window treatment. But now I am back to creating for myself.  A sewing tool belt was designed to keep myself organized in the sewing room. Others saw it and wanted one too. Then it grew into others asking about creating a tool belt to hold what they needed in their particular profession.  I was in designing heaven once more!

Though I do less sewing of the tool belts these days, i would however love to indulge myself in creating free form fabric art. So in keeping with National Sewing Month I should commit to sewing small squares of fabric art each day?  Oh my I have only 2 days left to commit as we turn the page of August to September!

Do you have a sewing passion and just can't get started on it? Or are you working on something. I would love to hear your thoughts or dreams of one day making a sewn creation.  Here is a link to the National Sewing Month Website which might help with starting a simple project or idea  or if you need some personal interaction a link to a sewing organizations in your area.  Of course there are lots of other online sites for inspiration.

"I work in slots ,tools needed are pens, request book and small screwdriver . Mrs Betty exceeded my expectations. Made my tool pouch with the type fabric needed to hold up . Thank you for working with me. September 2015 Stephanie in LA

How is your tool belt holding up in 2019?
 "Yes and it still is in excellent shape after extreme use. Thank you so much ." August 2019 Stephanie in LA,

June of 2010, the first prototype, the sewing tool belt was launched online. Several thousands sewn, many designs and redesigns brought me to the present six designs that now are sewn by someone else but still made in USA!  Many, many hours of love and care went into the needs of serving hard working people across the world. My task at hand is not in the sewing and designing but rather the marketing of the chosen few designs that best meet the needs of professionals who strive to work efficiently and to prevent damage or loss of devices and tools.

Finding and keeping a USA manufacturer was not an easy task. I started looking in 2014.  Sewing is mostly done in poor countries with cheap labor.  The goal was to contribute to homeland jobs and fair wages. The other goal was to start up manufacturing without borrowing.  It was slow going using available cash and learning the process. Now there are six tool belt designs as seen in this website store that are ready for mass production. This is the first time I have carried a modest inventory and the first time I was able to ship 80 tool belts on the same day it was ordered!  Awesome feeling! Now to work on reaching out to other companies who don't know HipNotions is here to help keep their work force organized.