Oh wait! Not beginner... it should be tyro, dilettante and enthusiast.

heee!

I can tailor, sort of, but mostly my skills are used for hemming at this point. Or redoing Grace's soccer uniform to fit her. I hemmed it too small, but the darts I put in the back make the top more fitted without losing the jersey number nor the seaming/decoration.

I just mailed an envelope of poop to someone.

I just mailed an envelope of poop to someone.

Non sequitur!

Yes, that's what I consider to be basic alterations. I know, I'm crazy.

Crazy awesome. I'd love to have those skills. They'd serve me well, because I know many a time I've had to not buy something that would have looked great if I could have taken the waist from one size, the arms from the next size up, and let the hem down about an inch.

I've watched Jilli do alterations. For SA, actually! It's extremely impressive. I want Jilli to teach me to sew.

Oh! I missed the Sparky news but am wishing good things to come from it!!

I am lisah in this one!

And I am Kat!

I want Jilli to teach me to sew.

If you were only in the PNW, you could be part of the Great Jam Economy, where we barter skills. I'm serious. I do alterations for other people, they make me jam. Or pressure can chicken broth and tomato sauce. Or come over and make me food.

because I know many a time I've had to not buy something that would have looked great if I could have taken the waist from one size, the arms from the next size up, and let the hem down about an inch.

My default for most jackets is to buy a size 14, and then tailor it down to a busty size 12.

I've been fascinated by some "extra petite" blogs that talk about and show alterations (my current fave is "Alterations Needed"). And it's got me thinking about getting more of my stuff tailored. But yes, that's expensive. And I change sizes.

I totally want "casual enthusiast" classes! Home maintenance and auto and sewing would be spiffy.

I find being forced to take an Armed Service Aptitude test very uncool. WTF?? On the other hand, I would support required service (military or opt into Americorps type thing) like they have in some countries. I think it would be good for people.

Erin, have you done media training? Your post to Sparky was right on!

Nope, but I read a lot of weird shit, and was a makeup-artist in grad school, did some freelance gigs for photographers, and my friend owns a photo studio/business.

If you were only in the PNW, you could be part of the Great Jam Economy, where we barter skills.

I received a painting in return for a lighting design once. Your examples are a little more practical though.

I can sew, and probably could do lots of my own alterations. The problem is that I hate to sew.

I can sew, but I'm lazy about it. I'm bringing some pants to be shortened to a tailor, even though hemming is certainly within my skill set, because the pants have been sitting on my "stuff to be sewn" pile for over a year, and I've just accepted that I'm not going to do it.