Nancy Valci

How long have you been sewing?

When I took Home Economics in High School, I already knew how to sew better than the teacher. I started sewing on my grandma’s pedal machine just playing around sewing her quilting patches together so I’ve been sewing ever since. I learned to sew buttons on when I was 3.

How did you learn to sew?

My mother taught me.

What was the first thing you remember sewing?

I don’t even remember, but I used to make skirts because I liked to wear skirts so I made skirts.

What do you like to sew?

Clothing; dresses, and skirts.

Favorite type of fabric, any kind you hate?

Cotton. Hates polyester!

What kind of sewing machine do you have?  Any other machines like serger, etc.

My whole life I was sewing on a Singer without a zigzag, finally my mom bought me a zigzag machine. Now I have a Baby Lock, not computerized, and I have an Evolve.

What do you make that you are most proud of?

A Sylvester the Cat costume!  For the girls, I make one an Eisenhower jacket and embroidered Holly Hobbie on the back. For the other one, I made overalls with Holly Hobbie on the  bib. I think the thing that I’m most proud of is that I knitted a cable knit dress, which was awesome at the time!

How long have you been a Guild member? Why did you join?

Maybe 5 or 6 years. My daughter told me it was a good idea; she was a member. I thought it would be neat to be with other sew-errs, I like to hang out and sew.

Biggest change in sewing over the years?

I guess, the Serger

What about the change in fabrics?

The quality has changed. I have a good cotton blouse at home that I wear at least once a week, it’s 25 years old and it doesn’t have any holes in it. The knits have polyester in them now, hard to get a cotton knit. Even the picot was really nice, medium weight cotton, nice material and wool. I love wool. I have a hard time getting wool, I have to have it all natural.

Best sewing tip for us?

You should sew something every day, even if it’s for an hour.

Is there anything about you that you would like us to know?

I had some awesome clothes, I really did, ones I made from my dreams.

You know, I used to make a blouse a day, plus grocery shop and do all the other work.

What sewing groups do you belong to?

I just belong to Central Daytime, and City Sew-er’s. Depending on the program, you get something out of everything but sometimes you need variety.