Can't remember when I first started making my own clothes, but I remember being pretty disgruntled when the teacher at one school I went to insisted we practice with paper on a hand sewing machine before we were allowed to use proper fabric. As I had been using my grandmas treadle sewing machine since I could reach the treadle I was far from happy. It took us an entire school year to make the skirt, we only had the one machine between the entire class. By the time we reached July the dratted things didn't fit.
Totally different when I moved to a different school. The first thing we had to make was an apron and cap for our cookery lessons. I followed that up with a lace trimmed underskirt, most of it done by hand. A shirtwaister dress, skirt and V neck top, nightdress, and coat were some of the other things I made during the last two years.
Roz