Giveaway: How to Sew a Button
To put it quite simply, I am in love with this book. For anyone who has wanted to sit at the knees of women older and wiser and cull time-tested knowledge of how to live with savoir faire, How to Sew a Button is your charming, funny, can-do guide. Erin Bried traveled the country interviewing grandmothers so that we could all be armed with Girl Scout-ish know-how whether we are suddenly asked to waltz at a ball (would that this particular situation cropped up more often) or are charged with building a roaring fire on our next camp out. This book offers up the curriculum we might have gleaned had home ec not been ushered out of the school systems, but in the infinitely more appealing form of a whimsically diagrammed text written by a woman you wish were your best friend. Random House is giving away a copy to one lucky Pink of Perfection winner. To enter to win, leave a comment about your most valued how-to skill by Friday, January 15, midnight EST. Sorry, but only US mailing addresses may enter.
Update 1/19: Congrats to KBG in DC! And thank you to everyone who left a comment to enter — what a skilled bunch you all are!
tina: Cooking!!! My most valued how to skill has to be how to cook a roast and mash potatoes!2 years ago
Emily C.: By far my most valued how-to skill is the ability to alter clothing. It means that I can live in thrift-store things and still look put-together, allowing me to spend the rest of my college-student budget on oatmeal creme pies!2 years ago
Jessica I.: My mother taught me to “make do” (her term). We never got the response of “I don’t have the materials/skills/pattern/recipe/tools for that”; she would find scraps or household items to use, figure the skill out herself or from a book, and just wing the rest of it! It was such fun for her. She loves the challenge of doing this to this day (although she no longer needs to!) and has passed the thrill of making things work with what you have onto me.2 years ago
PastaQueen: My most valued how-to skill is knowing how to fix that flapper thingy in the toilet
2 years ago
Ann: One of my silly but most used how-to skills: using a blowdryer on hard to remove stickers and labels. Just blast it for a few seconds on hot air, and the sucker comes off without leaving any residue.2 years ago
Serita: Emergency Medicine… Most valuable things I’ve ever learned, most humbling to put to use. Even basic first aid (particularly with a wilderness angle, aimed at doing the most with limited resources) is a skill-set every gal should have.
And Emily C- I want what you’ve got! Seems so intimidating to jump in and just start altering clothing. And so, so cool!
2 years ago
Christine S.: Cooking would be #1 – and the fear of trying “new” things with random pantry items when times are tight – with fixing ripped seams and such instead of throwing away the article of clothing. With the economy as it is and kids that grow like weeds (and are a bit rugged with their clothing), this has been a life saver in the financial dept.!2 years ago
Christine S.: edit self: that would be “and not having the fear…” oops…:)2 years ago
Julie K: Baking cookies! No one can say no to fresh baked cookies
2 years ago
Becky: My most valued how-to skills are related to pain relief. As a child, I spent a day at the beach and a night with terrible sunburn. My mom put vinegar on my face and the burn was nearly gone the next day. If I ever got too close to something hot, my mom had me dip the burn into a bowl of cold milk or soak a towel in cold milk and place it on the burn for instant relief. When my wisdom teeth came out, my dad had me place aspirin on the wound and hold it there for a while – prevented infection and provided relief.
My second most valued how-to is using vinegar to degrease my pots and pans and remove the stains from my glass coffee pot! I also run the coffee machine with 1/2 cup vinegar + 1/2 cup water every few weeks to disinfect it.2 years ago
Chris: I taught myself how to sew simple blinds this year. It has really helped lower our energy bill in our 89-year-old apartment with 13 oversized windows (that I am pretty sure are original to the building…in other words: very leaky).
I would also like to add myself to the Jealous-of-Emily C pool. Learning to sew clothing will hopefully be my next sewing adventure!2 years ago
Claire: There are so many important how-to skills!
My mother taught me how to roast a chicken (she claimes merely for self enjoyment, but many a boyfriend have been impressed along the way).
My grandmother taught me how to hem a skirt on the fly.
My dad taught me how to unclog drains and how to talk your way into discounts.
I think the most important how to skill I learned was how to have an interesting, polite conversation with anyone. My favorite college professor taught me by example and with tips thrown in during class discussions.2 years ago
Hillary: My most useful skill (apart from cooking) is definitely plain sewing, plus knowing how to use a sewing machine. Replacing buttons, mending, and altering/making clothes all make it so much simpler. Plus I make quilts for myself and gifts. It’s also translated to cross-stitch, needlepoint, and weaving.
my apocalypse skill is weaving – I have the tools and skill to make cloth. I just have to experience the apocalypse with someone who spins and someone who keeps sheep.2 years ago
Samantha Angela: I learned how to install flooring! Quite a feat for an amateur
2 years ago
Kelly: I’ll have to say that my most-valued how-to skill would have to be how to make a room look good without spending much money. It’s all about arrangement, details, and colors that make you feel good. Thanks, mom, for always letting me rearrange and paint my bedroom as a kid!2 years ago
anne: My most valued how to skill is learning how to sew! No more piles of work clothes waiting to be delivered to the alterations lady. Much cheaper too!2 years ago
Faith: Definitely cooking. Learning to sew (more than the button sewing which is the limit of my sewing knowledge at present) is next on my list to learn – planning to take a class in February.2 years ago
Sonia L: how to get an oil stain out! my grandma taught me to rub baby powder into an oil stain on clothing and let it sit for a few hours, then launder. this has saved me countless times because i dont know what it is but oil/butter/cheese loves to get on my pants!!2 years ago
Ann: Cooking is mine, too, because it is a skill that I enjoy and use every day. However, learning how to use a hammer, drill, and level effectively comes in at a close second. I could not have furnished and decorated my apartment otherwise.2 years ago
Karen: Thankfully, my mother taught me a lot of valuable skills including basic sewing and cooking. And I’ll always appreciate my father for teaching me how to build a fire — that’s come in handy on many, many camping trips
2 years ago
Bree: My favorite is learning that rubbing a bar of soap on a door will get it to stop sticking, very helpful when your 5 year old thinks he’s going to be stuck in the bathroom forever!2 years ago
Torrie: I’m proud of my ability to cook a decent meal without a recipe. I think this allows me to save money by using the ingredients we have on hand instead of running out to by everything.2 years ago
Ariana: This is kind of hard to explain but I’m quite proud of the mental map I have of my city that allows me to orient myself to the cardinal directions wherever I am. In other words, I know that if I walk down X Street I’m walking North.2 years ago
Loquin: Crocheting has been the most lucrative – I’d crochet scarves in class and then sell them.2 years ago
Julia: I’d explain my most valuable skill as frugality. It created the ability in me to 1. Try anything to save a buck (learn to cook, sew, staple gun, etc.) and 2. Save a buck. (not too shabby a thing to know how to do either.2 years ago
Eva: my most valued skill is mixing drinks. and I think my friends value it too!2 years ago
Emily: I’m practically a boy scout when it comes to building a fire. Start with a tee-pee of very dry kindling, some dry leaves and bark in the middle and as soon as it start, continue to build around the tee-pee with thicker and thicker wood until it is roaring and ready to be knocked over.2 years ago
Kokie: reading-i would die without it!2 years ago
Jessica: Making gravy!!
REALLY wish I knew how to sew….even small things like hemming pants/skirts and replacing buttons!!2 years ago
Jessica: My most valuable how-to skills are budgeting and doing the Charleston. I love to make budgets and have helped several friends make them as well, so it’s something that helps me and others. And being able to do the Charleston is a nifty thing I can pull out at parties and such. It’s something that I can almost guarantee no one else in the room can do.2 years ago
fran: cooking! The ability to cook good food on a reasonable budget but also being occasionally able to pull out all the stops.2 years ago
Bethany: I can recognize the body language of cats. I know when the cat is hiding, when it will pounce, when it is annoyed, and when it is playful all by the way its tail and ears move. I can also make one killer alfredo sauce from scratch.2 years ago
Bethany B-A: My most valued skill is that I can do basic machine sewing. I’ve been able to alter, mend, and revamp tons of my and others’ clothes, and also make items to decorate my apartment. I’m certain it’s saved me a lot of money.2 years ago
Zarah: Planning & cooking healthy meals! I am constantly amazed at how many people lack this basic skill, and I’m so happy my mother forced me to learn it.2 years ago
Claire B: I’m trying to think of something that my Grandmother actually taught me… to keep a change pouch in your purse to collect all your coins.
My best skill is probably sewing, and the one I’d like to improve on is cooking. I’m a vegetarian that tries her best for her poor husband, but alas, the chicken I made last night was only half edible. oops2 years ago
Michelle Kraetschmer: My most valued skill is to be able to embroider and embellish in a way that would make my mother proud. *Not* an easy feat…2 years ago
danielle: this may sound silly but my very frugal father taught me how to read unit pricing at the grocery store when i was young. so many times i’ve realized how not good of a deal things really were and gotten around tricky packaging and package sizes just by looking at unit pricing – especially at the drugstore.2 years ago
Amanda Jean: At 23 years old, I’m still cultivating my practical how-to skills. I love cooking and baking, but I’m still too timid to throw things in a pot and hope for the best. I can sew a little bit (both machine and hand-stitch), but I can’t guarantee a straight line. I’m still learning to live on my own, so with the curiosity to try new things, a love of thrift/antique/crafting/all things diy, and frequent calls to my mother I think I’m on my way to a fairly impressive set of how-to skills.2 years ago
RH: Most valued skill = the ability to improvise in the kitchen! My dad was a chef and he trained me well.2 years ago
Shelagh: as a very short person, hemming (pant legs, shirtsleeves, you name it) has been my mvp for more than 20 years. i just discovered a hemming-challenged friend who will PAY me to do this! woohoo!!!!!2 years ago
Cara: Cooking without requiring a recipe… it helps me use what I have and avoid buying more.2 years ago
Chelsea: My most valued how-to is making stellar chocolate chip cookies!2 years ago
eliz: i can gauge the ratios needed for any baked good by using my senses, not recipes. and substitutions!2 years ago
Sarah F: My best skill…well, two best skills…knitting and making a perfect pot of tea. There is nothing better than sitting in front of a fire knitting something practical (dishclothes, afghans, mittens, sweaters, hats, bags, the list goes on and on) and drinking a perfect cup of jasmine tea!
Hillary; I spin, so if you need someone to endure the apocalypse with, we need to exchange numbers! I’ve done some weaving, but I’d love to learn more!2 years ago
Amy C: I love this! Definitely my “how-to” skill is making anything – ANYTHING – out of paper. I can make bowls, jewelry, toys, lamps, slippers – all out of paper. Comes in handy for a quick and nifty decorating job
2 years ago
Zannah: Knitting – it’s not always as useful as some other skills, but since I can knit significantly better than anyone in my family and most of my friends, it makes for amazing gifts and things that make me happy every time I slip them on.2 years ago
BethP: I don’t know if it is my most valuable skill per se, but I’m proud of being able to easily open a bottle of champagne, and, happily, it comes in handy often!2 years ago
Linda: I’d say cooking and sewing have been most handy in life:)2 years ago
Ro: I was always running out of glue in the middle of the night before my crafts project was due back in school. That’s when my grandmother taught me to make glue by boiling a flour and water mixture over the stove!2 years ago
Ginger: I’m always surprised at how many girls our age can’t sew. I’m certainly no master seamstress by any stretch, but I can take in/let out/reattach a button/hem/etc.
I can still remember my Mamaw taking me to the fabric store, helping me pick out a pattern of my choosing, a yard of material (red plaid … how in I was, as a little one!), and making a tiny purse. I still have it today, and I treasure not only the skill, but the many memories we spent in her basement spare bedroom-turned-sewing room, making little doll’s clothes, then later the latest fashion I wanted, and so on.
I hope to be the same kind of mother or Mamaw someday!2 years ago
Sonja: Baking bread. Because sometimes you just don’t feel like running out to the store, and the boy eats pb&j every. darn. day.2 years ago
Katherine: For me, it is quilting. I feel satisfied that I am able to create things that keep my husband and I warm at night. I feel so happy when I go into my bedroom and am greeted with a quilt that I slaved over. Although we live in an age where most things can be bought cheaply, I love that quilting and sewing remind me that handmade is better.2 years ago
Nancy: I’d say cooking is the most valuable on a daily basis, and simple sewing is so very necessary with little kids (buttons, hems etc.). The book sounds great!2 years ago
Sarah: My most valuable how-to skill is the ability to feed myself, even after a long day!2 years ago
Nicole: My most valued how to skill could be anything my mother taught me from engraving and coloring Ukranian Easter Eggs to cooking from the Old country cookbook where measuring cups never existed to sewing my own Barbir Furniture. But if there is one thing my mother taught me that I would consider my most valued how to skill is the ability to listen to someone else when they are teaching me something no matter what it is!!!!!!!! This book sounds amazing!2 years ago
Heather: Ooh, cooking/baking is my best how-to skill! I make a killer mac and cheese, mmm!2 years ago
Jude: Of everything I know how to do, cooking is the most important to me. One of my earliest memories is helping my Italian grandmother make pizza, and from Nonna I learned that you take care of the people you love by feeding them beautiful, delicious food.2 years ago
kelly o: I know how to fold tshirts beautifully!2 years ago
Allyn: I’d have to say my most valued how-to skill is the ability to start and carry on a conversation with anyone, anywhere. This can lead to great friendships, helpful strangers, and super relationships with students AND their parents (important to us teachers), to name a few. But, I definitely need some more physical/tactile skills, like sewing buttons and waltzing!2 years ago
Christine H.: Hmmm, I suppose sewing, especially the ability to alter and mend clothing. I’ve patched one pair of jeans for a friend so many times I think it’s mostly patches now.
2 years ago
Jennifer: My grandma taught me how to make soup and gravy. Those are two of life’s necessities.
My mother taught me how to be self-reliant, how to manage my money, and how to take care of my financial future.
Neither one of them can make a cocktail for crap, though, and I am an expert
2 years ago
KBG in DC: Two most valued how tos: drive and do the polka! One is a necessity for everyday life – the other makes you the belle of the ball at October fest!
2 years ago
Carole: I learned the official corner tuck for making the bed. I think it’s a pretty great skill to have!2 years ago
annie: sewing! cooking! meal planning! budgeting!
2 years ago
kat: My most valuable skill- I can sew on a button.2 years ago
Jessica: I suppose mine would be cooking, since I’m not a great baker. Actually my best known skill is “creative use of leftovers” (repurposing them into completely different meals). My parents and hubby have always complimented me on that.2 years ago
Gail: The skill that I find comes in the handiest is opening stuck jars by banging them lid down on the doorframe. Works like a charm every time
(and great for when the hubby’s not home to lend muscle)2 years ago
Eliza: My grandmother taught me how to pick out a good lazy afternoon book, which is not necessarily a life skill for me, but it may have been for her when life threw her only the smallest of pleasures for long stretches at a time.2 years ago
Misty: Cooking is most definitely my best skill. That and not being afraid to forge ahead, whether it’s with cooking, music, or going somewhere new.2 years ago
Annie Hall: The most valued skill I learned from my grandmother is the ability to embroider. She taught me how using simple embroidery floss, basic fabric, an embroidery hoop, and LOTS of patience, I could make the most beautiful, artistic creations.
Along the way I learned the importance of investing time in doing thing the right way. Grandma wouldn’t give an inch, she’s watch me try to race through with uneven, jagged stitches and make me carefully pluck them out and try again. Learning the patience was just as valuable as learning the stitches.2 years ago
Megan: Even more than basic sewing, my most valuable skill is being comfortable enough with tools to sit down and figure out why the drawer/light/handle/etc. is acting funny and what it’ll take to get it working smoothly again.2 years ago
Erin: How to make my husband laugh.2 years ago
Angie: I would have to say how to tie a fishing boat to the dock and how to make my grandma’s fresh cinnamon rolls.
Our family has an annual “Grandma Camp” when all of the cousins go to Grandma’s house for a sleepover, and we learn how to sew, cook, and bake. Best idea ever!2 years ago
kara: My most valued skill is the ability to write a diplomatic e-mail or letter at just the right moment.2 years ago
Eva: Cooking a sewing are two of my useful skills, but organizing is even more important. Being able to organize anything from a kitchen drawer to the workflow in my department
2 years ago
Brandi: I have learned a few how-to skills for beauty emergencies–1.If you break a nail, you can use the wheel that ignites a lighter as a nail file.
2.Use the end of an extinguished match as emergency eye liner.
3.Comb baby powder through your hair if you can’t wash it to remove oil.
4.Rub white eyeliner underneath the tips of your nails for an instant french manicure.
They sound ridiculous, but they work. Practice does always make perfect! I’d love to hear any more if you have them!!2 years ago
CS: Cooking nearly anything, picking a simple lock, and opening beer and wine bottles without an opener. If we’re including social skills. . .I’d add: putting people at ease. Thanks for the timely post: it’s resonating because I’ve found myself engaged in 2 lengthy convos recently about the shift in our kids’ public education, for easily understandable reasons, away from vocational/practical skills.2 years ago
kathleen: My most valued how to lesson would be how to bake and frost a simple birthday cake. So I can always make sure birthdays are properly celebrated.2 years ago
Katie C.: My most valuable skill acquired to date would definitely be: How to get out of a ticket : )
My mother was a gem, and the way she was able to read a situation and find the best solution to the problem was fascinating. So fascinating, in fact, that I have worked years after my first encounter with her smooth ways to emulate her immaculate style.2 years ago
Nikk: Not sure which how-to is most important but one that I’m most proud of is how to change the oil on my car. Saves me lots of money doing it myself!2 years ago
Andrea: So many great comments!
My most valued how-to skill would have to be appreciating details; this allows me to:
- fix almost anything
- learn new skills quickly
- never be bored
- make people feel special
- make awesome spreadsheets!!2 years ago
Erin R.: I can make quilts. I’m not really sure how useful of a skill that is, but my pickings are slim
I guess I better read this book LOL
Thanks so much!2 years ago
Lise: I would have to say learning how to sew. As a child my sisters and i learned to sew by making clothes for our dollys. Over the years I have made a fancy dress to wear to a formal, curtains to decorate a new home, fixed or altered lots of clothes, and made many, many teddy bears to bring smiles to the faces of new babies and their parents. It is rewarding, creative and useful! But learning how to make a roaring fire…i’m ready!2 years ago
Sabrina: I believe that in this point in my life that knowing how to iron and sew. I remember as I was growing up watching my mom iron in the living room every night. I watched her and how she made my dad’s shirts look so pristine! My cousin is a seamstress and I would visit her house and she would teach me a little bit on the sewing machine at a time. I always wanted to learn to sew like her!
Now that I am a mom, sewing my son’s Tiger scout badges and ironing his uniform give me great pleasure and it makes me very proud!!2 years ago
Vanessa: Fire building tops my list.2 years ago
michella: making my own beauty products. it’s simple, healthy, inexpensive and a great gift to myself and others. and fun!2 years ago
Jaci Charney-Perez: My most valued how-to skill is making chicken cutlets. It’s the first recipe my Sicilian step-dad taught me how to make, and it’s my go-to recipe during the week because it’s easy for me and I almost always have the ingredients.
My second most valued how-to skill is making fudge. I know a basic recipe for chocolate fudge, and I can throw anything I have in it and create a new recipe. For example, for my mom’s birthday, I had mini marshmallows and oatmeal in the house, so I made my mom chocolate marshmallow oatmeal fudge as a gift. Fudge always makes a great gift, and you can cater each batch to the person’s tastes.2 years ago
Karen: Thank you Nana for teaching me to cook!2 years ago
Wendy: My mom and grandma taught me lots … my favorite is probably sewing. I love fabrics and creating something original!2 years ago
Sarah Sheldon: How to properly cut an onion!2 years ago
Rebecca: Hand-written letters are something I am very proud of. Thanks you notes, birthday cards, Christmas cards, etc. people love to get mail and if you put in a little time to make it by hand, it is even more special.2 years ago
amy: My most valued how to skill, though it has been said often, has to be cooking. My grandmother was an amazing cook, and it wasn’t until after she died that I really decided I had to become one too.
I wouldn’t call myself amazing yet, but cooking for yourself and your loved ones saves you so much money, is so much healthier than eating out all the time, and creates lots of unexpected opportunities. You become a better party host, you find time to hang out and talk in your kitchen which you never thought you had, and you learn how to organize your time / plan better, skills helpful outside of the kitchen.2 years ago
Amber Mc: Though not a specific “how to” skill, my mom always says I have the gift of “connect”…connecting people, helping others find the person who can help them with a specific problem. So I’m blessed with an army of people who I can call on if I need something.2 years ago
Nicole: Cooking, definitely! I am not afraid of anything in the kitchen. But I can’t sew a button, so I need this book!2 years ago
Ellen: Whenever I’m asked about this, I always say one of the plethora of life skills passed down by my mother & grandmother, but my *father* taught me about public speaking & encouraged me to compete in speech competitions as I grew older, and being able to accurately & correctly express my feelings in a public forums – whether speaking to two people or 100 – has proven to be extraordinarily useful. Also, I’m an elementary school teacher now so, that’s kind of what we do.2 years ago
Lauren: Besides cooking and baking, I know how to use household stuff to clean! Like, to get wine or grape juice stains out of carpet? Use salt! Just dump it on there and let it soak it up, vacuum, and Voila! No more stain. It’s rad.2 years ago
Cathi: I have a lot of useful skills but I think they all relate back to one; reading directions.
No matter what I do; cook, bake, sew, fix a stove, or change the oil in my car, I can do it all because I can read the directions and I’m not afraid to try something new if I have those directions.
Without that, I’d have nothing.2 years ago
Jaime: This is such a cute book! Mine would be being able to hang pictures- they always are straight!
Jaime
laviejaime@gmail.com2 years ago
Chrissy: Let’s see, I probably need this book because I can’t think of any practical skills I possess other than how to cook!2 years ago
DesigningDiva: Knowing how to cook well has been a life-changing and life-affirming skill for me. I come from a long line of wonderful cooks and bakers, but until I got married, I only baked and wasn’t interested in cooking at all. Enter a new home, new kitchen, and wonderful new Hubby, and my innate creativity really kicked in! I absolutely love to cook and improvise recipes and having a very appreciative husband doesn’t hurt, either! Another “skill” I’ve been told I have is my charming personality – I’m always polite and that helps, too! I seem to get my own way a lot by
being charming….as I’ve been told by many….Hey, if it works…!2 years ago
syd: One of my favorites was learned from my mom….the ability to make my own patterns and sew/craft an item from scratch…….I love being able to do that.2 years ago
Nicky: My grandmother lived to far away to teach me side by side. However, she encouraged a love for learning to paint and be creative. She was an artist and always sent me books, drawings, and encouragements to be more creative. Today, my hobbies are paining, drawing, and calligraphy. I don’t think I would have those skills without her encouragement.2 years ago
Misty: how to drive a stick shift car….i’m shocked at how many people can’t do this. thanks for teaching me, dad!2 years ago
Lauren: I would definitely say cooking – the ability to rummage through the fridge and pantry and come up with a quick, health, delicious meal is invaluable to me (and my husband)!2 years ago
amber: My valuable skill: writing thank you notes, in cursive (and sometimes by ecards). Everyone likes to be appreciated!2 years ago
Jennifer: I think cooking is my most important skill. But knowing how to change a tire is pretty handy, too!2 years ago
Stacy Marie: My chicken gyros….my guy loves them!2 years ago
Johanna: Baking addictive cookies, plunging a toilet, checking my car’s oil.2 years ago
Kassia: Organizing anything. I get laughed at for my organization skills and some dare say it is close to being a problem, but when they need a copy of a receipt, HA to whom do they turn! I use notebooks, the computer, a filing cabinet, and a bit of hard work to constantly keep up with life in a calm fashion.2 years ago
Sheree: How to start a charcoal grill and grill the best salmon ever!!
)2 years ago
Susan: How to change a tire–one of the skills my dad insisted on when he taught me to drive…I can’t tell you how many times it’s come in handy, for both my car and when I was with someone else! Even when some guy has stepped up to help, a lot of times he hasn’t known what to do! Thanks, Dad!2 years ago
Margo: Definitely how to make a full-on Thanksgiving Dinner, from turkey and dressing, to home-made cranberries to four kinds of pie! Thanks to my mom.2 years ago
Anne: My most valued skill is that I can bake! It relaxes me and makes me happy to share my treats with others. This book looks like it could teach me a lot!2 years ago
Ariel: Making a great campfire!
Being resourceful and creative – even when things get tricky.
And of course, being able to throw together a rad dinner from a few goofy ingredients that are left in the cupboard.2 years ago
Becca Smith Hill: My 2 most important skills are how to make an amazing cheese fondue and the ability to be a really good listener.2 years ago
Christina: My most important skill is cooking. My husband seems to always be amazed on what I can make up. He looks in the pantry/fridge and doesn’t see anything to eat but I can always put something together.2 years ago
Jessica: I would definitely say cooking. I am able to make a delicious vegan meal at any time and am very proud at being completely self-taught!2 years ago
Lucy: my most inportant skill, like so many others on this list: cooking. Especially being able to stretch ingredients, and making stocks to freeze for a rainy day.2 years ago
KJ: Most valuable how to skill – First, not being afraid to admit I don’t know how! Second – Finding out! Finding resources.
It amazes me how often friends say they’d like to do something but don’t know how. With so much good information out there and so many people willing to share there is no shame in looking for it. Be brave, we can do it! So now I feel very confident when I cook, sew, plumb, and tile.2 years ago
Erin: My most useful and used how-to skill is a mix between meal planning and frugality. Since my husband and I have been married, I have planned out a week or 2 of meals at a time and then an accompanying grocery list. By doing so, I am able to plan meals that use the same ingredients (so nothing goes to waste), avoid the temptation to go out to eat on a whim because “I don’t know what to make for dinner”, and save us time and money by making random trips to the grocery store through out the week (we typically only go to the store once a week), and in general take the chaos out of meal making after a hard day of work.2 years ago
Andrea: My most useful skill is pinning on a boutineer securely without the pin showing. I once pinned on seven boutineers in about a minute.2 years ago
Liz: I love that I can:
1. Make mittens that will fit your hands *exactly*
and
2. Make a great gravy every Thanksgiving!2 years ago
Sandi: My most valuble skill would be learning how to brine and fry an chicken, from my Mom and how to bar-b-que from my Dad.2 years ago
Starlene: I was raised by my maternal grandma and she taught me how to be what she called a “war widow”. I can cook, sew, get out stains, calm a fussy baby, change the fluids in my car, change a flat tire, mow the lawn, mix cocktails and drive a stick shift among a gazillion other things. At the time, I thought most of it was ridiculous but now, man oh man am I glad!!2 years ago
Trina: My most valuable skill is being able to give a great massage! You can barter for about anything with this skill. My dad also gave me the skills to make a beautiful paint job on a car!2 years ago
JoAnna: My most useful skill is knowing how to use a sewing machine…you never know when you will need to make a dress, to sew up a ripped hem, or make a friend a b-day present.2 years ago
Kelsey: How to cook! I think several people have already put that down, but knowing how is incredibly useful. I especially think so when compared to other college students who are limited to mac and cheese or soup every night.2 years ago
Steffie: My most useful social skills is knowing when to switch between being “one of the guys” and being a lady. I learned that in high school. Came in darned handy in the Navy.
My most useful physical skill is a highly suppressed gag reflex. I learned that one on the farm as a small child. Comes in handy living with two dirty menfolk and assorted animals.
My most useful “other” skill is an odd ability to communicate with nearly any animal. A pet psychic, if you will. Doesn’t always work. They have to want to talk back to you. Comes in handy when confronted by an angry yard dog.2 years ago
Dana: I think sewing would be a good skill to know. I wish i did. Cooking is important. I think an art that is slowly fading is quilting… but i think it is beautiful.2 years ago
Moll: My mother and grandmother taught me a lot about basic sewing, gardening, and cooking, though I certainly haven’t developed these skills as much as they did. The most important skill though? Probably the ability to go into a bare pantry and come out with dinner! A little creativity and a stock of basic staples can go a long way.2 years ago
JessWest: Canning – i’ve become obsessed lately, and it saves me from buying expensive yet tasteless tomatoes in January because i have a whole stockpile from the previous summer. But recently my blood orange marmalade failed to gel, which is heartbreaking because now i have a mountain of jars to unseal, re-sterilize, boil, add more pectin. But when the curls of orange peel remain magically suspended as you hold the jar up to the window – worth it!2 years ago
Tina: How to tie a knot. As a child I learned crochet, knitting, macrame and as an adult I find the techniques used in crafts can be applied to general knot tying which comes in very handy when you have to move more (or larger) items than your vehicle will fit inside, or need to wind up a cord in such a way that it can be pulled to any length without tangles (think single-crochet).2 years ago
Maureen: Some of my useful skills are: I can drive a stick shift, change a tire, shoot a gun (in case of zombie invasion), cook, raise livestock, and get gum out of children’s hair.2 years ago
Kayduh: I would say my most useful skill is logic. My parents and my education trained me to find the easiest, most logical solution to any problem. I am now the person everyone calls when they have a problem they can’t solve.2 years ago
Emily: My mom taught me how to sew on a button, and I like that I can think of her whenever I have to get out the sewing kit, which is often (cheap coats!)2 years ago
Susannah: My mother taught me how to dye easter eggs using onion skins (a delicate hen brown) or beets (borscht belt puce). That and adding vinegar to the boiling water (and breaking the egg into a ramekin first) ensures a perfect poached egg.2 years ago
Erin: Canning! I am still an amateur and want to learn more, but I have found that having cans of stewed tomatoes in the pantry are the most versatile item and can be used in pasta sauces, soups, casseroles, etc. whether a recipe specifically calls for them or not!2 years ago
erin: Though I learned a lot of very usefull skills while living on and off in rural Romania, such as: how to wash clothes in a river, walk cows to the fields (and get ‘em back to the barn), pitch hay, draw water from a well, make cherry liquor, to name a few…my most valuable skill is one learned from my mother, (who learned from hers, and so on and so on): how to make pie. There is satisfaction in rolling a perfect crust, delight in the “mmmm mmmmph” of the endless variety of tasty fillings, comfort in a “pie fu” belly. Making pie ties me to my past and heralds my future; a pie shop of my very own…2 years ago
Jill Smith: My most valued how-to skill? I would probably say being able to take apart a sink drain to retrieve the occasional dropped earring. I have saved many almost lost earrings and saved myself plenty of heartbreak in the process. You think I would learn how to prevent this by just closing the sink drain, but I haven’t. Oh, and great tip Sonia L.! I am going to try your trick with baby powder on oil stains today.2 years ago
Colleen Fletcher: My grandmother taught me the joy of crocheting!2 years ago
kathy: cooking and sewing and repairing furniture!!2 years ago
emily: I know how to hand sew! I don’t really LIKE to, but I can do it.
2 years ago
And cook and bake, of course. Those things I like doing.
Donna: My grandma and mother taught me about gardening and perserving food. We heat our home with a woodstove, so I know how to start and keep a fire going.2 years ago
Emmalinda: I would say mine is bread baking and pie crust making. Both activities seemed so difficult as a child growing up, and now I can do both with confidence.2 years ago
Meg: I am handy. My dad is really good with basic carpentry and general fixer-upper type things, so maybe I inherited it from him. I worked a lot of theatre tech in high school, and can do pretty much anything that needs doing around the house. And I love my electric drill!2 years ago
Lauren A.: I can *not* follow a recipe and it still tastes good. I can’t really remember a time I wasn’t making something in the kitchen. I remember making a microwave cake when I was about 8. The texture was a bit off, but it tasted like a snicker doodle.2 years ago
Kate: Sewing. I can’t imagine how much money I’ve saved myself from never going to a tailor. And I can always make something I want if I can’t find it in the stores.2 years ago
MaryLeigh Bishop: I totally value my ability to cook, even in the face of adversity. Give me some ramen, some meat, and some veggies and I can make it seem gourmet. I love knowing that I can tease an impressive meal out of meager ingredients. I really wish I was better at home improvement skills, but that’s my goal for this year.2 years ago
Alison: I wish I knew how to hem pants … well. I can sew a button … badly.2 years ago
Sharon: Like many here … I can keep myself clothed and fed … beyond that I value the ability to totally change my surroundings by applying a coat of new paint … even though that’s probably more the miracle that is paint than any particular skill on my part
2 years ago
Bella: I love cooking. But only for limited amounts of time. And so…I can cook up a fully formed, delicious, wholesome meal in 30 minutes. This keeps my loved ones well-nourished and healthy, and keeps me from hating myself (and them..!) after too much time in the kitchen turns me into a pumpkin.2 years ago
Nora: My most valuable skill has been how to google, without it I would never have learned how to apply makeup or how to make pineapple upside down cake.2 years ago
Michele: Like many of the people here, we all have good valuable sklls. To me, a good valuable skill that i am not afraid to ask for help or to say that I don’t know.2 years ago
Diane: I can parallel park like nobody’s business, which comes in handy when I get home from work after midnight and there’s nowhere to park — except where I can squeeze in. I would like to learn more house-, sewing- and kitchen-friendly grandmother skills though!2 years ago
Rachel C.: I think one of my most-valued skills is ironing a shirt! I can iron a dress shirt for my husband or myself thanks to the patience of my mom who taught me how to iron when I was a teenager.
Rachel2 years ago
Lizziefirst: I actually love to cook and have developed a bit of acument in the kitchen. But beyond that my most valuable skill has been the ability to mobilize and herd the others in my household so that we can collaborate on the tasks at hand.2 years ago
Forrest: I have to say cooking and sewing are the two most useful things my mom taught me. I can always feed myself, and lately, since the weather is so awful, I can curl up with some embroidery or a new sewing project after work…2 years ago
Emily: I hated it at the time, but luckily my mother put me in 4-H. Not your typical livestock and agriculture 4-H. Our club did “Home-Ec”. We learned it all: how to make bread, food preservation, sewing, knitting, crocheting, counted cross stitch, down to cake decorating, and even tree health and finding out how old it is. Not that I use all of these on a daily basis (I wish I did!!) but all in all I think all of my experiences made me into a girl that can pretty much figure out how to do most anything…or at least know where to find out how!2 years ago
Kate: Out of all the skills I learned growing up in the country with my father, probably the most prized skill I have is somewhere in the “handyman” category – all the things a man is supposed to do, but I learned as a girl. I learned to cook like my grandmother, of course, and some other things, but I’m much better with unladylike prospects like carpentry and plumbing.2 years ago
Heather: Cooking a full meal over a campfire. Not only can I build the finre, but I can cook everything (meat, sides, bread and dessert) over it. Truly an essential skill if you camp a lot, like our family does. As a related skill, I also have learned the fine art of peeing in the woods. Not as easy as you may think!
2 years ago
Jenny K: I would have to say just plain old sewing. It has saved us thousands! I make all of our drapes, throw pillow covers, shower curtains and not to mention the seamstress fees I’ve saved being able to tailor my hubby’s uniforms and sew his rank patches on myself. It all adds up. And that’s just the practicle aspect of sewing, I can also make something for (usually) under $10 that I’ve seen in a store for sometimes over $100… It has helped us a lot!2 years ago
beverly: My most valued skills are typing and the ability to use proper grammar. With those skills, employment somewhere — even in the worst economy — is almost guaranteed.2 years ago
Michelle: It’s a little abstract, but one of the most valuable skills I have is my ability to talk comfortably to new people & to network. As a crafty gal & someone who’s rarely held a 9 to 5 kind of job, being able to connect with all kinds of people & not be afraid to ask questions & make friends has been extremely valuable. It’s allowed me a lot of opportunities to try new things & explore new ideas comfortably. Networking, no matter what you do, is SO important.2 years ago
Christina: Making pie. It always impresses.2 years ago
fritz: my grandmother taught me how to make meatballs, the good kind!2 years ago
Veronica: My most valuable how-to skill is taking care of people. Sick people, sad people, lonely people, hungry people, homeless people. Just a helping hand to those who need it.2 years ago
christine: my most valued skill came from my being born as a middle child; i quickly learned how to be a great mediator, and so that is why i work well as an esl teacher in front of a multinational audience of students. there are subtle cultural tensions in the room, but i know how to deal with them and it helps me every day!
Christine : )2 years ago
bethh: I’m proud that I know how to change a bicycle’s flat tire, even though I’m SO not a super-biker. I’m slow, but I can get it done, and it served me well when I was on a ride and was a looooooong walk from home. I even knew to put a dollar bill in between the tire and the tube (because I’d gashed the tire.. this isn’t usually necessary). I was pleased when the bike mechanic complimented me for that touch.2 years ago
Annie: How to make and jar raspberry and strawberry jam. In a house where PB&J is a staple, it has saved us tons and is SO good.2 years ago
La Chiquitita: My most valued how to, would probably be the medical training I’m getting right now. I’m an intern.
But my most handy, home how to, would be knowing how to change the water heater fuse. I have an older house. I’m always learning something new. But it’s nice to be able to fix this problem quickly. Nothing is worse than a cold shower in the middle of winter!2 years ago
Anjali Bidani: My most valuable skill to others is calm under pressure combined with first aid and CPR training….and in the dark to boot!…that’s what comes from working backstage as a stage manager for live theatre for 10 years.2 years ago
Michelle Morrison: I am a mad woman with a trowel…no brick I can’t lay!2 years ago
Michelle Morrison: …and I can change my own oil on my little scoot.2 years ago