Sewing Inspiration

So, I grew up with stories randomly told to me by mom- after much pressing and with little detailed return- about her days of sewing. She would say she had sewn bathing suits, blouses, shirts and even a suit for a high school boyfriend. Then the tale would turn with one of her shrugs and raised eyebrows: the price of patterns and fabric became more expensive than ready made clothing. So she stopped sewing. Every time I tried to press further into the depths of her interest- why not just make some clothing every now and then? were the ready made clothing better than her personalized version, if so how? did she begin sewing just to put clothes on her back? I realized she originally had a hobby that interested her, but, due to mastering the craft of the commercial pattern and the lack of internal drive to create a challenging project, my mom's sewing interest evaporated. A few years ago when I asked for a sewing machine for my birthday my mom had to scan the instructions to thread the machine. I remember not wanting her help in any of these matters- as a character trait I like to experience all new things on my own terms- but I wonder if I just didn't want my mom's attitude to effect mine.
I have thankfully included her in my sewing interest and although she has never been one to care passionately about my hobby affairs, she will be there to help line up pattern pieces when I need the help.
I have a little mommy and me project planned for the winter break: sewing a pattern together. I hope she is up for it.

Sewing Research

What I've been doing lately is reading and researching pattern making, watching instructional videos and just generally getting a feel for sewing patterns. I made a life size copy of a sloper and am planning to devise a personalized sloper for pattern construction. I figure that because I do not have a sewing background, both in technical skill, fabric knowledge, and pattern construction, I can just start at the beginning. Because of this ignorance I could conceivably learn pattern design after constructing one commercial pattern because I have the tools available and the will to learn.
So far, my progression is working. The library has been a wonderful source for instructional books and videos and also great for the exposure I get to possibilities of creation with fabric. I have taken this instruction and inspiration to practice while continuing to find more sources. There is a life size paper sloper that I copied from a quarter size waiting to be transferred to fabric and fit to my body. Never before did I think I could make clothing until I got a textbook for the pattern maker. One day I spent hours just creating little quarter size bust slopers with different darts just to get the feel of the construction.
The gloves I have started I am still planning to finish but, through my research, I found the pattern I made had a few flaws, mainly in the thumb shape and corresponding whole. The hand sewing is a wonderful introduction to the world of sewing because it slows down and simplifies the process of securing two fabrics together. With a little variation in the back stitch stitch-length or a diagonal basting stitch the fabric reacts differently. I have just started to notice these differences, but I plan to explore them and casually rely the effects here.