CornerShot

My grandpa's hobby was cabinetmaking.

Because I was a girl, it never occurred to us to teach me the craft, but I learned enough from playing in his workshop to be able to knock together crude tables, stools or bookshelves from scrap lumber.

My grandma's hobby was sewing, and she taught me how to make simple clothing and do alterations.

Carpentry and sewing have several things in common. "Measure twice, cut once" applies to both - as I learned the hard way. It's also rewarding to see something useful emerge from a pile of wood or a few yards of fabric.

In other ways, they're different. Using more nails won't make your bookshelf sturdier, but more stitches will ensure that your skirt doesn't fall apart the first time you wear it.

Sewing is also more forgiving. When the fourth leg of your table is shorter than the others, there's not much you can do. But you can always rip out a seam and start over.

My grandparents made their hobbies work together - she would sew cushions for his chairs.

I do the same thing. My furniture is so awful, that when a piece is done, I'm glad I can whip something up to cover it with.

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