In the time before you can get anything you need (or want) from the local mall or on the internet, people had to make their own clothing. The skills needed to sew, knit, crochet, and quilt were passed from mother to daughter beginning at a young age.

"Laura was crocheting a nubia (head scarf for women) of soft white wool, for Mary's Christmas present in college, and Mary Power was knitting a silk necktie for her father's Christmas. Ma rocked and knitted, or sometimes read interesting bits to them from her church paper, The Advance. Grace played about, and Carrie sewed a nine-patch quilt block."
from Little Town on the Prairie

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"In the sunshine from the western windows Mary rocked gently, and Laura's steel knitting needles flashed. Laura was knitting lace, of fine white thread, to trim a petticoat. She sat close to the window and watched the street, for she was expecting Mary Power and Minnie Johnson. They were coming to spend the afternoon, bringing their crocheting."
-from The Long Winter

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