Sewing Experience, Level & Category

My blog description is "Challenges and triumphs of a beginner sewer*...". Over the last few weeks quite a few people have commented either on my blog or in person that I'm not really a beginner sewer any more. I'm not sure when this change occured, if at all, but I guess it might have been after making Tim's Albion Jacket.

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I've only been sewing for aprox 18 months and I guess if I had to describe my sewing skill (or lack there of) it would still be a beginner sewer who dabbles in intermediate and advanced patterns. I'll give anything a go and I like challenging myself but, obviously, I have  much more to learn about sewing than what I know already! And while I might have intermediate skills in one particular area or technique I haven't even learnt the names of many other important sewing techniques. So, for me, my blog description and about me section still hold true, but others might disagree.

So, how do you know what level sewer you are? Do you feel the need to label it at all? Tim says that I'm over thinking it and I shouldn't need to label my skill level at all. Perhaps he has a point? Except that sewing patterns, classes and books are often prescriptive of certain levels so you can identity whether they are appropriate for you or not. But then again I wouldn't hesitate to make patterns, take classes and read books beyond the beginner level. 

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Leimomi from The Dreamstress has a great post on this topic and came up with the following rating scale which I think is useful. It's objective and there's no terminology to either daunt you (e.g. advanced) or hide behind (e.g.beginner). On this scale I'm somewhere around a 5 and a 6. 

1: is an absolute beginners course, for someone who has never been on a sewing machine before.
2: you’ve made cushions or something similar, and know how to set zips and make buttonholes.|
3: you can follow a simple sewing pattern.
4: you’ve moved up to more complicated patterns with linings.
5: you’re ready to start making adaptions to your patterns to suit your taste and to fit you better.
6: you’ve begun to draft your own simple patterns and making up moderately difficult patterns
7: you’re beginning to play with draping, and trickier fabrics
8: you’re working your way up to difficult fabrics, evening wear, tailoring and tricky fitting issues
9: you’re making your own patterns, and working with couture techniques.
10: is for someone with experience in pattern making, couture sewing, and advanced fitting.
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Finally, I know lots of seamstresses have a problem with the word sewer and it's association with plumbing. I admit it's not ideal. But as a beginner sewer I never felt that I could call myself a seamstress. To me, that feels like a word reserved for people who know what they're doing, perhaps have formal training, and maybe even make an income from their skill. Thus, I will continue to be a sewer for the time being. 

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I'd love to know if others feel similarly about rating their skill level or perhaps you don't bother?