Sum of their Stories

My Mum was brave enough to let me use her sewing machine from a very early age. She made a lot of clothes, as did both my Grandma's. I was already doing all sorts of embroidery, needlepoint and hand sewing from kits and from books (long before the internet!) I was never short of people to help me out when I got in a pickle.

I remember making an apron from flowery green fabric (with a pocket - ooo fancy) when I was about 8. I made my first proper garment when I was 12. It was a peach coloured shirt with set in sleeves, a collar and covered button holes. Talk about making it difficult for myself! I had a fearless "what is the worst that can happen" attitude back then!
At school about the same time, I did Needlework and made a skirt and waistcoat from dark green needlecord. I added embroidery anglaise on the bottom of the skirt and thought I looked like something from a Laura Ashley catalogue! It was the 1980's, enough said.

Most of my inspiration comes from the internet these days and the host of talented sewing bloggers out there. In the UK we have a fabulous TV programme "The Great British Sewing Bee" which has really got people sewing again.

My sewing machine lives behind the sofa, and my fabric stash in a box on the top of the wardrobe (with more fabric in a suitcase in the loft!) I have inherited a beautiful sewing box from my Mum which is in the corner of the living room.
When I sew it's at the dinning room table and we eat off trays till I'm finished!

Normally the kids have something on the TV and get annoyed when I stitch long seams and they can't hear!

I love all crafts, especially crochet, knitting and papercrafts.

So many people say "I wish I could sew". Honestly, it's not hard. It's hard to be really good but you don't have to be really good to have fun making things. There is nothing quite like the feeling of wearing something you made yourself.