and still back in the olden days

Before my mum moved into the bay window between her overlocker and elasticator I remember that she worked in a lean to type building. It was in this space that I sewed baby doll nighties and negligees to make extra money to pay to visit my sister who was newly wed and living in Hong Kong - 1982 I think!



With young children and limited finances their early years they would wear home sewn and hand knitted clothes as much of my spare time was spent making. As they grew older and I worked I reduced the sewing and knitting until I did no more :(

Many years later with 3 grown up sons is it any wonder that I was seeking a fulfilling past time and hobby to fulfill my buried but not forgotten creativity? So what did I do but purchase a Brother sewing machine and start to sew all over again.

There is nothing quite as addicitive as turning an idea and a picture in your head into a real product and the thrill of giving as a gift or selling for real money is fabulous!

I have scanned some old pictures - my mum sat at her industrial empire in the lean to type building and 2 of my sons proudly showing off their home made boxer shorts with santa's on and their handknitted and designed sweaters!

Do leave me comments about how fantastic they look - they will be thrilled!

I grew up at home in a family where the hosiery trade and sewing were very important. My mum is a seamstress and worked in many local factories when there was a lot of manufacturing taking place in the Nottingham area. Eventually she took work in at home and our front room became her work room with the bay window housing her industrial overlock machine and elasticator machine with a swivel chair between the two.
I would often help with the work and this included helping lay and cut out the fabrics. Eventually mum started to work for herself and she designed and made ladies knickers - from little silky tanga's to large full briefs in cotton.
Dad always the inventor and handy man would devise ways to make sure the trimmings from the overlocker would travel down a tunnel into a box or bin without making too much mess. He would also double as the mechanic and was able to fix many issues with the machinery.
I remember we had a use for the scraps and trimmings. In the 1980's mum and I designed and made Turtle/Tortoise poufes made from fur fabrics and you guessed it - stuffed with all the scraps. We even managed to use the cardboard inners from the rolls of fabric cut down to make the little sturdy legs - covered of course with the fur. I have seen something similar recently in a craft magazine and that would create another whole blog about the debate of originality and ones own idea's!