My Sewing Journey

I have tried many crafts over the years but my one love has always been sewing. The inspiration behind that love comes from my dad and the fond memories I hold dear of him sewing frantically away on my nan's old singer sewing machine. Although many of the clothes he made for my sister and I were wonderful I do have one lasting memory of the lime green tapestry dungarees he made from some curtains he found at a jumble sale..needs must and all that but I think if he ever had a sewing fashion fail that was certainly it lol

It wasn't until many years later that I decided to try my hand at making clothes for my little daughter. She had started school and the summer uniform was a pretty little pink gingham dress. There was a lovely fabric stall in our local market that I had admired but never stopped at but that all changed when I saw the beautiful pink gingham fabric bellowing in the summer breeze.

Armed with a few yards I arrived excitedly at my dads to ask him to loan me his sewing machine. My nan's old singer had long gone but been replaced and that replacement was sitting in the loft gathering dust. Within minutes it was on my dad's dining table being oiled and serviced then lovingly cradled on my lap for the journey home along with various needles, threads, measuring tapes, chalk and pins

Come Monday morning, my darling little daughter skipped to school in her new dress, matching headband and ankle socks, neatly trimmed with pink gingham and lace as her very proud mum looked on. Needless to say my daughter had an endless supply of pretty dresses and a new one for every birthday party she attended until the dreaded day I realised that the days of pretty print, bows, lace and ribbons were no longer fashionable and had been replaced with tee-shirts, shorts and leggings Childrens clothes became incredibly cheap to buy and with 3 lively children to look after time was in short supply. Shop bought clothes took over and my sewing machine was neglected unless a fancy dress costume was required It was a few years later that my sewing came back into force when an old trailer tent we acquired was in need of a revamp. Curtains cushions, seat pads and beds were sewed with joy and once again my pride soured when we were finally ready for our first ever family camping holiday So as you can see I have sewn on and off over the years, mainly were needs must, but now retired, with children that have flown the nest sewing is once again in my life as my hobby With this blog I hope to share my ever evolving sewing journey and include all those that have and continue to inspire along the way Sue x