I love watching the Great British Sewing Bee.
I've made so many things over the years as I made most of my own clothes when I was a teenager. Some I even designed myself, I'd see an outfit and could copy it.
As I'm so short I find it difficult to find clothes to fit so it can be easier to make something from scratch than to alter something to fit.
I made a man's corduroy jacket for a flatmate as a birthday present and a pale blue suit for a boyfriend.
I made Oxford bags, kaftans from curtain material, fancy dress outfits and soft furnishings.
I recovered my first three piece suite in denim, made duvet covers, quilts, cot bumpers, appliance covers and curtains.
I made children's dungarees from ladies trousers, shorts and tee shirts from remnants and party dresses for my daughters.
My children used to sit on the floor and work the foot pedal for the sewing machine as I would call out "Stop or Go"
I made both my wedding dresses, the first one a sort of Laura Ashley style, the second one a Vogue pattern in red lace.
Scrimping and saving, ranting and raving. Past retirement age.
13 comments:
Loved hearing about your sewing projects over the years, I am going to tackle clothing again as soon as we are liberated from staying at home. I used to make them but quit when I couldn't find clothing fabric nearby. It is still not nearby but I have leads on stores in the nearest city four hours one way so am heading there. I love the British Sewing Bee though we are at least a season behind you here in Canada. Everyone around here who sews is a quilter and I don't get much pleasure from that. I did make and donate almost 200 face masks and enjoyed that project. I will likely have to do it again. Thanks again for your blog. I enjoy it and send you cyber hugs for each one. Marjorie
I love Sewing Bee too and have just watched it tonight. My only criticism is I think they should have a little longer - it is all so rushed. This is especially so in the Transformation (which I also think is probably the hardest -after all they practise the last challenge at home)
No end to your talents!x
I don't watch the Sewing Bee as I'm not a sewer now, although I have made quite a few things in the past, including a lined curtain for the front door. Looking back and thinking about it now, I wonder how I coped with the things I made as I only had an old machine which belonged to my husband's grandmother and the thread kept snagging. Determination, I expect, lol.
Kaftans are so comfortable! I had two that my husband brought me back from Saudi Arabia when he worked there. I wore them a lot at home as I wasn't brave enough to wear them out. They were amazingly cool in the summer so I'm not surprised they are worn a lot in the Middle East.
I too love the Sewing Bee. I really want to get back into sewing once I can various bits and pieces once more shops are open.
I don't think we get the Sewing Bee here on the Pacific Northwest Coast USA but I am intriguedby the idea of a red Wedding dress!
Please do post a photo!
I enjoy the sewing bee too, nice to read about your past accomplishments. What a talent you must have to be able to sew your own wedding dress.
I am just like you, all my life I have made things, my mum taught me, I won prizes at school for sewing (I can't cook very well), I have never is my life not had a sewing machine. I too love the sewing bee, and most of the things they make I could make, but why do it under pressure of time, having to rush takes all the joy out of sewing. BUT still I will watch every episode.
Would love to be a sewer, but I don't have the patience for it. I'm far better with paper and card! I admire people who do do it though, love watching the great british sewing bee, and even more, I love watching those who do historical costume recreations on youtube, some of them accurately (i.e. hand sewn or with a machine of the period). It's fascinating and so relaxing! Like JanF, am intriuged by mention of the red lace wedding dress - pic? pretty please? with hand-sewn rouladed ribbon bows on? ;)
I love the Sewing Bee, but really regret letting bear or DH ever see it. I really envy your sewing skills and wish I could be as talented. Still scared of my sewing machine lol.
I too used to sew just about anything...I would make my own patterns out of our then huge North Devon Journal...lined skirt suits for work....matching dresses for me and my eldest daughter...maternity clothing...now it's more curtains and bags...still...maybe I should do more! x
The Laura Ashley type wedding dress would be fun to see too!
I used to sew a lot in my teens and twenties, even made myself a a tailored trouser suit once!
When DS was born, sewing slipped by the wayside, working full time in a demanding career, keeping a home running, although I had help from DH, he worked shifts, so a lot of things were done by me alone! I didn't have the time, or energy to sew as well! Maybe if I'd had a girl rather than a boy, I would have carried on, let's face it, little dresses are a lot easier to make than little trousers!
Two years ago I decided to try again, so, having given my sewing machine away years ago, I bought a new all singing all dancing one, patterns, fabrics, trimmings etc, got everything ready, and found my confidence had vanished! I actually shake when I'm pinning pattern pieces on, cutting out is a nightmare, and actually sewing is terrifying! It didn't help matters when the first thing I made made me look as though I was wearing a marquee! I'm a bonnie lass, but not as bonnie as that dress made me look!!!
I wish I could find a way to get that confidence back, butI just feel as though I've lost all my previous ability. I know the way to get better is to practice, but even that's difficult now as we recently downsized, and I can no longer have a dedicated sewing room.
I wish we lived closer Sue, you could be my sewing teacher, tuition for me, extra cash and an occasional escape from Steve for you, or it would be if this virus would bugger off, and we didn't live north west/south east of the country!
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