General Chat

Hi to all the sewists on here.

I have just recieved this months Popular Patchwork mag,and in it is an ad for a special purchase sewing machine by Janome for £99.

It won't do the ironing for you,but is a useful,basic machine with 14 stitches,with 4-step buttonhole,and snap on feet.

If I didn't already own two fairly new machines I would buy one myself.

Annina

I could do with some snap on feet. My corn is killing me. Have had my sewing machine in store for 9 years (long story) and hope to get it out this year. It was a modern machine when it went in but Iimagine it still sews.

That does sound like a bargain. They used to be so expensive.

The first thing I made was in school - a denim like skirt with patch pockets. I wish I had gone down that road for employment instead of boring shorthand and typing but creativity was not encouraged as way of earning a living.

Regards

Vera

What is wrong with sewists?

At school I was hopeless at sewing,it took me three years to make a pair of baby doll pj's,never did wear them.

But,by sheer neccessity,learned to make my two daughters clothes,all mine,and even learned to make tailored trousers for two sons.

Nowadays, I spend countless hours cutting up perfectly good fabric into small shapes and sewing it back together again to make patchwork quilts.

Good Afternoon Annina
Having a young family to clothe on very little money makes you become 'the mother of invention'.
I know it did for my sister and myself. Both of us self taught, we were able to make men's shirts, three piece suits, winter coats, little girls underskirts with matching knickers,and in my sisters case, some clerical robes.
Alas, sadly these days, for me, I do not seem to be able to aquire the basic materials. Ten miles from Derbys city centre, and prohibitive bus fares, precludes me from making too many trips. Equally sadly, is the demise of the outdoor markets.
When mine were babes, I often went onto Chesterfield market and got pram and cot sized pieces of blanket, and turned a quick hem to make them fit. Also, cones of knitting machine yarn.
Do you fare any better for your raw materials in Sheffield.
I too have done the patchwork thingy, doing as you do. I started, being practical to the end, and three daughters having worn a particular dress, ended up cutting it up into squares for patchwork.
I do not know which came first. The inability of people not learning to be practical and make things, also knitting and crochet, or, the ability to find sources of supply, and thus these 'arts' and crafts' do not get passed on.
If you remember me mentioning on here just after Christmas that I had bought a Dry as a Bone coat from a charity shop for £6, I wanted a largish suitable bag to go to it. I did not fancy anything in the shops, and there was very little about, especially within my price range. I had in mind something like a 'Carpetbager' type of thing, something strong and sturdy.
So, I went to Dun Elm, locally and bought a half metre of heavy weight furnishing fabric, that looked like carpet, and had the colours of the coat, half a metre of lining, and a couple of zips for the inside pockets, and I was away. I am rather proud of my achievement, and in total cost me about £20, and a fraction of the retail cost.
Happy Patchworking
Julia in Derbyshire

Ah, Julia,Chesterfield market,I bet that we two fought over the remnants there.

Do you mean the stall that sold sheet,blanket and towel fabric by weight? What I would have done without those bargains when my kids were small,I don't know.

Sadly.the market has gone by the wayside now,as has Sheffield market,I believe,from speaking friends in the know,that it is the fault of local councils charging outragious rents that has caused this.

More than anything,I miss the thursday flea market,now I have to buy my junk in charity shops,which is just not the same somehow.

Oh well,happy days,enjoy your painting,I will be watching you from my lofty view over Totley Moor.

I agree, there are just not the fabric shops around that there used to be. I used to make a lot of clothes in the past but now, by the time you have searched and found a fabric shop anywhere (and the fabric is much dearer now) and bought the paper pattern (again much more expensive than they used to be) you can often pick up a garment on the sales rail much cheaper - no wonder people don't sew as much as they used to.

Sorry Shane, silk is not used as much for parachutes these days, more like polycotton, which is available as sheeting at Dun Elm, and very wide
Good Luck with your Wedding Dresses LOL
Julia in Derbyshire

Awe shucks Shane. I'm going past Anchor Supplies tomorrow, so I'll pop in, on the off chance. And, when next in the big house with the twin towers up the A38, and I get my few hours afternoon leave, I'll call round the Cattle Market, and have a deko there for you. Lovely coffee at the Cattle Market.
Julia in Derbyshire

PS. Anchor Supplies had a surplus vertical take-off Spitfire in the other day. If it is still there, do you want me to have your name put on it.

Hi Barbara,I know what you mean,if buying fabric nowadays,I trawl through Ebay,still bargains to be found.

As for ready made being cheaper,the same goes for baking,I used to make everything from scratch,but now why bother when ie,you can buy a ready made family sized apple pie for a pound.
The ingredients and fuel to cook it cost at least three times as much.

The only time that I bother to bake is when there is stew left over and I stick it under a pastry crust,hubby loves it.