Aw, that was a wonderful read through the history of your sewing, Annie! Thanks so much for sharing pictures of some of your garment (wow, that wedding outfit is spectacular!), and your machines. I don't sew myself, but I know enough to know what to look for when I shop secondhand, and can always spot a well-made hand-sewn garment. They're treasures! Thank you!
Oh I can understand so well the love of clothes you have made and the machines you made them with! I have a history of my own, though not as prolific as yours. My mother and grandmother sewed too. And I still remember the fabrics and the stories that went with them. thank you for this lovely tale! (I no longer have my old clothes as I have moved across countries too often.)
A beautiful piece. I wasn't a great sewer at school, and the needlework teacher was more interested in those that would get A grade at O-Level rather than those of us that needed help. My choir mistress and her daughter helped me, and I became more interested in sewing because of them. Adult Ed in the 80s was a great help, too. I wouldn't claim to have reached your standards, but I've made a fair few things.
Well first of all compliment to the work and the saga of experienced to the journey of what you believe in.
I just couldn’t get the comment of ADHD although it seems it’s praising to all your accomplishments.
I still believe all the living human being has art in their DNA hence it’s expressed in a different form sewing, cooking, painting etc. you need to believe and enhance it. The word psychedelic is an expression of art in its different form. How we expressed it, personally I think it’s the unique beauty of it. The excitement to start and finish a project, the pain that sometimes accompanied with tears and laughter, also who is with you in your journey who believes in you that give you that encouragement.
Now that I’m in my 60 my multiple journey in the world of art is wide diverse where I landed, but I always say “ don’t ask me how ? And to do it again bec it’s only one off and cannot do the same way.”I believe it’s the fantasy not knowing where to go but you get there in the end.
Reading through how your sewing machine evolve gives an understanding the changing fashion but the unique part of it, even you have pattern I guess how it was done in the past.
Admit it our generation is so diverse and it’s excitingly unique, with tears and laughter.
Oh, I so loved that story. I'm also a long term sewing machine user though I've never made an wearable clothes. My first sewing machine came from my mother - she bought a cheap Jones when I was a teenager but she never used it and in the end I adopted it and learnt to use it. Now I have a brand new fancy machine that I bought for my house in France, though so far it's still in its box, waiting for a workroom to materialise.
I also loved your story of school and not being allowed to do needlework. I wasn't allowed to do art at my grammar school, they made me do woodwork and then engineering drawing. I ended up at art college years later all the same despite never having had an art lesson in my life.
Most of all your story sounds like a classic ADHD life, that mix of creativity and impulsivity and intelligence, that mix of different passions. Good work and lovely writing, thanks.
Fascinating- I did Needlework O level and A level in the 1970s and still have the Elna Lotus I was given as an 18th birthday present and was using it regularly until about 2020 when I discovered someone local selling a brand new Pfaff Expression 710 for considerably less than its shop price. I snapped it up as it was a machine well outside my budget. It’s a huge upgrade from the little Elna which only ever did 3 stitches!
Aw, that was a wonderful read through the history of your sewing, Annie! Thanks so much for sharing pictures of some of your garment (wow, that wedding outfit is spectacular!), and your machines. I don't sew myself, but I know enough to know what to look for when I shop secondhand, and can always spot a well-made hand-sewn garment. They're treasures! Thank you!
What a wonderful memoir! I used to make all my clothes, long, long ago. So fun for me to read your tale. Thank you for sharing, Anne.
Oh I can understand so well the love of clothes you have made and the machines you made them with! I have a history of my own, though not as prolific as yours. My mother and grandmother sewed too. And I still remember the fabrics and the stories that went with them. thank you for this lovely tale! (I no longer have my old clothes as I have moved across countries too often.)
oh yes!!!
so lovely to read this chronicle as a beloved heart friend that recognises many of those references xxx
A beautiful piece. I wasn't a great sewer at school, and the needlework teacher was more interested in those that would get A grade at O-Level rather than those of us that needed help. My choir mistress and her daughter helped me, and I became more interested in sewing because of them. Adult Ed in the 80s was a great help, too. I wouldn't claim to have reached your standards, but I've made a fair few things.
Well first of all compliment to the work and the saga of experienced to the journey of what you believe in.
I just couldn’t get the comment of ADHD although it seems it’s praising to all your accomplishments.
I still believe all the living human being has art in their DNA hence it’s expressed in a different form sewing, cooking, painting etc. you need to believe and enhance it. The word psychedelic is an expression of art in its different form. How we expressed it, personally I think it’s the unique beauty of it. The excitement to start and finish a project, the pain that sometimes accompanied with tears and laughter, also who is with you in your journey who believes in you that give you that encouragement.
Now that I’m in my 60 my multiple journey in the world of art is wide diverse where I landed, but I always say “ don’t ask me how ? And to do it again bec it’s only one off and cannot do the same way.”I believe it’s the fantasy not knowing where to go but you get there in the end.
Reading through how your sewing machine evolve gives an understanding the changing fashion but the unique part of it, even you have pattern I guess how it was done in the past.
Admit it our generation is so diverse and it’s excitingly unique, with tears and laughter.
Oh, I so loved that story. I'm also a long term sewing machine user though I've never made an wearable clothes. My first sewing machine came from my mother - she bought a cheap Jones when I was a teenager but she never used it and in the end I adopted it and learnt to use it. Now I have a brand new fancy machine that I bought for my house in France, though so far it's still in its box, waiting for a workroom to materialise.
I also loved your story of school and not being allowed to do needlework. I wasn't allowed to do art at my grammar school, they made me do woodwork and then engineering drawing. I ended up at art college years later all the same despite never having had an art lesson in my life.
Most of all your story sounds like a classic ADHD life, that mix of creativity and impulsivity and intelligence, that mix of different passions. Good work and lovely writing, thanks.
What a lovely read! Thank you.
Fascinating- I did Needlework O level and A level in the 1970s and still have the Elna Lotus I was given as an 18th birthday present and was using it regularly until about 2020 when I discovered someone local selling a brand new Pfaff Expression 710 for considerably less than its shop price. I snapped it up as it was a machine well outside my budget. It’s a huge upgrade from the little Elna which only ever did 3 stitches!