last year i had the privilege of taking part in some sewing lessons care of a friend’s mum, wendy, for the final quarter. i have always loved sewing. when i was little i made clothes for my teddy’s and dolls and as i got older i made clothes for myself and friends. but this was all without a single sewing lesson ! i should have taken the subject textiles at school, but i preferred drawing and painting so decided to take art instead (a decision i don’t regret!). as a result, my sewing skills have been VERY basic for too long. my MIL is extremely generous and gave me an overlocker a few years ago when joey was born because my sewing itch returned. it has been so good and i have made loads of things, like baby carriers, santa sacks, skirts etc.
i purchased some material off etsy a few years back in the hope that one day i would have a daughter … and i did ! so when i had the opportunity to take lessons from wendy i took them !! I decided on a vintage pattern of overalls that i found in Enid Gilchrist’s ‘Sewing is Simple’ – a book that my MIL handed down to me. i thought the fabric would look really sweet in overalls – a bit girly, but also a bit tomboy. little miss v is a hugely active little girl (she especially loves playing soccer) and since she will be the only girl in a family of brothers i think it is very fitting !
since the pattern was a small diagram in a vintage book, i learned how to make patterns. it was really hard, and at the same time, really satisfying. one really must be a perfectionist for pattern making (that’s you wendy!!). once the pattern was drawn, the material cut, i then started sewing under careful guidance. i am so pleased with the final product ! little miss v loves wearing her new outfit … i really must get some good wear out of it before she grows too much.
i have the opportunity to do some more sewing with wendy this year and i am just SO pumped about it. i love that it is a creative outlet, that i can make something for someone special, and that i am learning a new skill to perfection. if i choose another vintage pattern i will have the confidence to put a modern twist to it. there are some really gorgeous vintage patterns out there, but after the overall project, i can see how a modern twist would really have given it a bit of zing !
what have you been creating lately?
xx
i hope i’ll get into the groove of three kids, three & under, soon enough so that i don’t miss out on capturing any moment. these three are too precious & they are growing too fast. sometimes i wish i could just stop the clock for a few days to enjoy the chubby legs, chubby cheeks, the toddler talking, the cuddles, the quirky looks. life moves too fast. a friend of mine posted this comment on fb this morning:
