PLAY DAY

At long last I managed to find the time to properly try out the sewing machine I treated myself to over a month ago. My old one, a vintage beauty of no real value except the sentimental sort somehow got left behind during the move last August, it had belonged to my Great Aunt Anne who was also my God Mother and was almost hundred years old. I was very grieved to lose it.

I was able to maintain the machine myself and had kept it running for years on a few drops of oil now and then and the odd pack of needles. I weighted about half a ton and was virtually indestructible, although I was beginning to find it awkward to use as my infirmities increased. Still I would never have parted with it voluntarily and I miss the familiar clanking and rattling when I sew.

My new machine is however quite wonderful. Although by no means an expensive model it is one of the best machines on the market at any price....I know... I used to sell them. With my intimate knowledge of the various makes and types of machine I was able to purchase one exactly suited to my current needs. Automatic needle threader (my eyes sight is poor) front loading shuttle and integrated thread cutter ( my arthritis makes using scissors painful and top loading shuttles are notoriously fiddly, even when one has the full use of ones hands!

It has a wide variety of stitches. A one step button hole foot , a quilting foot amongst other useful gadgets, it is also much lighter than my old machine without being flimsy and comes with its own case. So often these days the manufacturers expect the customer to pay extra for the cover and accessories.

My first project was to remodel a onesie with a damaged zip. By cutting off the legs and removing the zip I was able to sew up the front to make a cosy tunic, one of the legs I made in to a cowl collar and the other I turned I to a matching hat complete with red bobble! I already have red fleece gloves and a red woolly scarf so my new outfit is complete.

I tried it on with black leggings and black suede boots and it looked great, unfortunately there was no one around to take a picture so you will have to wait for a fashion show!

The boys were very impressed and so was I as the cost of purchasing such an unusual outfit would have been about half of the cost of the new sewing machine.

I am use to remodelling clothes as I used to design and make costumes for the theatre and frequently had to use existing garments in the interest of saving money , over the years this skill has been very useful and has meant that I was always well dressed even when money was not very plentiful.

Another great thing about making your own togs is that you will never see anyone else wearing the same garment, especially if you do as I do and make your own patterns.

Some years ago I attended a party at which four women arrived wearing identical dresses purchased at a well known fashion store. They spent the entire evening attempting to avoid each other and caused much amusement in doing so.

I had been a little nervous about my own home made dress as it was a rather swish occasion but all was well and I had a lovely evening and many compliments on my creation.

Mind you things do not always work out so well. I once made a pair of trousers for a holiday and only finished them after midnight on the day before our departure. I packed them carefully and on our arrival put them straight in to a drawer. I t was several days later when ,on attempting to out them on I realised that I had sewn the bottom of the legs together. How the boys did laugh as I spent the next hour unpicking the stitching and turning up the hems by hand!!

The overnight snow has melted but if the forecast is correct there is more to come later in the week, accompanied by, can you guess? Another blasted gale!!!! Good night folks.