New Year - New Beginnings

The sewing machines arrived as promised . . . 

. . . but only on Monday.  So hastily put them in the bags, quick test and took them to classes yesterday.

So far only one person turned up to my teens class, but I know the word will spread.

As for the adults, lots got done last night.  One lady learnt how to put in an invisible zip.  On lady brought in her finished jacket 

This is the back of the jacket

Here is the detail of the bound buttonholes and covered button.  Both techniques she hadn't done before and were perfect for the style of jacket.  Last night I got her to use the overlocker, she was terrified at first, but soon loved it.  She noticed how quick it was.

One of my novices finished a summer top.

This was her first attempt at doing gathers, and she was very pleased (as she should have been) with herself for getting them so neat.

Teaching Teenagers

Today I have taken the plunge and advertised this on Facebook . . . .

Starting Tuesday 10th January 2017, I'm going to start a new sewing class. This is because of the kind generosity of Penistone Round Table who have provided funding for 3 Sewing Machines.
The classes will be from 4pm to 6pm at St John's Community Centre in the IT Room. The cost will be £6 per evening. This will be every Tuesday during term time. Free tea, coffee, hot chocolate and biscuits will be available as well as the use of the 3 sewing machines and an overlocker.
This is ideal for beginners, improvers or anyone interested in sewing. Maybe you are doing textiles at school and are wanting to finish it at home? If you have your own machine, you are welcome to bring it along. It is recommended you bring a project along with you as I do not stock any material. I have patterns for free loan and I also have a small stock of haberdashery to buy.
As for me, I have been sewing for over 40 years, and been teaching for four. My main passion is clothing, historical costume, corsetry, lingerie, but I also do patchwork and quilting, up-cycling, free machine embroidery, toys and soft furnishings.
If you need to speak to me, either message me on here, or come and see me at the Crafty Business Makers Market on Sunday 11th December 2016 between 10pm and 4pm.
Please share this with anyone in the Pensitone area you think would be interested.
Thank you for reading and sharing.

Let's hope I get plenty of interest!

New Years Resolution

This is the time when most people have given up on their new years resolutions.  Did you make one, have you given it up already?

I haven't made a resolution this year, only to carry on as I have been doing, by sewing whenever I can.  I have made a list of things I want to make and stick to the list.  

But this was very different in 2008.

In 2008 I made a resolution not to buy anymore material and to only make things with material in my stash.  I feverishly made loads of things and didn't buy any material until September 2009!  That was a full 21 months of sticking to my resolution.  I eventually came to the conclusion that my unselfish act was very selfish indeed.  How was the economy to pick up if I and many others didn't buy anything?  Needless to say, my fabric stash is once again taking over and I am very happy!

Happy sewing everyone.

Happy New Year

Funny how people make a fuss of New Years Day, for me it is like any other (I am sat here writing this before going to work).  Many people reflect on the past year and what is to come in the next.  So for once I am going to look back over the year.

It was great.

I got my PTTLS teaching certificate, then literally walked into a teaching job.  I had an operation I was really waiting for and my health has improved.  But on the negative side, I lost two people dear to me.  My husband's mum Joan Jakins passed away suddenly in June, then my Nannan Florence White passed away peacefully.  I am missing both of them very much.

But my confidence in my sewing is reaching new heights.  Teaching people has made me realise just how much I know and how skilled I am.  I also take the greatest pleasure in seeing just the minutest achievement of my students.  But I am wanting to learn more for myself as well.

What am I looking forward to this year?  Lots and everything, as I have achieved so much in one year I will not be surprised on how much I can achieve in the next.  I am putting studies to the back burner for now and hope to take my Cert Ed in 2016, but I will be going for day classes in sewing, trousers are my nemesis.  There will be lots more teaching.  A trip to India to organise (not for sewing, but I will buy lots of material there), this is to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary and both of us reaching 50 years of age. Both of these, I think, are huge milestones.

Have I done any sewing in the last 2 weeks?  No.  But I will be getting back there in the next week.  

Thank you for reading my blog and hope to write more in the New Year.

Happy Sewing and a Happy New Year to you.