Tuesday 20 September 2011

Make Do And Mend

I have to admit that I'm useless at sewing. It's something that never interested me at school so I dropped textiles as soon as I got the chance, though it's something which I now regret. I've always sent Daniel and Eleanor's school uniform to my mum for name tapes sewing in, and even sewing on a button brings me out in a cold sweat.

I was determined that Eleanor wouldn't be the same, so as soon as she started showing any interest in sewing I encouraged it. She's just started her GCSE subjects at school and textiles is one of them. A couple of Christmases ago,  we bought her a sewing machine along with a well stocked sewing box.


When she came home from school last week with an unravelling strap on a top she wears underneath her shirt, she knew better than to ask me to sew it. Instead, out came the sewing box and she got to work on it herself.


It wasn't long before it was as good as new.


I realise now how important it is to have these skills and wish that I'd had more of an interest at school. It's funny how much we change as we get older.


13 comments:

  1. That is fantastic, I bet she was really chuffed with herself. Love her little sewing box too - really cute.

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  2. Good for Eleanor! Ironically despite my interest in sewing I've barely sewn a hem or button on my clothing!!

    Victoria xx

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  3. Well done Eleanor!
    Its so nice that she has her own well equipped sewing box, that must have encouraged her, and now she has managed to fix her top there'll be no stopping her!
    Hope she enjoys her Textiles course.
    Even though I have always loved sewing and embroidery ever since I was young, I hate sewing on buttons, tapes, and doing hems - you are not alone Jo!
    Thanks for your kind comments on my latest sewing project, its good to know you like them.
    Gill xx

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  4. How gorgeous. Impended a cardi seam yesterday, the art of holding something and sewing looked beautiful, amazing when it's as good as new. I may borrow you sewing box idea for my own daughter. She has taken 'craft and design' at school as a 'relax and ejoy' subject in her killer heavy loaded other subject timetable. I'm amazed at how much she's enjoying it and learning to work with wood/metal etc. Good for you for your nuturing and encouragement.

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  5. I mended, that first bit should have said......sorry!

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  6. It's brilliant that Eleanor has fixed her own top. I wouldn't have known where to begin at her age. And it's never too late for you to learn Jo! :)

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  7. Yay! Well done her. Lovin her sewing box. Very neat! x

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  8. Well ddone that girl. Those skills are never forgotten once learnt.
    Lisa x

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  9. Good job Eleanor! My daughter Mikayla is doing GCSE courses now and is ALSO doing textiles! We are going to go to the knitting and stitching show in Harrogate. Can't wait! I could do with cleaning out my sewing box and adding a few bits, it seems when ever someone needs a button,or something just sewn on the right thread and needles have done a walk about.

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  10. Thank you for your comments, everyone.

    Rachel M - I must learn. I keep saying that I'll borrow Eleanor's machine and have a go, but it's very scary. I see all the wonderful projects on people's blogs and it does encourage me though.

    Gail - I might go to the knitting and stitching show in Harrogate too. I wanted to go last year but something came up.

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  11. I had to do the school nametapes, with no grannies around, but it was a struggle. We had one au pair who could sew and knit beautifully, and I wish I'd learned from her. At school I hated the one year of compulsory sewing and knitting, and dropped it to take Latin, but I could use these skills now. Your daughter is lucky to be learning something useful!

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  12. Eleanor is loving her textiles course, Linda. I would choose totally different things for my options now than those I did when I was at school.

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