"Happiness in Stitching" could be my mother's motto.
For her to go into a fabric shop was like going into a jeweller's. If she sat down, she was rarely without a needle in her hand. She was a creator in patchwork, crochet, collage, knitting, embroidery, smocking, dolls and dresses, with dabbles into millinery, lampshade making and china painting.
My mother Kathleen (Kay) Weston, nee Danson was born in 1908 in the small town of Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancashire. Her older sister Edith was equally talented and from their photographs they clearly enjoyed fashion.
At the age of 14 Mum was apprenticed to be a tailoress and was still making her own clothes in her 80's - though on a much more sophisticated machine than the old treadle she began on.
Mum set up her own dress-making business from home and continued this throughout her life. In the 1950's this meant working in the spare bedroom which was icy cold in winter and hot and stuffy in summer. I remember one time when my little brother - a typical boy into everything - got hold of her oiling can, filled it with water and proceeded to "oil" the sewing machine!. He was not very popular!
I benefited from cutting up old Butterick and Simplicity pattern books and creating characters and "schools" from the fashion figures.
An Upside-down Cinderella Doll
And of course Mum made my wedding dress -
here arriving at the church with my father.
I don't have Mum's skill, but I have inherited her love of handicrafts and she left me with tangible memories
of a very talented lady.
Copyright © 2013 · Susan Donaldson. All Rights Reserved
Your Mum was really talented and a true craftswoman, who liked more than one craft. She reminds me of my own Mum a lot. Did you inherit her love of sewing? I don't know if you've seen my crafty blog (accessible from my main one) but there are some vintage stories on there that you might enjoy.
ReplyDeleteGreat, Sue. Thanks for messaging me to read this.
ReplyDeleteI have sent the link to Dad so he can show Mum. Similar background and skills to my Mum - you have inspired me to talk to her about it more. So much of our talk has been of her parents and grandparents, not of mum - I must correct that soon.
I (and my brothers) can sew and do many other crafts, but not to the level of my Mum's skills.
Mum loved reading your blog - even scrolled down the screen herself (she hates computers and thinks the mouse might bite her!). She couldn't believe she was reading something from the other side of the world. I'll convert her yet!
ReplyDeleteReminds me of my mum she was always sewing ... Never had a needle out of her hand. She even made or swimwear from towelling !!!!
ReplyDeleteJackie
I love it! I especially love your wedding dress. I come from a family of handicrafters, and though I don't have their skills I try to keep at it. Maybe someday. ;)
ReplyDeleteYour Mom certainly looked like she was a happy woman who enjoyed creating with needle and thread! You and your brother were lucky recipients of that talent :)
ReplyDeleteJust beautiful. My mother was a great seamstress too and like you I received the most beautiful handcrafted toys from her at Christmas. I can't bear to throw some of them out. I even have her old sewing machine which weighs a ton and I really should pass it on to someone who might actually use it but I am having difficulty letting go of it. Silly I know.
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