The ultimate incentive worked! Now onto phase two

Tete_en_l'Air

I agree completely Birdie. For me, I want to learn things like knitting and cooking because ours seems to be the first generation that it doesn't come naturally to - my Mam would only have been 55 now and she could cook and bake without measuring ingredients, and knit and sew and crochet effortlessly, ditto my Grandma but obviously she's from that time anyway. It concerns me a bit that these artforms (if you like) are dying out.

Thanks for the pics Zig, brill explanation. I have three in one ear, two in the other plus one in the top and my belly button. I only wear one in my ears now though, and that's if they don't itch. I've left my bellybutton in basically because I'm scared it'll look horrible if I take it out! (I do have a tattoo though, little bit of Japanese on my foot)

Dinah93

I went into town to do a MS at lunchtime, and as I was walking past the charity shop I saw a silk dress in the window which I borrowed and wore to my friends wedding last year (see facebook photos!). The same size I wore (little big but never mind!), perfect condition, £9. Have to admit I bought it, I know that that dress was £140 new, and I have a wedding to go to in 2 weeks, so I'm chuffed with my bargain!

They had a box full of sewing patterns too, 50p each, given they're usually £4-£12 each, I'm wondering if I should have got a handfull?

My mum is 49, shes a great cook, but she can't sew, knit or crochet, and has no interest in learning!

Birdie85

I think I'm going to get OH's Mum to teach me to knit and ask my Mum to teach me to sew *properly*, I can kind of muddle a running stitch but I'm fairly useless and I'm scared of sewing machines! My Mum used to make all of her own clothes and dresses for me when I was younger, I'd love to have that skill!
I think they should bring back Home Economics in school rather than separate 'technologies', I had a term of Textiles before I started GCSEs and because it wasn't my chosen subject I never went near a sewing machine again! And 'Food Tech' was a waste of time, I wanted to learn how to bake bread and cook a roast dinner, not make ice cream and mayonnaise!

Tete_en_l'Air

Ooh I love a good bargain!! I got a gorgeous black Coast dress in a charity shop a couple of years ago for £5 - always get loads of compliments when I wear but I cant resist blurting where I got it and how much it cost!

Yes you should get those patterns - what about the dressmaking course?!

Birdie85

Good bargain Dinah! I wish I had that kind of luck! You should go back for the patterns if you fancy taking sewing lessons!

Dinah93

We had home ec at school (but then this was a very old fashioned all girls school), which comprised art appreciation, sewing, cooking, and woodwork. I really loved all of it, but there just wasn't the option to take sewing, art appreciation or woodwork past age 14, and the cooking was at the same time as geography, which was my strongest subject.

That said I'm a good cook now, and I'm confident enough not to measure anything and I make up most of the recipies I cook, so I guess I didn't really need to go anymore, I just enjoyed it!

Dinah93

Tete_en_l'Air wrote: »

Yes you should get those patterns - what about the dressmaking course?!

I didn't know if it would be putting the cart before the horse when I can't even turn on my sewing machine yet! Should find out about the course in the next 3 or 4 weeks, are you still keen to come too? I really can't wait tbh, such an old fashioned hobby, but I think it must be so rewarding to make your own clothes.

Tete_en_l'Air

Birdie85 wrote: »

I think they should bring back Home Economics in school rather than separate 'technologies', I had a term of Textiles before I started GCSEs and because it wasn't my chosen subject I never went near a sewing machine again! And 'Food Tech' was a waste of time, I wanted to learn how to bake bread and cook a roast dinner, not make ice cream and mayonnaise!

Any HE I did was useless! In textiles I made a quilted placemat one term and a tie-dye drawstring bag the next! HOW it took so long to make these I do not know. All I remember making in food is Spag Bol and peppermint creams (both of which I'm good at now I suppose).

wendz86

I would love to be a housewife. I always used to copy my mum when i was little and had my own little washin machine , cooker, ironing board etc. I quite enjoy it all when I have the time to do it especially things like baking

Dinah93

I'm really looking forward to my week in July of playing wifey, planning our meals, learning to sew, keeping house and doing my painting ofc.