The sewing thread

silvasava

Mademoiselle - totally agree, if your going to to fork out for a machine get the best you can! They last a long time when looked after So far I've made new cushion covers, new Dodgers , new main sail cover and a sheet bag for my little boat - over about the last 4 years though

Mademoiselle

New Janome bought. I'm so excited and eager to get started. Not sewn for years and years and wasn't great then so got lots to learn

silvasava

Excellent!! I bet you're really excited! Just take it slowly and keep it simple to start with so you get to know your machine and how it handles.
I hav'n't done any sewing since I did my boat stuff as we've been having alterations done to the house but when it's complete my machine will be out again!

PollyWollyDoodle

Ooh have fun with it! I haven't had my machine out since just before Christmas (the ill-fated blue stretch velvet) but am itching to get going, especially watching the Sewing Bee.



I mentioned to a friend that I couldn't think of anything to give up for Lent, I have been eating very carefully for some months to try and lose weight and so crisps, cake, biscuits, chocolate etc don't feature in my diet except very occasionally. She suggested I do something for myself, like 20 minutes sewing a day - now, I know that's not quite the intention of Lent, but it's made me think. Maybe I could make some things to give away, although I think an hour every three days will be more practical than trying to get something done in 20 minutes. I have far too much fabric, and lots of spare zips, some little zippy bags might be made.

silvasava

What a fab idea Polly - give up some of that fabric stash - maybe instead of free a small donation to a favourite charity??

Laura_Elsewhere

PollyWollyDoodle wrote: »

She suggested I do something for myself, like 20 minutes sewing a day - now, I know that's not quite the intention of Lent, but it's made me think. Maybe I could make some things to give away, although I think an hour every three days will be more practical than trying to get something done in 20 minutes. I have far too much fabric, and lots of spare zips, some little zippy bags might be made.

Acc'g various theology friends, Lent never was about giving things up - it's actually about questioning your behaviour and your habits and asking whether there are ways in which you can b a better person. That has got translated in modern culture into giving things up for Lent (which is of course one way of questioning your habits and being better by being healthier or fitter or establishing better self-discipline).

So you would be far more in keeping with the original meaning of Lent, as my friends explain it, with your idea of spending time making things for other people, using your skills to make other people happy or to help those in need, and maybe while you're doing it, thinking actively (mindfully, in modern parlance!) about the huge concepts like charity, which word originally meant 'caring' crossed with 'giving' as in the "don't give a damn" sense of 'don't care'... so charity meant caring, it meant giving a thought, giving time, it meant giving a damn, bothering about others...

So it's an ACE idea!

Laura_Elsewhere

silvasava wrote: »

What a fab idea Polly - give up some of that fabric stash - maybe instead of free a small donation to a favourite charity??

Or pop some travel-size toiletries in, next time you see a special offer or suchlike, and donate to a refuge or food-bank? People donate the practical stuff but it must be nice for people living in crisis to have pretty nice things too!

PollyWollyDoodle

Thank you Laura and SilvaSava - I hadn't really considered the whole concept of Lent, it's become a bit of a staple that everyone I know will be saying they've given up chocolate although to the best of my knowledge very few of them make any charitable donation as a result! As a committed Archers listener, I know that the Ambridge Lent Appeal is often something other than self-denial - this year, they are doing a 'pay for a favour' event! :rotfl:



I like the idea of little bags with toiletries or similar in - or even just kids' pencil cases. It would be something useful to make and I really, really need to decrease the stash - especially the drawer full of 'pieces to small to make anything large with'! And you are right, it is an opportunity to think about the bigger issues.

purpleivy

PollyWollyDoodle wrote: »

Thank you Laura and SilvaSava - I hadn't really considered the whole concept of Lent, it's become a bit of a staple that everyone I know will be saying they've given up chocolate although to the best of my knowledge very few of them make any charitable donation as a result! As a committed Archers listener, I know that the Ambridge Lent Appeal is often something other than self-denial - this year, they are doing a 'pay for a favour' event! :rotfl:
.

I think that little bags with toiletries in is a lovely idea, maybe a pack of tissues in as well. Our choir is supporting a local homeless charity this year and I think I might do this.
An aside....'Mia Grundy' is a friend of my kids. She came for the weekend recently. Seems very excited about being taken on for the part!

PollyWollyDoodle

Ooh, claim to fame, Purpleivy. I think it must be brilliant for an actor to get a part in The Archers - with luck and good behaviour it's a job for life, and lots of them go off and do other stuff in between.

Just caught up with this week's sewing bee. Swimsuits - yikes :eek: I can't imagine ever sewing one of those. I haven't even mastered knickers yet!