Prepping: the new world...

maryb

Local authority evening classes - round here there are plenty that start with the absolute basics like a cushion cover.  Or if you have a sewing machine shop near you that would be a good place to ask.  Back in the day you could have found someone in the Womens' Institute but they seem to focus on fancier crafts in my area

slm6002

Maybe ask at a local care home if there are any residents that still sew and would like a  few hours company while they teach you some sewing skills

daz378

Thanks for the new thread...posted a  " where is everyone" on the other prepping group...thought everyone had gone all  op sec....starting to build up my prepps again...got really low on tins of tomatoes  so versatile...but building up again...bought one of them chunky power banks  around 100 pound...hopefully only 3 or 4 years full time work left...DB post 60 pension...so will continue to build supplies...take care

elsien

slm6002 said:

Maybe ask at a local care home if there are any residents that still sew and would like a  few hours company while they teach you some sewing skills

Probably have to jump through various hoops around DBS etc nowadays to be able to do anything like that. 

London_1

Hi chums well I have tried, but never got the hang of using a sewing machine . I  learned to hand sew via my late Mum as she had left her sewing machine in Glasgow when she moved down to London in 1939 with my Father. Being a canny lady the idea of humping a Singer treadle sewing machine on a train was a bit too much, even for her, and she said the cost of buying one ,thats if you could even find one during the war was far too much.

So we sat and knitted and sewed by hand and I have always done so since .As a little girl when we were 'turning sheets ' (sides to middle) she would pin and tack into place and I would be at one end and she would be at the other and sitting in front of the kitchen range sewing towards each other is a lovely memory I have of my tiny Mum bless her.

I've never been able to use a thimble either but I can knit almost anything .We both used to knit all the time for my brothers, Father and ourselves  (I had left over wool for my dolly's clothes  )

I now knit for my 2 great granddaughters, and they appreciate  Granny's stuff. When my grandchildren were growing up I knitted for them as well. I enjoy knitting and seeing things take shape

 I'm in the middle of making a single  size Unicorn blanket for Ida, my three year old granddaughter as I have already made one for the new little great granddaughter due in the USA on 4th July. My eldest DD will take it over with her when she goes to see her first grandchild in August. She will be born in New York and their winters can be a lot harder than ours.

Its a bit of a labour of love as it consists of 342 rows of 175 stitches and each row is different.I worked it out its around 67k stitches per blanket and when I have finished this one I have one more to make.They take around 7 weeks to make. They will be part of their Christmas presents along with some books and a toy or two.
When the little girls saw me making one for the forthcoming baby they said "Oh please can we have one as well Granny" so I said OK but probably Santa will be delivering it  

I loathed making my two brothers socks when I was young ,not so much the making, but the fact they were such a drab grey all the time I like to knit with bright colours if I can

 I also knit for a children's charity and the local hospital for little premature baby hats. 

But if you can't knit or sew and want to learn I would definitely suggest asking at a local care home as lots of ladies would like to pass their skills on I'm sure and there is nothing nicer than having a knit and natter.

Our local library do something like that once a fortnight and its surprising how much people enjoy a morning and everyone is pleased to help a newbie out.

Strangely although I had two daughters neither of them can sew or knit, and were never bothered about learning.My eldest DD is extremely left handed so I would have found it hard to teach her anyway.

But if you play to your strengths then doing what you enjoy isn't a trial. I like cooking and baking as well but not everyone does my son-in-law is a far better cook than my eldest DD, as she hates cooking but her OH loves it and can make the most amazing food, (just as well really )  

One of my grandsons came this morning and earthed up the potatoes and made a jolly good job of it as well.He's never done gardening in his life before, but both him and one of his brothers have become really interested in growing their own and my garden is for them to experiment in. We now have around 16 healthy potato plants growing and around a dozen red onions sprouting up in an old butler sink down the garden that was full of weeds  

JackieO xx

MrsCD

Nice to see some familiar names again!
I would definitely go down the coffee morning route to learn how to sew, knit, crochet etc. There's usually someone who can show you the basics at least. Then there's the library... they should know about beginner courses. Local community centres often have groups where someone would help out too.
How about asking your neighbours?

weenancyinAmerica

Our library has sewing classes now. Our Friends group helped buy the sewing machines. And one of our branch libraries is putting in what the call a "maker's Center" with 3-D printers, machines for scanning your photos to a CD - and a sewing center!
We are working on getting more items for them. They are currently holding monthly sewing classes among other craft classes.

euronorris

@Karmacat I hope your instructor will be lovely. I learnt to drive with a male instructor through the AA 16 years ago and he was lovely! An excellent instructor, and so good with nervous learners. I'm sure yours will be fab!

Oh gosh! The chat has turned to repairs and sewing. I LOVE sewing! And watching the Sewing Bee. Anyone else watching that at moment? 

Anyway, YouTube, as always, is full of soooo many tutorials from the most basic of replacing a button, to sewing your own dress or a backpack (for example). I've learnt everything from online blogs and videos. Starting with something small, and/or basic, really helps to build your confidence. And it is one of those things that, the more you do it, the quicker you become at it.

I've had to write myself a list of projects to do though, as I kept having ideas of things I wanted to make or try, buying stuff and then not getting around to it. And by the time I had some time again, I would forget the previous project I wanted to do. And repeat. Not great. So, I've written my list and am working through it. This weekend I finally made the Christmas cushion that I bought a themed panel for in November (using birthday vouchers), and I made 3 elastic, zippered, pen holders as part of the end of year teacher gifts for DD's teachers (they are like small pencil cases with elastic that can slip around the front page of a notebook). I then had to make another for DD. Anyway, that used up some recycled leather that I had actually bought back in 2015!!! At the time, I bought it to cover over the top of an Ikea coffee table that was very scratched/beat up, but I clearly bought way more than I needed! I will be pairing these pen holders with a notebook, pens and a fabric gift bag. Very little cost for us, and hopefully something useful for the teachers.

ETA: Repairing holes in clothing with decorative stitches/basic hand embroidery seems to be very popular now. I haven't tried it, but it seems to work really well. Or even with contrasting fabric to make it seem like a decorative piece, rather than a repair. Again, so much stuff online.

Karmacat

Thanks euronorris, about the driving instructor - I'll report back next Monday  

And yes, I watch Sewing Bee.  Love it!  I can only do about 1%, like sew a button on, but I love watching  

Wraithlady

euronorris said:

Oh gosh! The chat has turned to repairs and sewing. I LOVE sewing! And watching the Sewing Bee. Anyone else watching that at moment? 

Another Sewing Bee fan here - problem is, I tend to watch, go 'ooh I fancy making a basque/evening dress/sculptural blouse out of plastic bags', get the pattern then never get round to doing it.

I have too many hobbies/projects - presently crocheting 2 things, knitting about 3 and goodness how many unfinished dressmaking projects, not to mention the projects lined up to start - needle felting, rag rug out of MIL's old cashmere jumpers...

Yes, I am easily distracted. How did you know?