My mum taught me how to sew and knit at a very young age, she had this amazing ability to make good out of old, like changing an adult’s shabby coat into two smaller ones, making a pattern out of old newspapers, revamping and dying it and finding buttons from other, old worn-out clothes. She has a gift that enabled her to clothe us six children in the 1950s and 1960s when money was tight and only the man of the house went out to work. She had an old treadle Singer sewing machine, no electric one until we were all much older.
I started working as a 16 year, as a seamstress also in Eastex in Luton. I struggled with factory life and became ill with a lung infection because of the dust and fabric fluff, which lend me to leave after 6 months.
Fast forward to the early 1990s I had 5 little boys, I was a single mum, with not much money but I did have a sewing machine and would visit jumble sales, take out zips, cut off buttons, rand upgrade other people’s old clothes. Buying fabric was quite expensive, so I rarely did so, I managed to buy cheap fabrics for when I was pregnant with number 5 to make my maternity clothes. But on the whole I didn’t really do much sewing because there wasn’t an opportunity in my busy life. I knitted the baby clothes for all of my children but it was cheaper to buy tracksuit bottoms and sweatshirts which was the only things the boys would wear.
Then I remarried and had my daughter Millie, bought a new sewing machine and started making her dresses, trousers and playsuits, not many but I liked to be unique and she always loved what I made which gave me a lot of pleasure.
But with such a big family, which was growing all the time, 7 grandchildren now, working and all the other things we do, my sewing machine was in the bottom of my wardrobe, neglected. Then March 23rd 2020 brought the country into lockdown because of the pandemic, Covid, suddenly I had more time than I ever had, no weekends spent with my grandchildren, no lunch dates with my friends.However I could order fabric and knitting wool online, so that’s what I done.
I got lots of complements from my family and friends when I started sewing and knitting children’s garments. My now teenage daughter kept saying that I needed to sell them, I didn’t think anyone would think they were good enough, then I managed to sell some of the bits to friends and family, their praises pushed me to do more.
It takes me on average 20-30 hours to knit a baby garment from start to finish! An item that I’ve sewed will take 3-5hours, depending whether or not I make any mistakes! So therefore, pricing the items was bit of a challenge, I wanted the clothes to be affordable yet reasonable since I do put my heart into making each item. Quite often the handmade garments are a one off, so I would suggest if you see something you like then you need to purchase before someone else does.
I have also bought some items that weren’t made by me so there are more choices and variety in my shop. I think they are equally cute and comfortable for your little people.
Thank you for taking the time to look through my online shop and I hope you like my items!