Sewing Machine

nellie when I got my new sewing machine, I spent an afternoon practising threading the needle and filling the bobbins with thread, then sewing patches of material before embarking on the real stuff. It all comes back with practice, but you're right - you need a bit of confidence to know you're not going to break the thing by threading it wrongly.

I went in a local shop for materials, having been there many times before and always got what I wanted. This time, the shop was in chaos and no-one knew where anything was. The jersey materials were under the organza and the cotton gingham mixed in with tablecloth vinyl. I went online and got great quality jersey and gingham for a fraction of their prices, delivered the following day by courier for £2. I hope the shop improves. It's such a shame to see businesses go when they've been around for so many years.

annobel it is still going strongxx

nellie, I remember that fent shop in King's Lynn - I lived nearby, in West Winch, for seven years. I bought a fairly basic, but adequate, Bernina in Nairobi in the 60s - made loads of cotton dresses for myself and, later, dungarees for the children as well as curtains each time we moved. I freecycled it a few years ago as it was far too heavy for me to pick up! I then bought a small, lightweight one which I use mainly for repairs and adjusting hems.

I bought a new sewing machine from a sewing machine shop that was closing down recently - and it's still in its box

Yes, I recently bought a new sewing machine and have been enjoying learning its fancy ways. I've done some alterations and repairs, and I'm now plucking up the courage to make a skirt from some double jersey fabric, which requires stretch stitches. Not quite got the hang of that yet!

I still sew and currently have a Bernina although I have not used it for a while now. I have loads of fabric and need to do some sewing come the Autumn. I found John Lewis great for all sorts of bits and pieces. I find fabric quite pricey though, and do look on the internet for bargains. Whilst in Turkey I used it loads but foolishly left it plugged in but switched off. It blew the chip or rather a power surge did, so my suggestion would be to unplug as well as turn off and/or buy a powersurge protector. Fortunately I was able to get it fixed on return to the UK.
Enjoy

I came by an old singer sewing machine in a wooden case about 2 years ago,and would love to get started but not very confident especially all the threading and bobbins and what have you,it wasn't my strong point at school,we have a fent shop in kings Lynn and also dunelm mill and the range and I look longingly and wish I was clever enough and confident enough to start,E has chosen art and textiles for her GCSE course so it will come in handy ...next problem is to where we put it for cutting out and would love a work cum utility room...enjoy your haven gracesmum