With my Open University course just starting and my partner currently out of work, what is that I need? Oh yes, a new crafting obsession to suck up my time and money.
I resisted all my mother’s attempts to teach me to sew, which of course I now regret. A few months ago mum passed on to me my grandmother’s sewing machine, a 1950s Singer beauty. I had no immediate plans for it but mum has her own machine and wanted the space in her house; my plan was that once I’ve graduated I’ll take some evening classes and learn to sew.
However. Next Thursday is World Book Day. Son’s school have asked the children to come dressed as their favourite adventurer or traveller from a book. Son insists on going as Aragorn from Lord of the Rings. Ah. Something nice and easy. While we did manage to knock up a Fantstic Mr Fox outfit in one evening for Roald Dahl Day
an Aragorn costume is more of a challenge (for which read, I can’t knit or crochet it). Then I remembered the machine sitting gather dust (and cat hair). The nice people on the internets provided bags of information on making a cloak and a tunic. Got some fabric from Abakhan (son insisted on black, inaccurately) and made a pin cushion for practice
Then I spent the whole of the rest of the weekend making the cloak and tunic. Looking on it as a chance to learn sewing skills as well as win Mother of the Year (and having been raised in the school of if you’re going to do it, you may as well do it properly), I’ve tried to make a good job of the cloak (also I think it could see lots of service, son still loves dressing up); the tunic is more of a bodge job as the weekend was running out and I don’t see it get much repeat wear. But still, not bad for a weekend’s work from a novice seamstress.
Now we just have to fashion a sword and dagger (I’m thinking cardborad and silver paper) and we’re all set for Thursdsay. Son has promised me I can take photos of him in costume as my fee. And I am barely resisting the urge to build a stash of fat quarters …
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