Yvonne

I started sewing when I was 9 years old. My mother was a great sewing lady and taught me a lot. I enjoy all types of hand work.

My mother used to hand sew baby dresses. The christening gown that I wore as a baby was passed down to my own daughter, but since I only had grandsons, nobody else got to wear this christening gown.

In the photo below my mother is holding me as a baby and I am wearing the christening gown that she made. The other dresses were also hand made by my mother.

I spend about 10 hours a week sewing. My sewing tips is to sew when you are in the right mood otherwise you will make mistakes. I cannot live without my overlocker which gives a good finish to garments.

I am retired and made all my clothes when I was younger. I also sew clothes for my daughter and son, and I made my daughter and daughter-in-law's wedding dresses. I prefer to make garments for a purpose and not for them to sit in a cupboard.

I sew shirts and pyjamas for my two youngest grandsons, sew for charity, a little for myself and help friends with repairs and alterations. I also turned a saree into a purple dress.