tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91348409771134125782024-03-18T21:16:07.082-07:00Sewing in the SticksEenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15033554889829111312noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9134840977113412578.post-35167308744433959672014-08-02T14:05:00.000-07:002014-08-06T14:45:57.830-07:00How do Lekala patterns work?<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipUzocDVoQVy1ybj8eZwMF1CLXENXn6Z-rlW8HoxJUVsEUcFTThVMrtPS-8LQs8owm87sBhOmU-wUY6QlYvE_4fQtuNDCO5jQI-8nDnBBkvvXHMqpsbjxFK-zLSu5iRd_0K5QYW1Bd2xS-/s1600/lekala+sexy+nightie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A see-through negligee made from a Lekala pattern" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipUzocDVoQVy1ybj8eZwMF1CLXENXn6Z-rlW8HoxJUVsEUcFTThVMrtPS-8LQs8owm87sBhOmU-wUY6QlYvE_4fQtuNDCO5jQI-8nDnBBkvvXHMqpsbjxFK-zLSu5iRd_0K5QYW1Bd2xS-/s1600/lekala+sexy+nightie.jpg" height="200" title="" width="134" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sexy lingerie</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, the obvious answer to this, from my point of view and experience at least, is 'wonderfully well!'</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But that's not what you wanted to know. </span><br />
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<a href="http://www.lekala.co/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Lekala </a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">is a Russian company whose pattern-drafting software is used, together with your basic measurements and certain body proportions, to produce a personalised custom-sized and adjusted pattern from a wide selection available on their website. The cost of a pattern is low, but of course you are responsible for </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the cost of printing.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPInSYvk435pTfglnVeuvXBKBnCHdgitXB0KWwo3d6DGPJnCpciVp5uBaUL-wvdmVgxhxknTAiZUKKClJ6FaTjslxOgwslfxJmMoOMp2We71FIwtVTRufqyINK0ZD5Je8H8CfxP0ZFBMtb/s1600/cosy+dressing+gown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Cosy full-length dressing-gown from a Lekala pattern" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPInSYvk435pTfglnVeuvXBKBnCHdgitXB0KWwo3d6DGPJnCpciVp5uBaUL-wvdmVgxhxknTAiZUKKClJ6FaTjslxOgwslfxJmMoOMp2We71FIwtVTRufqyINK0ZD5Je8H8CfxP0ZFBMtb/s1600/cosy+dressing+gown.jpg" height="200" title="" width="81" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cosy <br />dressing gown</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In addition, each pattern consists of only one garment in one size - <i>your </i>size. If you want the same pattern in another size, then you must buy it again. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At its simplest, you feed in your measurements, and are emailed back a pattern that will - you hope! - fit you when made up. In my still-limited experience with Lekala patterns, that is <i>exactly </i>what they do.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLfbt0_z61IC8I9xljEhJJpB1yDrYbblTt2LcOAFE7SAgjVlCdWdc19iqnSxRRnCTxHTDTvDncBJH2WF7-UxPWUwY6vQVy1vaKVzOWXPuPoPKu9xEpd1SiydM4KBhVcl1RChBGX_eVWj2K/s1600/sleeveless+top.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Floral-print, sleeveless gathered summer tunic from a Lekala pattern" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLfbt0_z61IC8I9xljEhJJpB1yDrYbblTt2LcOAFE7SAgjVlCdWdc19iqnSxRRnCTxHTDTvDncBJH2WF7-UxPWUwY6vQVy1vaKVzOWXPuPoPKu9xEpd1SiydM4KBhVcl1RChBGX_eVWj2K/s1600/sleeveless+top.jpg" height="200" title="" width="142" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Summer top</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of course, it's not quite <i>that </i>simple. Nothing worthwhile ever is. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What Lekala does is take certain basic body measurements, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">then alter the chosen pattern to fit the measurements given. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The program adjusts the entire pattern in a proportionate way for a 'typical' body. The basic measurements asked for are full bust, underbust, waist, hips, full hips and </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">height. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiadbq6OMQqkDyKCl24hKDjEAEPYgZJO0ZiwDOLA395sGUnEzcoyT0HRuwQgjbeDFHXTgCZif0QBw5f3yXYlgxWUP_pkio7E9IuhQg-LNvHv3SDooh2zpHtFINNcLUmevfKYxqC5PNyS5J1/s1600/warm+coat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A coat designed for cold winter weather by Lekala patterns" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiadbq6OMQqkDyKCl24hKDjEAEPYgZJO0ZiwDOLA395sGUnEzcoyT0HRuwQgjbeDFHXTgCZif0QBw5f3yXYlgxWUP_pkio7E9IuhQg-LNvHv3SDooh2zpHtFINNcLUmevfKYxqC5PNyS5J1/s1600/warm+coat.jpg" height="200" title="" width="73" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Warm coat</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of course, providing half a dozen of your body measurements does not - cannot! - result in a pattern that, made up without further alteration or changes, will fit you. There are a range of 'adjustments' and a few optional measurements which can - in fact should - be used for best results. These adjustments are all applied proportionately to the basic pattern as altered for your actual measurements. </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPInSYvk435pTfglnVeuvXBKBnCHdgitXB0KWwo3d6DGPJnCpciVp5uBaUL-wvdmVgxhxknTAiZUKKClJ6FaTjslxOgwslfxJmMoOMp2We71FIwtVTRufqyINK0ZD5Je8H8CfxP0ZFBMtb/s1600/cosy+dressing+gown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They have a lovely range of patterns to choose from - from sexy lingerie to sensible dressing gowns, warm winter coats to summer dresses, casual wear to ball gowns. There are all sorts of interesting, useful, frivolous, practical and fun patterns available, including some you're unlikely to see elsewhere.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am short - 5ft wringing wet and stretched out! - and fat; </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the c</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">orrect </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">measurements and adjustment parameters used during the purchase of a Lekala pattern has so far enabled me to <i>eliminate</i> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">the fitting processes I used to so hate doing. However, if I were making a more elaborate garment, or wanted a perfect fit, I would still have work to do - albeit far, far less than starting with a 'normal' paper pattern.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHx3VudYDUoeocYIjyhUTrNSwEGyzSPy89rMzGmUdJIlPO57c15WZLpUkia0laXVnVKb8e6WEdIDioh8v-1aJm2KswNUTI0IvlLrhXD9WHCR2eHabKU08o4KoaOi-6I3bCvL4tb9C74D1F/s1600/ball+gown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A gorgeous evening dress, also by Lekala" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHx3VudYDUoeocYIjyhUTrNSwEGyzSPy89rMzGmUdJIlPO57c15WZLpUkia0laXVnVKb8e6WEdIDioh8v-1aJm2KswNUTI0IvlLrhXD9WHCR2eHabKU08o4KoaOi-6I3bCvL4tb9C74D1F/s1600/ball+gown.jpg" height="200" title="" width="93" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ball gown</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lekala states very clearly on their Russian-based site - I have edited slightly for clarity - that there are not, and cannot be, any guarantees as to fit</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Do clothes made by your patterns fit well</span><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">?</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fitting is subjective. One person prefers a garment that fits loosely; another person prefers the same garment to fit snugly.Tastes differ.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and whether the patterns eliminate the need to measure and alter the flat pattern and, later, on a toile, or test garment,</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Can I sew from your patterns without needing to do troublesome alterations?"<br />The technique of distance pattern drafting cannot guarantee faultless results. Remember the tailor's adage "Measure twice, cut once"! After you have made up a few of our designs, you will gain an understanding of how our patterns, and their measurement and adjustment features suit your body size and shape. To this end, we offer a range of free patterns which you can download with different measurements and proportions, to check which adjustments best suit your body size and type.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I understand that if you normally need to make a large FBA, you'll still need to do one with a customised Lekala pattern - but I am told that the process is both easier and quicker, as a lot of the other adjustments you are likely to need will have</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> already been done,</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I normally need an FBA, but nothing major - I am a DD cup. I find that the combined adjustments of narrow shoulders and narrow back seem to shift enough of the total bust measurement to the front so as to have, in effect, performed a type of FBA. The adjustments I make on the measurement chart for the correct positioning of the bust apex points also helps a great deal with fitting.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of course, this level of customisation can only cope with the supposedly 'normal' body. It will not cope with, for example, a dowager's hump, a sway-back adjustment or uneven shoulders.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You will have to try the patterns out for yourself - and you can do this easily, as there is a range of free customisable patterns available, so you can see for yourself how effective the different options and adjustments are on </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">your</i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> body.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think, if you normally have fitting problems when making dresses, skirts or tops, it would be well worth your while trying Lekala patterns which, as already mentioned, you can do free of charge, and see how they work for you.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A word of warning, though - <i>don't</i> lie about your measurements! Lekala uses your <i>actual </i>measurements, so if you fudge them, the pattern will <i>not</i> fit! There's none of that 6 to 10 inches of ease you find in so many of the 'Big 4' pattern companies' patterns - even for garments that are meant to be closely-fitting! No-one other than you will see your measurements, no-one cares about them other than you - the Lekala program only needs you to get them <i>correct</i>. Most of their women's sizes will adjust up to 160cm hip and a few of them to 170cm hip. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Eenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15033554889829111312noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9134840977113412578.post-26667484286942320462014-07-28T01:09:00.000-07:002014-07-28T03:10:22.400-07:00Sewing pattern success!<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Perfect fit.</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the past couple of weeks, I've made <b>FIVE </b>garments which I cut straight from patterns as printed, sewed along the seam lines indicated - and which ALL </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">fitted me</i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> without </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">any. further. adjustment. </b><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happiness.</span></h4>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can have <i>no idea</i> of how happy I am, unless like me you have spent the past several years buying pattern drafting books, taking fitting courses, reading blogs, fudging FBAs, squinting over the multiple lines on multi-size patterns with a worsening visual impairment and, of course, making countless toiles - I'</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ve stripped local charity shops of their sheets!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fun</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">.</span></span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am having <i>so much fun</i> - I haven't felt this way about my clothing for nigh on twenty years.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">This is</span><span style="color: red;"> LEKALA PATTERNS!</span></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am a total Lekala convert after three free patterns and one purchased pattern have ALL fit me better 'straight off the printer' than any 'big brand' or Indi pattern on which I've expended blood, sweat and tears (as well as time, effort and money) to alter and adjust.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk8mA3y75fB0BFodH8fMDQozoZYUQqcyQTbmvCACZxHmP_5YEUXSVden9p-1Ro4qpwUWvrlpM4UBE6AsTc8gimdw7sWJ_n2AKZCbY0KjHS-nFSVhT1wd4iWF0N2_V63y7v_QMGfBH1KofL/s1600/Lekala+5088.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Pattern company's illustration of Lekala 5088, a classic straight skirt" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk8mA3y75fB0BFodH8fMDQozoZYUQqcyQTbmvCACZxHmP_5YEUXSVden9p-1Ro4qpwUWvrlpM4UBE6AsTc8gimdw7sWJ_n2AKZCbY0KjHS-nFSVhT1wd4iWF0N2_V63y7v_QMGfBH1KofL/s1600/Lekala+5088.jpg" title="" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lekala 5088</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So far, I've made a straight skirt, a tunic top, a shirt-blouse and - my only paid-for pattern so far - two drape-neck knit tops. NO ALTERATIONS on any of them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The skirt (Lekala 5088 - free) was made from an odd bit of grey crepe. Here's the pattern company's image on the right:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">a straightforward three-seam skirt with a centre-back zip, two darts each side at the back, one each side at the front. It is a totally-classic, nicely-drafted </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">straight skirt. I sewed it up on the seamlines as given, and it fits. It needs lining - the fabric's not tightly-woven, and frays badly - but I confess I'm in no particular rush to finish it - I don't have a lot of use for a grey straight skirt, if I'm being honest. What impresses me is that even with my quite dramatic hip-spring, the line from waist to hip needs only the slightest tweak to get it perfect</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've worn this tunic below (Lekala 8001), another free pattern from Lekala, several times during the recen</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">t warm weather; it is cool, comfortable and attractive.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMpEVVUO3EFDKHskuzOtqH4R7_ztXDVOhXkM-rwjVrTlj3KZlSz_6Gny9mhlsOnL4L3-L4AKhQllIDO2Ve_i1JbAUEZ9O_SFiKKkfCwoAyWhrzKrS6HMgoNOPxfKI77zDNEievVg1y_HDk/s1600/frontal+tunic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMpEVVUO3EFDKHskuzOtqH4R7_ztXDVOhXkM-rwjVrTlj3KZlSz_6Gny9mhlsOnL4L3-L4AKhQllIDO2Ve_i1JbAUEZ9O_SFiKKkfCwoAyWhrzKrS6HMgoNOPxfKI77zDNEievVg1y_HDk/s1600/frontal+tunic.jpg" height="320" width="280" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cool, comfortable tunic from Lekala<br />pattern 8001, which is <i>free!</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While I was sewing it - this was the first garment I made from a Lekala pattern - I was convinced that it wasn't going to fit. The armholes seemed too small, the neckline too wide - it took all my willpower to stop myself altering it 'on the fly', but I considered it as a test garment and convinced myself <i>not </i>to. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Believing in' the pattern was well worthwhile! There is no sag or bag in the armholes, but they don't bind or dig in, and the neckline, while it doesn't look straight in the photo, is 'just right', lying flat and straight on the body. The back has two long darts and a slightly shaped centre seam. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I found the positioning of the casing intended for an under-bust drawstring was too high, but that was at least partly my error in marking. The next one I make - the fabric is drying on the line as I write - will have a short length of elasticated gathering under the bust.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Forgive my very poor photography - my camera is currently held together with duct tape so I can't access all the settings.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The shirt below (Lekala 5446) is <i>very</i> nice. The collar in particular went together like a dream, every single notch matched beautifully and the sleeves eased in - well - <i>easily.</i> It has <i>both</i> narrow shoulders <i>and</i> a collar which doesn't choke me - a miracle! </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Even the button and button-hole positions seem to be spot on; I marked them, then fastened the shirt with safety-pins at the markings when I tried it on. I wore it for a few hours round the house; the pins never pulled or popped. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBuJ8-l0MhtgAwFI7t-BXfOlIikuCgqv7fFAUaZtkZOLGy-1kd8ZoGRLK2xkzFgiLxp0VYsN0t-DmF2rSGCvE3OIh1dldbHUDooCu81xpu_yea4pF4i4EqRFQPvj4j31s2euL8f9t1GpiP/s1600/shirt+collar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBuJ8-l0MhtgAwFI7t-BXfOlIikuCgqv7fFAUaZtkZOLGy-1kd8ZoGRLK2xkzFgiLxp0VYsN0t-DmF2rSGCvE3OIh1dldbHUDooCu81xpu_yea4pF4i4EqRFQPvj4j31s2euL8f9t1GpiP/s1600/shirt+collar.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The nice collar of the herbaceous-border shirt</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">S</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">adly, as you can see, it is very </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>floral</i> and even more <i>pink </i>than it appears to be in the photo. I look like a herbaceous border in full bloom! It is a very nice, casual, semi- to loosely-fitted shirt which I'll</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> probably be making up again, but in a different, less floral, less </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">pink</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, fabric.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the meantime, here's the 'technical drawing' of it, so you can see the placement of the darts. I've done a review of the pattern on PR </span><a href="http://sewing.patternreview.com/review/pattern/101321" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3EzcPZJdUplEf1F1FjVtrqpT1mi5Fj_luV2qUdI8nnN0zIrYziLx5vanIgTE0LKBT0XFuVz4LXYTVWKkgKdHZT1nS4pV1tolluQZF7QoCBLXgMPnZyfN40B20GUn0f-l8Cr6JEE6-aryA/s1600/Lekala+5446.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3EzcPZJdUplEf1F1FjVtrqpT1mi5Fj_luV2qUdI8nnN0zIrYziLx5vanIgTE0LKBT0XFuVz4LXYTVWKkgKdHZT1nS4pV1tolluQZF7QoCBLXgMPnZyfN40B20GUn0f-l8Cr6JEE6-aryA/s1600/Lekala+5446.jpg" height="193" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 15.555556297302246px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Womens' casual shirt Lekala 5446</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6kS4Mgmp2tB1ZqksppO7Cj39pp1Nm79kREeT8VuWJ7NwuR5vGEGovM5vRQ-O3U2aCbVY2C8vp8BLscSIS0wDLhybynANy5VOrHkqtWKFx8ROk9DFJCvrbc8b5neoitcf3Jc77RYmIea7T/s1600/4119+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Pattern company's illustration of drape-neck top 4119" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6kS4Mgmp2tB1ZqksppO7Cj39pp1Nm79kREeT8VuWJ7NwuR5vGEGovM5vRQ-O3U2aCbVY2C8vp8BLscSIS0wDLhybynANy5VOrHkqtWKFx8ROk9DFJCvrbc8b5neoitcf3Jc77RYmIea7T/s1600/4119+pic.jpg" height="200" title="" width="141" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This knit top on the left - Lekala 4119 - is delightful. You can see my review` of it <a href="http://sewing.patternreview.com/review/pattern/100796" target="_blank">here</a> on the PR website. The finished top is</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> very similar to the much-admired Style Arc 'Creative Cate', especially if you omit the band at the bottom.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> made the first one from a vertigo-inducing printed stripe remnant which cost me 60p, IIRC. I might dye it, in order to tone down the optical illusions caused by so many stripes! </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDEuBUc-f7-wML6hhvl7PR1jYum-9EyUnuz618Ltj-22mB3UZEThUGK4FcS2vFqqQjqeaVoplEJPmfgdvsiKHgI6uBiCIfbbP5apyU29MBqer9SFdfFsviZrU33YFJm5j1v_Wj8WyqIXk7/s1600/paisley+top+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Drape neck top made and worn by me, in a brown and teal paisley print viscose jersey" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDEuBUc-f7-wML6hhvl7PR1jYum-9EyUnuz618Ltj-22mB3UZEThUGK4FcS2vFqqQjqeaVoplEJPmfgdvsiKHgI6uBiCIfbbP5apyU29MBqer9SFdfFsviZrU33YFJm5j1v_Wj8WyqIXk7/s1600/paisley+top+2.jpg" height="320" title="" width="293" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lekala 4119 made up and worn by me,</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">in </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">a</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> brown, teal and cream viscose jersey.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The second I made from a drapey viscose/lycra knit, 150cm wide, which cost me £2.50/m from my favourite market stall. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Flattering, nicely-fitted, comfortable, desperately fast and easy to make. What more is there to say?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have some white knit fabric to make yet another one, and I am the woman who 'doesn't like' sewing with knit fabrics and who 'doesn't get' satisfactory results with them ...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Is that a recommendation? Or is <i>that</i> a recommendation!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Right - I mentioned in an earlier post that I don't cope with the sticking-together of downloadable patterns <i>at all - </i>eyesight issues.<i> </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I already pointed out that I am a horrid shape and size to sew for from printed patterns. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am, too, a pensioner on a limited income and as such, I REFUSE to pay inflated prices for patterns that don't fit anyone remotely my shape. Big 4 patterns, in particular, are horrendous prices here in the UK compared to the prices charged in the US.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So what makes Lekala so very different - what makes it work for me? All will be revealed in my next post!</span></div>
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Eenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15033554889829111312noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9134840977113412578.post-30924721927432784402014-07-23T02:44:00.000-07:002014-07-28T00:40:51.983-07:00Sewing pattern problems...<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Lots of writing in this post, no pics - sorry!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">I have a question for the big US pattern companies.</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Why are so many products of the 'Big 4' pattern brands (Vogue, McCalls, Butterick, Simplicity; also including Kwik-Sew and New Look) so ... disastrous, at least in the oh-so-cutesily named 'plus sizes'? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Baggy, saggy, oversized <i>tents. </i>Droopy, loopy, floppy <i>awnings. </i>A parachute with a neck hole is a rough approximation of many patterns, when made up according to the sizing and measurement information on the pattern envelope. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I accept that </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">an increasing number of adjustments on a purchased paper pattern is inevitable to cope with</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> the figure changes associated with age. I can even accept that grading-up to what the US oh-so-politely refers to as 'plus sizes' is a procedure fraught with difficulties and inaccuracies, thus resulting in even <i>more </i>adjustment and alterations being necessary. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I willingly acknowledge that the additional</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">difficulties in fitting which are posed by my deteriorating eyesight are no concern to the pattern producer</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, what I cannot - and will not - accept are the inaccuracies, inconsistencies and outright <i>errors</i> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">which are increasingly associated with the products of these major pattern companies. Have you ever tried measuring these patterns, and comparing the <i>actual</i> measurements of the pattern pieces with the measurements stated on the back of the pattern envelopes? I have! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It makes my brain ache. Not just my poor old eyes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whether this originates from poor original design, from incompetent grading of the different sizes, or at some other stage in the process, I have no idea. It has been suggested that there is too much red medicine available at all stages of the process ... :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What I <i>do</i> know is that I am not alone in my frustration. See this <a href="http://communingwithfabric.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/an-open-letter-to-vogue-patterns.html" target="_blank">open letter to Vogue</a>, and the <a href="http://communingwithfabric.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/update-on-my-open-letter-to-vogue.html" target="_blank">update</a>, on the popular blog 'Communing with fabric'. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">See <a href="https://www.blogger.com/"><span id="goog_1533624633"></span>this post<span id="goog_1533624634"></span></a> in a Uk-based sewing forum; what are the pattern companies <i>thinking? </i>I have to wonder if they are on the same planet as the rest of us, or if their standard inch and centimetre is somehow different to that accepted by the rest of us on Planet Earth.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am also <i>very</i> <i>angry</i> that I am expected to pay an average of around a tenner (the majority of Vogue patterns are more than £14) for something which may well be 'not fit for purpose' nor 'substantially as described' in the commonly-accepted sense of the term, but which is sold on a non-refundable basis.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b> It's a big, fat <i>con.</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">European pattern brands are, in general, somewhat more consistent in their sizing, ease and grading, I find. As such, they're considerably less stressful to alter, Burda especially as they still produce a 'Petite' range which takes care of height/length issues. However, the multiple size lines put additional strain on my vision and I no longer find it a pleasure to work with them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Indie pattern producers have some interesting stuff, but I am put off buying them by several factors. They can be unexpectedly expensive - when buying paper patterns from outside the EU, 20% of the total value of purchase <i>and </i>postage is usually added by HMRC as import VAT, and the delivery agent, be it Royal Mail or a courier, charges a significant flat fee for acting as collection agent on HMRC's behalf. A downloaded purchase doesn't have these additional, inescapable costs, but it has others - the cost of printing, for one - and the time and effort needed to match up and stick together all these sheets of A4 paper ... with my eyesight ...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Many indie patterns come in a restricted range of sizes - actually I think this is a <i>good</i> thing, as it indicates the designer acknowledges the limitations of their skills when it comes to the correct grading of large sizes. Some brands of indie patterns are well-known (in the sewing community, anyway) for being - umm - <i>confusing, </i>despite having lovely styles. No thanks! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am simply no longer able to waste<i> money</i> on buying patterns that might, or might not, give an approximate fit, and I am no longer willing to waste <i>time </i>on taping together 49 sheets of A4 paper which might, or might not, be usable to make a garment which might, or might not, give an approximate fit.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A couple of weeks ago I found something very interesting. Was this the answer to my problems, was this the Holy Grail of patterns? What I found seemed to offer the possibility of being able to 'cut and sew', with no pattern alterations required, as they would be added <i>for me </i>upon input of a range of <i>my very own</i> measurements and adjustments.</span><br />
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<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.lekala.co/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Lekala patterns!</a></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Huh? Who? I hear you mutter. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What's the catch? you demand when you see the very reasonable price.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a Russian company which produces downloadable, customisable patterns at very reasonable prices, and with a selection of fully-customisable patterns free of charge to try out their process and tweak measurements and adjustments for best fit.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am so very much </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">not</i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> a standard size. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am 5ft/150cm short. My measurements are (b:w:h) 48:38:51 inches/122:96:130 cm. I have DD cups, narrow sloping shoulders and muscular upper arms and thighs. I hate wearing anything constricting around my neck. My waist is not especially high or low, but over the past few years, my bust has moved downwards and outwards - it's like the old geological theory of continental drift!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These 'customisable' patterns had to be worth trying, so I needed to do some testing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">More later.</span><br />
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Eenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15033554889829111312noreply@blogger.com0Ribble Valley District, Lancashire, UK53.828161581323528 -2.485027424991130853.677417581323525 -2.8091239249911308 53.978905581323531 -2.1609309249911308tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9134840977113412578.post-37062674069326264822014-07-11T05:30:00.000-07:002014-07-11T05:34:21.833-07:00I've been away ...<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, not really <i>away - </i>just absent from the blog. Not that I ever was a very frequent blogger. I'll try to improve, honest!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since I last posted - I've moved! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not very far, only a couple of miles away, so there's no big change. I now have chickens rather than ducks - four of them, one of which is sitting on a clutch of hopefully-fertile eggs. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had a stall at the village social club towards the end of April during a fundraiser coffee morning - a girl in the village is going to work in an orphanage in Uganda for her gap year, and needed to raise money for her air fare, expenses, health insurance and so on. I was so pleased to be able to add £80 to the total. She has now raised the required total and will be off in a few weeks' time. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My sewing mojo disappeared for a while, returned, faded again. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have huge success sewing for others and helping others to sew. In March </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I made several stretch lace camis for a pregnant friend, curtains for a neighbour and, of course, stock for the fundraiser. </span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPxmWKyYZe8PbQkWd_cNMTdDor1UNEVWPDiiLPlaiwljJLXxjvTWKp_sftyohJPI744ehwUMZybIso_4WoZmUwhck1EfgwUwVSe6LU-X7YcSUBK08p_HTNEEAdX9rxFWVCat8fTNgdk3If/s1600/Alice+dress.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="1960s style colour-blocked shift dress in turquoise & navy with a white scalloped Peter Pan collar, made & modelled by a 15 year old" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPxmWKyYZe8PbQkWd_cNMTdDor1UNEVWPDiiLPlaiwljJLXxjvTWKp_sftyohJPI744ehwUMZybIso_4WoZmUwhck1EfgwUwVSe6LU-X7YcSUBK08p_HTNEEAdX9rxFWVCat8fTNgdk3If/s1600/Alice+dress.jpeg" height="320" title="" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">60s inspired colour-blocked dress<br />made and modelled by a 15yo.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Over the Easter holidays I taught and supervised a teenager doing some work for her GCSE portfolio - she made herself a beautifully-fitted 60s-style colour-blocked shift dress. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I finished off a prom dress started (somewhat over-ambitiously, she confessed!) by a mum in the village for her daughter; she looked like an apricot meringue when we'd finished, but that was what she wanted. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Heck, I made a spring coat for a good friend who often cooks and bakes for me - a PINK spring coat, no less, out of a wool mix, top-stitched, lined, pockets, tie-belt ... she received many, many complements and lots of questions about where she had bought it ... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I made a shirt - a 'shite shirt!' - for a friend who mended my shed; he was so tickled by it that he wanted to wear it to a formal reception - naughty naughty!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yet whatever I tried to make for myself looked little better than a sack. OK for nighties, pjs, dressing gowns - but that's all.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Depressing, very depressing - especially when I used to be able to pull a pattern out of the packet, make it up and wear it with minimal alterations (in my case, just length alterations).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The difference is in me, physically, and to a (perhaps) lesser extent, in the pattern companies' products.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">More to follow.</span><br />
<br />Eenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15033554889829111312noreply@blogger.com2Lancashire, UK53.815339424608936 -2.393926866352558153.213658424608937 -3.6848203663525583 54.417020424608936 -1.1030333663525582tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9134840977113412578.post-87940014687320255772014-02-09T06:21:00.000-08:002014-07-11T05:36:30.586-07:00Springtime - and aprons galore!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, not quite, not yet, but the daffodils are peeking above the ground, the days are getting noticeably longer and my spirits are lifting.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The mojo has returned, at least somewhat, so</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> that a couple of weekends ago</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had a stall at a local fund-raiser held for</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> the Christie Hospital in Manchester - and was able to donate a nice round sum,</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> approaching £100, towards a teenager's quest to raise £1000 for the hospital which saved her dad's life. Coincidentally, I trained there as a therapy radiographer many, many years ago and had a wonderful, worldwide career on the back of that training and qualification. It was a pleasure to help such a worthwhile cause.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The aprons I first started selling last year at the village market are STILL selling like hot-cakes - I sold every single one at the fund-raiser and could have sold more! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I thought I'd remind myself of my exploits in the past year or so with some of the pics I like. I keep forgetting to take photos, though - at the recent fund-raiser my table looked really pretty, but I'd forgotten my camera - duh!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">Aprons on the washing line!</span></h3>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoOMiypmkH_UIi3NKApAJY_RlrYw2tR9GnDiShxzLmzhdru7zJtq4RXFIqFIGMEPgrdp6YkzgIpDiGGvcHLbGg74CBOSiirnWfbVzEaSInckl0SvIurIkgEK4lHX7u2Qnwb2qIfOaolOzt/s1600/pinnies+on+the+washing+line.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Three colourful aprons on the washing line" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoOMiypmkH_UIi3NKApAJY_RlrYw2tR9GnDiShxzLmzhdru7zJtq4RXFIqFIGMEPgrdp6YkzgIpDiGGvcHLbGg74CBOSiirnWfbVzEaSInckl0SvIurIkgEK4lHX7u2Qnwb2qIfOaolOzt/s1600/pinnies+on+the+washing+line.jpg" height="310" title="" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">I love the flowery one on the right - so cheerful, even on the dreariest of days.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">September 2013 stall</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs7qsuZGjKolqL0YTw-jC2Z5bgjI_L084T-on9CpVyyk3Sx_nF69QEI5QqeGLRyL5CARk9fdHmHeAt7_7EJWI7sWmUF-h3EahmE_di234ofuRcGn7wzsTJaRuudkQFECVEIPbU2FXwEDtN/s1600/stall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="Table display of sewn items for sale in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs7qsuZGjKolqL0YTw-jC2Z5bgjI_L084T-on9CpVyyk3Sx_nF69QEI5QqeGLRyL5CARk9fdHmHeAt7_7EJWI7sWmUF-h3EahmE_di234ofuRcGn7wzsTJaRuudkQFECVEIPbU2FXwEDtN/s1600/stall.jpg" height="216" title="At the social club, in aid of Macmillan." width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the social club, in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhegN0kvFgzzUSR5FqRAatFxXl0DHl7I_KQHymlbFF0KJeMBfCmQvdMQSzbkz3LuPKUqsAiSjdk-H760qyjM2Mxf-16jpyCSyJscki_eH-8pyyj6zMxm1_R6NqCTxalN_0GoRY6EouJZB6X/s1600/stall+at+Rib+Club+%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="My stall with me behind it, ready to sell!" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhegN0kvFgzzUSR5FqRAatFxXl0DHl7I_KQHymlbFF0KJeMBfCmQvdMQSzbkz3LuPKUqsAiSjdk-H760qyjM2Mxf-16jpyCSyJscki_eH-8pyyj6zMxm1_R6NqCTxalN_0GoRY6EouJZB6X/s1600/stall+at+Rib+Club+%25283%2529.jpg" height="496" title="" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Only just opened for business - I'd already sold a couple of aprons, <br />and by the end of the morning, I'd even sold the apron 'off my back'!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">May 2013 stall</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvY6id1sUJ4CJ_gWShmkoWNIn7EjQNBSpJdJR7qrLhF4hy_hX_B75r20140_hvFQRjI5SMvgbTlBT5BWsop5uCLhhAn-brvTciABjPgyJtq7deNqone5A3IZqmJTlTmCQX1QzVcNnHKFo5/s1600/market.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="Stall at village market, May 2013" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvY6id1sUJ4CJ_gWShmkoWNIn7EjQNBSpJdJR7qrLhF4hy_hX_B75r20140_hvFQRjI5SMvgbTlBT5BWsop5uCLhhAn-brvTciABjPgyJtq7deNqone5A3IZqmJTlTmCQX1QzVcNnHKFo5/s1600/market.jpg" height="369" title="" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A corner of my stall on a very windy day last May, at the Village Market.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjhadXYD3x-D1NEdaOvnesAekTxmCIS0zqG45rrZKm2uSHdcKAzmsJfhrHKJRqmaOs-Bj1NvXcE14W8ks0QeHWwY6rhN1JeP_3XIWCkCJ362Z6IpXm6MF0AEpM_avDYzE6A_GPMBFyT95F/s1600/just+before+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="Stall at village market - the wind had really got up!" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjhadXYD3x-D1NEdaOvnesAekTxmCIS0zqG45rrZKm2uSHdcKAzmsJfhrHKJRqmaOs-Bj1NvXcE14W8ks0QeHWwY6rhN1JeP_3XIWCkCJ362Z6IpXm6MF0AEpM_avDYzE6A_GPMBFyT95F/s1600/just+before+2.jpg" height="292" title="" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This was later in the day - the wind had really got up. <br />Aprons had to be taken off the rail, and rod pockets laid flat on the table. <br />However, the bunting really showed itself off in the wind, and all of it was sold.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">More aprons I've sold</span></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE-UwbSaGgO_7U9W594Y0CxnhgcGDK4CGiA81gc1CkR6pPmEGsbs7aY3jTY0bv4oFkEiT8xZrTx5ArgZiyJE2Banz4hH21lT0NDgFjbTEiQ0iTJr5Bvwh-oX_OcqqK9hj0KoDE6Cr0LELR/s1600/lilac+pinny.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="Pink and lavender apron" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE-UwbSaGgO_7U9W594Y0CxnhgcGDK4CGiA81gc1CkR6pPmEGsbs7aY3jTY0bv4oFkEiT8xZrTx5ArgZiyJE2Banz4hH21lT0NDgFjbTEiQ0iTJr5Bvwh-oX_OcqqK9hj0KoDE6Cr0LELR/s1600/lilac+pinny.JPG" height="400" title="" width="216" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pink and lavender - not my favourite colour <br />combo, to be honest, but it sold very quickly <br />& has been requested several times.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizkkKTtAEcsj_pDV2Pcw6KJ6XXDuyTv3eiEjRpFAmTfgXj2cSApoMau9OJLwp8uond6qYIeSfcw18b9e5bruLY-GLoluQbDIytpICm3RhtU0PyvjZ2TdE5qgPPvKoct0vKXZ5Cpy0FPEHa/s1600/blue+and+red+retro+apron.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Retro look apron, blue floral with red polka-dot trim" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizkkKTtAEcsj_pDV2Pcw6KJ6XXDuyTv3eiEjRpFAmTfgXj2cSApoMau9OJLwp8uond6qYIeSfcw18b9e5bruLY-GLoluQbDIytpICm3RhtU0PyvjZ2TdE5qgPPvKoct0vKXZ5Cpy0FPEHa/s1600/blue+and+red+retro+apron.jpg" height="400" title="" width="192" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of my favourite print combos.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This gives a really cool retro effect.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The neck 'tie' actually buttons into place.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think there are a few reasons why my aprons sell so well.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They're made of 100% cotton, and fully lined, so they offer superb protection and absorbency. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They're not made of flimsy fabric, but good solid stuff. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have a couple of weights of pure cotton fabric which I use for linings, depending on the weight of the 'main' fabric. One is a medium weight - I suppose a calico sort of weight - and the other is a sturdier fabric, possibly a light upholstery or soft furnishings weight. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first is a plain white cotton, and I've dyed some lengths of it to get coloured linings for a bit of variety. The heavier lining is white with a black print reading 'cooking eating drinking' - and thus absolutely ideal for aprons! I haven't dyed any of that, but see no reason why I shouldn't do so. The black print would look good against almost any colour background.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I also make another style of full apron, which offers really good coverage to almost any size wearer, and a couple of styles of half-apron, which the younger set seem to like. As one teenager said to me 'I love baking, and I don't mind getting my t-shirt messy, but I don't want to get my jeans covered in flour and egg'. A half-apron can be tied at the currently-fashionable low waist level so that jeans or leggings are well-protected.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'll post photos of the other aprons soon, I promise!</span></div>
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Eenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15033554889829111312noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9134840977113412578.post-36795434794646801562013-12-14T17:30:00.000-08:002013-12-14T17:30:01.553-08:00Mojo returning slowly<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've not done much at all for over a month. I lost interest after Poppy's sudden death. I completed a few outstanding orders, and took on no more. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Poppy now lies in the flower border, near the bush she liked to sit under. Twelve bright red tulips are planted over her, and a sturdy oriental poppy in the middle of them. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don't know if I'll stay in this house, though. I had thought to stay here 'for ever' but now ... I'm not so sure. About anything.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was asked if I could 'fill in' at short notice at a somewhat-prestigious, hard-to-get-into craft fair the weekend after Poppy's death. My normal reaction would have been to jump at the chance, but instead I emailed the organiser to say 'thank you' but that I'd been recently and suddenly bereaved so wasn't up to it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But life goes on regardless.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don't celebrate Christmas - I haven't done so for years, as I have no religious belief and the commercial frenzy surrounding the non-religious celebrations</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> quite frankly sickens me - but friends and </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">acquaintances</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">do, so I made some fabric origami stars as small gifts. They are <i>very</i> easy to make.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcrr_RjoC_UuNNz7XwYm1L4eLfFH5tYlzEnPKXuvOEgRpZFy6hcMmw9da9SN7enpUGnHKhEDmDCdv738l4h_gCaaGcPMBEDz_smvYImmJvHaiDDJvrKYwOLRAkKX_qnyMDlVU-gzTdNDna/s1600/stars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt=" A garland of four-pointed fabric origami stars, made with Christmas prints." border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcrr_RjoC_UuNNz7XwYm1L4eLfFH5tYlzEnPKXuvOEgRpZFy6hcMmw9da9SN7enpUGnHKhEDmDCdv738l4h_gCaaGcPMBEDz_smvYImmJvHaiDDJvrKYwOLRAkKX_qnyMDlVU-gzTdNDna/s320/stars.jpg" title="" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fabric origami stars</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Eenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15033554889829111312noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9134840977113412578.post-65627820956877439872013-11-09T10:00:00.001-08:002013-11-09T10:01:29.164-08:00Poppy<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's Remembrance weekend - more commonly known as Poppy Day.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgESrem31PLCx40MMrr1jCjfFO4wv_W2UcFI7Z_Po6mPjeczJ0eDc9P3UNN_-fLpQxhg0xHadVHBJq4MEfAEsAjPxw8ZJLtGx_f0uTPaerh_i5_ABAunGmXMvU3flOHDGuREWyo7F6eUEcM/s1600/PICT0260.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgESrem31PLCx40MMrr1jCjfFO4wv_W2UcFI7Z_Po6mPjeczJ0eDc9P3UNN_-fLpQxhg0xHadVHBJq4MEfAEsAjPxw8ZJLtGx_f0uTPaerh_i5_ABAunGmXMvU3flOHDGuREWyo7F6eUEcM/s400/PICT0260.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poppy <br />
? Feb 2012 - 8 Nov 2013</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My darling little Poppy, a black and white cat, tiny in size but big in personality, was killed at five to ten on Friday morning, yesterday. I found her dead on the road outside my house, still warm and soft, but with a broken neck and half her face missing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a 20mph zone. A lady driving by - AT 20mph - saw a neighbour and me standing in the road and stopped to see what had happened and if she could help. She could see, and could stop, <i>because</i> she was travelling at 20mph. The majority of people go past at far, far more than 20mph - many at 40 or more. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Where Poppy had tried to cross the road was <i>precisely</i> where a public footpath emerges onto the road. No-one stopped, I heard no screech of brakes, there were no tyre marks on the road. It was a dry, clear morning on a narrow country lane on the outskirts of a small village. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another neighbour who called round said to me 'Your cat could have been a child!'</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes, she could. Will<i> that </i>thought stop motorists from speeding? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No, of course not! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rest in peace, little Poppy. I will dig your grave tomorrow, in the sunshine and as the church bells ring. Poppy Day will forever have an extra, other meaning for me. </span>Eenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15033554889829111312noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9134840977113412578.post-60366080644459993832013-10-22T06:49:00.000-07:002014-02-11T07:18:17.586-08:00The real cost of clothing<div align="LEFT" class="western" style="line-height: 0.48cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FI_zuwsTPSM/UkdjS8vStaI/AAAAAAAAAHA/nE0bMm-XBq0/s1600/Rana+Plaza.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Overhead view of collapsed Rana Plaza building, Dhaka, Bangladesh, which held several factories and thousands of workers" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FI_zuwsTPSM/UkdjS8vStaI/AAAAAAAAAHA/nE0bMm-XBq0/s320/Rana+Plaza.jpg" height="211" title="" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">Rana Plaza collapse, Dhaka,<br />
<span style="line-height: 0.48cm;">April 2013 </span><span style="line-height: 0.48cm;">(</span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rijans/8731789941/in/photostream/lightbox/" style="line-height: 0.48cm;" target="_blank">rijans</a><span style="line-height: 0.48cm;"> </span><a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/" style="line-height: 0.48cm;" target="_blank">CC</a><span style="line-height: 0.48cm;">)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(warning - distressing photo further down)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was reading recently about the meetings held </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 0.48cm;">under the aegis of the ILO </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 0.48cm;"> in Geneva last month (details </span><a href="http://www.industriall-union.org/bangladesh-workers-must-continue-to-wait-for-full-compensation" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 0.48cm;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 0.48cm;">)</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 0.48cm;">, </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 0.48cm;">in an unsuccessful attempt to settle compensation for the Rana Plaza collapse victims (April 2013; over 1,000 dead, about 2,500 injured) and Tazreen Fashions fire victims (November 2012; more than 117 dead, over 200 injured). There's also the more recent - just over ten days ago - fire at the <a href="http://www.ethicaltrade.org/news-and-events/news/Gazipur-factory-fire-a-call-to-action" target="_blank">Aswad Mills in Gazipur</a>, where 'only' about ten workers lost their lives.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And I started to wonder.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal; line-height: 0.48cm;">How expensive is cheap clothing?</span></h2>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 0.48cm;">On a forum I sometimes frequent, a poster stated a few months ago – apropos a discussion about what to make and sell at craft fairs and hand-made markets -</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i> I see really simple dresses in stores that are way too overpriced. </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i> People </i></span><i style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 0.48cm;">are always looking for clothes that are unique and affordable.</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;">I was incandescent with rage at the arrogance of this statement, but calmed down and decided that I should be more benevolent towards my fellow humans, and</span><span style="color: #333333;"><i> </i></span><span style="color: #333333;">put the post down to mere (??) ignorance, so I responded in a more temperate manner than I actually felt, as follows:</span></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;">Mass-produced clothing which is sold in shops is made, in the overwhelming majority of cases, by poor people in third-world countries being paid a few pounds a week, and whose workplaces seem not infrequently to fall down or burn up - or both! - with them trapped, sometimes even </span><span style="color: #333333;">locked</span><span style="color: #333333;">, inside.</span></span> </i></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: #333333;">Why on </span><span style="color: #333333;">earth</span><span style="color: #333333;"> would anyone think that a garment made individually by a skilled person in the first world would, should or could possibly be purchased for less money (which is what is usually meant by 'more affordable') than a garment which could well have been made by one of those poor, dreadfully-injured women still lying in a Bangladeshi hospital, or by a hungry child who should, by all rights, be at school or simply out playing.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 0.48cm;">Whether we buy </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 0.48cm;">a £2 Primark* t-shirt, or a £40 Zara t-shirt, can we say that either one is really overpriced? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 0.48cm;">All too often, the cost is </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 0.48cm;">life itself.</b><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AEzwFOBig14/UkdmD3I4sxI/AAAAAAAAAHM/JL4EOStGBYQ/s1600/people.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Corpses trapped in debris of Rana Plaza building, Dhaka, Bangladesh" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AEzwFOBig14/UkdmD3I4sxI/AAAAAAAAAHM/JL4EOStGBYQ/s400/people.jpg" height="242" title="" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 16px;">Destruction and death (<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rijans/8731789941/sizes/l/in/photostream/" target="_blank">rijans</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/" target="_blank">CC</a>)</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In order to cover the </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">financial</i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> cost of improvements in fire, safety and construction to internationally-accepted standards in the garment factories it uses, Walmart (the world's biggest retailer) would need to add 10 US cents - 6p, yes that's right, SIXPENCE - to the retail price of a garment in a store. Walmart has refused to do this, citing, as I understand, 'Expense' as the reason. </span></div>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 0.48cm;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 0.48cm;">I find the thought of someone being forced to work in unsafe, unhealthy, even life-threatening conditions just so that we can casually buy cheap clothes to throw away, to be simply appalling. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I KNOW it happens and yet I have still bought the jeans, the t-shirt. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 0.48cm;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 0.48cm;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 0.48cm;">Why? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 0.48cm;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 0.48cm;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 0.48cm;">Because I </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 0.48cm;">could, </i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 0.48cm;">and because I</span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 0.48cm;"> wanted </i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 0.48cm;">to</span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 0.48cm;">.</i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 0.48cm;"> No other reason more compelling than that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We in the wealthy West benefit hugely from cheap labour in Third World countries, mainly in Asia. This labour is predicated upon cheap fossil fuels, global debt, central banks and a cavalier attitude to environmental damage and occupational safety, if either of the two latter are acknowledged at all. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of course, there <i>are</i> businesses, multinationals even, who see that it is in everyone's best interests to attempt to ensure that their workers - whether a department manager in a UK business place or a lowly-paid seamstress in Dhaka - are treated in a fair manner and work in safe conditions. These companies are frequently members of the <a href="http://www.ethicaltrade.org/" target="_blank">Ethical Trading Initiative</a>, which is also associated with international trade union organisations and NGOs. When I buy new clothing, which is increasingly rare these days, I buy either 'made in UK' (if I can find it and afford it) or else a brand which is a full current member of the ETI.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The ETI is not the entire, final answer, of course. Even the best of purchaser and retailer audits, requirements and spot checks might be thwarted by the greedy determination of corrupt officialdom working hand-in-hand with unethical factory management, especially when unorganised poor and migrant workers are cowed by bullying, but it's a start at least.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 0.48cm;">I'll finish with a Victorian cartoon which gently mocks two fashionable young women who are clearly at the forefront of fashion, technology and all things modern. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I wonder if they ever concerned themselves, from the comfort of their clearly middle-class, liberated, 'Rational Dress' lives, with the plight of 'the masses' of the Industrial Revolution ...</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qzvRFSrpDlY/Ukd0lnTUpiI/AAAAAAAAAHc/2keiH3v8Y8I/s1600/Bicycle_suit_and_sewing_machine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="19thC cartoon - two smartly-dressed young women talking about clothes" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qzvRFSrpDlY/Ukd0lnTUpiI/AAAAAAAAAHc/2keiH3v8Y8I/s400/Bicycle_suit_and_sewing_machine.jpg" height="400" title="" width="271" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Gertrude: My dear Jessie, what on <i>earth</i> is that bicycle suit for?</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Jessie: Why, to wear, of course!</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Gertrude: But you haven't got a bicycle!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 0.48cm;">Jes</span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 0.48cm;">sie: No, but I </span><i style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 0.48cm;">have</i><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 0.48cm;"> got a sewing-machine!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: xx-small;">* NB All credit to Primark; although often reviled, it has - unlike almost all the other companies involved - stepped up to the mark in this desperately tragic situation, expressing frustration at how long it is taking to agree on victim compensation for the Rana` Plaza disaster, and in the meantime arranging 'emergency' payments to </span><i style="color: #333333; font-size: x-small;">all</i><span style="color: #333333; font-size: xx-small;"> (not just those working on Primark's production line) Rana Plaza victims or their families, of its own volition.</span></div>
Eenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15033554889829111312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9134840977113412578.post-78104844462088812202013-10-18T17:23:00.002-07:002013-10-22T06:50:34.340-07:00Surprises in Immanuel Fabrics<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Lovely surprises!</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of course, there are always surprises to be found in Immanuels, even if it's only the Elephant fabric back in again, but this time in shades of delightful powder blue. Not just baby elephants with their mamas on the savannah - but <i>boy</i> baby elephants. Awwwwww what a lovely surprise that was!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There's another surprise, though - one that some people just don't ever discover. The stock at Immanuels goes far, far beyond curtains, cottons, upholstery and the pound-a-metre room.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Taking time and trouble to have a good search is always rewarding. It might mean considerable time and a deal of trouble, literally on your knees (but not praying) and peering upwards (not heavenwards), not to mention the physical activity of heaving rolls out from between other rolls - there's a definite knack to this which is not mere physical strength. I've found the most exquisite of beaded and embroidered fabrics - and learnt an important Immanuel's lesson the hard way - if you want it, buy it when you see it, don't plan to come back 'later' to get it as it very likely won't be there!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Below are two very different, but equally-luxurious, fabrics. The black viscose will be an evening jacket or a wrap - it has a lovely drape and will look stunning cut in a very simple 'cardigan' style. Over a plain black dress, or top and black skirt - or velvet trousers - it will be classic evening wear for all sorts of occasions. I bought 3m, so plenty for whatever I decide to do. Another, even simpler option, would be to line it with a satin and wear it merely as a rectangular wrap or stole.</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiysmYY9EeIk_gmFPXoq7eptqyhY41y0X5R2VE1Z5XT1oTrMA3Kh3ZgRKSwJWaR2rLEoBJ_9cVAYbT86FEAz1Hd2_OweVGEyDzPo-kj8ecLIy6WAUa5ft5uMvmtkmBEFFCZyHnpt0cxXwl7/s1600/silver-embroidered+black+warm-feel+viscose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Soft black viscose with tiny silver sequins sewn on forming a design of twining stems and flowers" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiysmYY9EeIk_gmFPXoq7eptqyhY41y0X5R2VE1Z5XT1oTrMA3Kh3ZgRKSwJWaR2rLEoBJ_9cVAYbT86FEAz1Hd2_OweVGEyDzPo-kj8ecLIy6WAUa5ft5uMvmtkmBEFFCZyHnpt0cxXwl7/s320/silver-embroidered+black+warm-feel+viscose.jpg" title="" width="272" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 16.363636016845703px; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Warm-feel viscose embroidered with tiny</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">silver sequins & silver thread.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi17TP-W085vkFDm4-mWeWO3llsYjBsz3YxAPpFNJzL2NM7nQD6wYrHo8M64uQwKNVhAEwmm-ICoOt09D2bsVWZUEkLcpl7W2owazpTEb7xwXn1wvtNyViYkYsL6jKQrkaRs2MVzLEeQecf/s1600/detail+of+silver-embroidered+black+warm-feel+viscose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Detail of one of the flowers sewn with tiny silver sequins" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi17TP-W085vkFDm4-mWeWO3llsYjBsz3YxAPpFNJzL2NM7nQD6wYrHo8M64uQwKNVhAEwmm-ICoOt09D2bsVWZUEkLcpl7W2owazpTEb7xwXn1wvtNyViYkYsL6jKQrkaRs2MVzLEeQecf/s200/detail+of+silver-embroidered+black+warm-feel+viscose.jpg" title="" width="181" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 16.363636016845703px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Detail view of viscose</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photographing embroidered fabrics, especially ones where glitter, shimmer, drape and 'feel' are an important part of the experience, is very difficult. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The hand and the glimmer of the pure silk below is only caught very slightly in the photos, and the depth of the silvery-grey colour scarcely at all.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I <i>had</i> hoped to be able to get enough of this silk to make a Victorian gown, or at least part of one - I am of an age when, in Victorian times, I would be almost <i>expected</i> to be in mourning or half-mourning for one or other of my relatives, so the grey colour would be ideal. However, it was not to be and so the single metre I bought is still waiting, lonely, for inspiration. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYiFuQJ95n74mWjJPjpsg-2vkXh7J7X9QONkVf3Hk2el0R_HrZX7e4ydFwaNpc8XME7pgHAhaHvE9PfP_UexrhyoavuZCIcTOZ1wXr4kI1i75WUPTjeqSRcC7rFTxkFzNoP9mM2mutn2iN/s1600/grey+embroidered+silk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Photo attempting to show the effect of the silver-grey pure silk fabric, embroidered in charcoal grey" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYiFuQJ95n74mWjJPjpsg-2vkXh7J7X9QONkVf3Hk2el0R_HrZX7e4ydFwaNpc8XME7pgHAhaHvE9PfP_UexrhyoavuZCIcTOZ1wXr4kI1i75WUPTjeqSRcC7rFTxkFzNoP9mM2mutn2iN/s320/grey+embroidered+silk.jpg" title="" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: xx-small;">Silver-grey silk taffeta embroidered in charcoal-grey. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: xx-small;">This was sold out when I went back for more!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiHz4e33CfVoQ_6f8vKrjJ2LfCj_2aXc8TkJ7FEBXHkTSQn5CzziaX9kDyex04UABu2tqDhwaBvntGoLQQosjq1T3yJIWeREZPrPYMkFQrvxwfRDpjZBks_grvZFZzd0ZxJpkBL8Q-KPj0/s1600/detail+of+grey+embroidered+silk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A close-up photo of the embroidered silk, showing the design of leaves in more detail" border="0" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiHz4e33CfVoQ_6f8vKrjJ2LfCj_2aXc8TkJ7FEBXHkTSQn5CzziaX9kDyex04UABu2tqDhwaBvntGoLQQosjq1T3yJIWeREZPrPYMkFQrvxwfRDpjZBks_grvZFZzd0ZxJpkBL8Q-KPj0/s200/detail+of+grey+embroidered+silk.jpg" title="" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Detail of the embroidered silk.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Perhaps I should accept that I am not fated to be a Victorian lady of means, and just run myself up some voluminous, practical black and grey woollen dresses with plenty of white cotton aprons, petticoats, collars and cuffs. How disappointing to never wear my silver-grey silk, though! </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhooCFgkY6E3Dz0m-bOB1RInxu89ROUqeeGcIfouO1VwLunkKwrJjb4pJRGAztzSNT08dtUrsZORRyQtZjaemTMG-w0HJbFy7PCFb31a588X7ybE2E_v3IEBzK0QyPdmhAbvPO_ZOmzynbx/s1600/p+velvet+colour.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Rich purple, sparkly, glittery velvet" border="0" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhooCFgkY6E3Dz0m-bOB1RInxu89ROUqeeGcIfouO1VwLunkKwrJjb4pJRGAztzSNT08dtUrsZORRyQtZjaemTMG-w0HJbFy7PCFb31a588X7ybE2E_v3IEBzK0QyPdmhAbvPO_ZOmzynbx/s200/p+velvet+colour.jpg" title="" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
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Sparkly, glittery velvet.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On a visit earlier this week, I found this lovely purple shimmery, sparkly velvet - the picture is blurred because I wanted to get the colour and glitter effect, rather than the fabric itself, which is 'just' velvet. I plan to line it with a dark purple satin for a somewhat more exotic than the norm 'infinity' scarf. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNzFbLIHaCcX387HJnzMoJ0FewCVctdm7r9mnMb-qIaFX6r5Mp53ORXjd6Ct5wccxt9-iVt2TV0davuObgEkgMGxEspn9-bJ0IGhciSoNxHWrh8uCpMwsBR3xgHo7AGA4iwJqtUK_u0NHR/s1600/over+my+arm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A black devore fabric over my arm to show off both the dark pile of the hearts and the transparent fragility of the fine net base" border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNzFbLIHaCcX387HJnzMoJ0FewCVctdm7r9mnMb-qIaFX6r5Mp53ORXjd6Ct5wccxt9-iVt2TV0davuObgEkgMGxEspn9-bJ0IGhciSoNxHWrh8uCpMwsBR3xgHo7AGA4iwJqtUK_u0NHR/s320/over+my+arm.jpg" title="" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Devore-type fabric over my arm.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the same visit, I found a black devor</span><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 21.988636016845703px;">e</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> type fabric - the hearts are a luxurious velvet p</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ile,</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> on a base of fine black net. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I can picture this as long sleeves on a plain black velvet dress, or as an unlined jacket to be worn over a plain-coloured cocktail-type dress. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of course, fabrics of this type, style and quality are not to be found in the pound-a-metre room. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nevertheless, you would probably find it hard to believe the unfeasibly</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> low prices I have paid for what are, when all is said and done, luxury fabrics.</span>Eenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15033554889829111312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9134840977113412578.post-57759356891242134672013-10-11T17:47:00.003-07:002013-10-22T06:51:42.688-07:00... Immanuel, redeem thy captive ...<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Going into Immanuels is not like entering a normal fabric shop. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTyZfoTWspvyKhu7muotdCKgOP7hqAf2I5a4wLRFL3KQtOI9mXkgzc6lyQJLIBuAJwHw0TuNemKphyw8gyEAbRn3g4o-XjR7c4OLLVaeTLvy3fTUauu1uQTkh8AB_ma07gQsBLRdZ67MrF/s1600/1+entrance+to+the+Church.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Main entrance to Immanuel Fabrics, showing door leading to narrow corridor" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTyZfoTWspvyKhu7muotdCKgOP7hqAf2I5a4wLRFL3KQtOI9mXkgzc6lyQJLIBuAJwHw0TuNemKphyw8gyEAbRn3g4o-XjR7c4OLLVaeTLvy3fTUauu1uQTkh8AB_ma07gQsBLRdZ67MrF/s320/1+entrance+to+the+Church.jpg" title="" width="248" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;">The main entrance of Immanuels. </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To gird my loins and give me energy for the decisions I would soon be facing, I stopped in at a local bakery, Oddies, when I got off my bus. Odd name, delicious bakes! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">had one of their delicious pies and a gooseberry tart. While there, I could not resist a ginger-and-lemon cupcake, too. Delicious combination!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Can you see the rolls of plastic just inside the doorway on the photo on the left? </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsDuNZGfma_gmOv2EjUoXKxmQq7zORMpt8nuoGKC1gVgcGJM5z3gUIrj0Y2-0fKyKJt8GH_IdPp_9sRn3HYI9qobjmYzWEAhmT6om7vv9WqaFP6FyAZrlsd3M7mo4p1ar4_Yar8ug_Xjw5/s1600/entrance+to+left+of+door.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Narrow corridor just inside the entrance door, packed full of rolls of PVC and similar fabrics" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsDuNZGfma_gmOv2EjUoXKxmQq7zORMpt8nuoGKC1gVgcGJM5z3gUIrj0Y2-0fKyKJt8GH_IdPp_9sRn3HYI9qobjmYzWEAhmT6om7vv9WqaFP6FyAZrlsd3M7mo4p1ar4_Yar8ug_Xjw5/s320/entrance+to+left+of+door.jpg" title="" width="251" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
The front corridor, lined </div>
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with roll after roll.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is an entire corridor, going the width of the building, stocked with roll after roll of plastic, PVC, leatherette and the like, with only a passage sufficient for one person between the rolls.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bear in mind this is just the entrance. I'm not actually<i> in </i>the place<i> </i>yet.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then I entered Immanuels. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's like entering a strange combination of a mad church jumble sale, the crypt of Scheherezade's dressmaker's storeroom, and a warehouse. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY0zZaU0P2OKTUg4AJYcGgxADC60HzxMsvbZiYf2QYNk2TK8atxRbnBH5f07_QWFuGIEBSrj51vQEjI0_kLOAYjh5Khsy9IlH1EqqJczBzyQfUw1muIqdXCnMgDYki2M98v_XrGiYTHPsu/s1600/5+one+of+the+side+rooms.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A small side room inside Immanuels, filled very untidily with rolls of fabric" border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY0zZaU0P2OKTUg4AJYcGgxADC60HzxMsvbZiYf2QYNk2TK8atxRbnBH5f07_QWFuGIEBSrj51vQEjI0_kLOAYjh5Khsy9IlH1EqqJczBzyQfUw1muIqdXCnMgDYki2M98v_XrGiYTHPsu/s320/5+one+of+the+side+rooms.jpg" title="" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Mad church jumble sale?</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There <i>is </i></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">sense and logic behind the visual confusion, but it's hard to grasp on your initial visit if you are unprepared - and impossible if you're in a rush! </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: left; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.5em; orphans: auto; padding: 6px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGtOj-nb4OiOx0I_HtpSYs9Zs_KgxkvV41ioJzMR5kyoF60amTk88-a4TIsBGnjnHuJzgOtXmBDIJqVmF0RtCUSK8qVK5ElTfATgfTi7Edj1pGu1Y3DuFFUcsJ8N5V0kc49Vg8PeYKwKlo/s1600/wall+of+fabric.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="A wall inside Immanuels, totally lined with horizontal rolls of fabric" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGtOj-nb4OiOx0I_HtpSYs9Zs_KgxkvV41ioJzMR5kyoF60amTk88-a4TIsBGnjnHuJzgOtXmBDIJqVmF0RtCUSK8qVK5ElTfATgfTi7Edj1pGu1Y3DuFFUcsJ8N5V0kc49Vg8PeYKwKlo/s400/wall+of+fabric.jpg" title="" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 16.363636016845703px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Entire walls of fabric</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are entire walls of fabrics separating the main 'church' into different areas - areas where the suitings are stacked, areas where it's all dress fabric, areas full of very heavy upholstery fabrics. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are shelves with nothing on them but roll after roll of lace, and other shelves carrying organza in all the colours of the rainbow ...</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxngFvYsoJNdHnDOOyLsO5EQXzVpl4No8A_kOH0Fi7PbWQeYP-k36wGHmAY2htdxZ7ogblLmLH28RYj1-ruKs4V8hThcah56enEEDhBrfpqIia-O8ItBMfFJqNMI4PajeMlMn8mokylfw6/s1600/cheerful+staff+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A happy proprietor with a welcoming smile holding attractive well priced fabric." border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxngFvYsoJNdHnDOOyLsO5EQXzVpl4No8A_kOH0Fi7PbWQeYP-k36wGHmAY2htdxZ7ogblLmLH28RYj1-ruKs4V8hThcah56enEEDhBrfpqIia-O8ItBMfFJqNMI4PajeMlMn8mokylfw6/s320/cheerful+staff+%25282%2529.jpg" title="" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 16.363636016845703px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">A cheery face is always an encouragement to buy.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The friendly owners and staff always hav</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">e a word of greeting for you however busy they are. There are usually </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">only</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">two, sometimes three, people working at one time, with three, sometimes four, on the busiest days. There is no 'customer service' in the sense of the sort of customer service you would get in a 'top people's' shop - you need to look for what you want and find it largely by yourself - but they are always more than willing to get fabric down off the racks for you, and to fetch and carry rolls and bolts. They have a very good idea of what they have in stock if you know what you want, and can usually give you a general idea of its location within the building - as long as it's not been moved by a customer of course!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2hget3yu_8eTW41l6H1288QwHxHdmB74L04wytJ0t_t1Qqw3I5hAexfNSovR9c8FKra1KhDQT2wTqksmM8mz3DHondc83CvyacsCrS1EiZq9eqLhpG9wLYZbTZjfEERtYj-DhAW1uzYpC/s1600/Inside+the+pound+room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img alt="This photo shows the staggering amount of fabric in just a small part of the room in which everything costs £1 per metre." border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2hget3yu_8eTW41l6H1288QwHxHdmB74L04wytJ0t_t1Qqw3I5hAexfNSovR9c8FKra1KhDQT2wTqksmM8mz3DHondc83CvyacsCrS1EiZq9eqLhpG9wLYZbTZjfEERtYj-DhAW1uzYpC/s400/Inside+the+pound+room.jpg" title="" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just one small section of the pound-a-metre room</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Venturing deeper into the building, there is a wonderful room where even more amazing things can be found. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This room is known as the pound-a-metre room, and <i>everything</i> in it is, obviously. £1 per metre. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's not a small room, and it's not sparsely stocked, either. It's a big parish-hall type of room, with a high ceiling for the racking, and all sorts of well-concealed treasures up there among the spiders! First-timers find their way to this room, and stand, blocking the doorway, gazing into its distant recesses and asking 'which is the pound-a-metre section?' as they simply cannot believe the sign in front of them which reads 'ALL FABRICS IN HERE £1/m' in fluorescent orange. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whether it's cafe nets or canvas strong enough to mend your roof, it's all £1/m. I bought my curtain fabric in that room. I've bought many, many fabrics from that room, and made all sorts of lovely things to sell at craft markets and bazaars. I made almost £100 for the World's Biggest Coffee morning MacMillan fundraiser having spent less than a tenner in that room.plus a couple of reels of thread. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've found exquisite plain cotton there, of a quality that just must be Egyptian. It was from a clearance at an old mill; goodness knows how long the stack of fabric had waited for the light of day. Another time, I bought what I thought was a 45" wide cotton to use for lining aprons - on getting it home it proved to be a 90" wide pure cotton voile. Exquisite! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've also bought some odd stuff there, for curiosity value really. Well, why wouldn't I, at a pound a metre? Weird spongy stuff (it might come in useful for fancy dress construction one day). Amazingly heavy roof-mending (or perhaps boat-building, or road-making) canvas. Rude ironing-board-cover fabric (believe me, it's <i>very</i> rude. Indeed.). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The thing is, though, the stock at Immanuels goes beyond curtains, cottons and the pound-a-metre room.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Far beyond.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">More tomorrow. </span><br />
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Eenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15033554889829111312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9134840977113412578.post-21362558172091488632013-10-10T16:53:00.002-07:002013-10-22T06:52:44.112-07:00Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel ...<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The tenth of October already - nearly Hallowe'en and I live in Pendle Witch country, as you can see from the bus!</span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyiOBsnTNOLPBqzqeCLyxgldcvuTuiFuAhpn_n2VNutyXk8THUA3ASsD8sEJISHVC8WlXyYtILWTcgm4_kYHw3kgLX-Fh7YAiKxLYEcUHN4tqMbRDC4QzNZyNHhdc2Qoc9UwLv_4eahTjL/s1600/PICT0420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A double-decker bus of the 'Witch Way' route, with a flying witch painted in the side, and the name 'Elizabeth Device'." border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyiOBsnTNOLPBqzqeCLyxgldcvuTuiFuAhpn_n2VNutyXk8THUA3ASsD8sEJISHVC8WlXyYtILWTcgm4_kYHw3kgLX-Fh7YAiKxLYEcUHN4tqMbRDC4QzNZyNHhdc2Qoc9UwLv_4eahTjL/s320/PICT0420.JPG" title="" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Flying Witch bus - and very <br />
comfortable, too, with leather seats!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yesterday I braved the wind and the rain in the morning to go to my favourite fabric shop - Immanuel Fabrics in Burnley. By the time I'd got to Burnley Bus Station the rain had stopped and there was a big patch of blue in the sky. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1jYLbXK8AYnN6H-q4_SB2Wle-ZkESasxmInwhnwp_WWkfagSlH_tVGFQCpxXfSCcZUmFu0pHVlFgFxDfreTPrOsI5dcDSGL417pqB7QW-biekPjXt43qtcPZzITmcrlciPVdymQ0Djm-r/s1600/Immanuel+Fabrics.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Immanuel Fabrics, front entrance in the sunshine. No shop window, just a narrow doorway." border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1jYLbXK8AYnN6H-q4_SB2Wle-ZkESasxmInwhnwp_WWkfagSlH_tVGFQCpxXfSCcZUmFu0pHVlFgFxDfreTPrOsI5dcDSGL417pqB7QW-biekPjXt43qtcPZzITmcrlciPVdymQ0Djm-r/s320/Immanuel+Fabrics.jpg" title="" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Immanuel Fabrics front entrance.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A few minutes later as I arrived at Immanuels, the sun had come out and the sky was very blue - it wasn't only my mood which lifted as I approached Immanuels, even the weather's mood improved!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've been a regular customer there for almost two years now, and as a result have a stash so big I could probably open a shop of my own - the less said about it, the better, probably..</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, as usual I found lovely things to buy. And a couple of things I actually needed, too. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg5taQolhNhjSy3wv9yeZykdAdxIDePlO52qff-auGo2SLbZSKCWcW-ljJaFUhgzAO0eljY4iDgw2RYLU17lydtNgQ60BhK6G-D0sIbSSxm4khseuJQz51aX3erMsUnEQsrO5q5KP9_gOu/s1600/pt+fabrics+in+racks+and+rolls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg5taQolhNhjSy3wv9yeZykdAdxIDePlO52qff-auGo2SLbZSKCWcW-ljJaFUhgzAO0eljY4iDgw2RYLU17lydtNgQ60BhK6G-D0sIbSSxm4khseuJQz51aX3erMsUnEQsrO5q5KP9_gOu/s320/pt+fabrics+in+racks+and+rolls.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There were lots of new full and part rolls from Prestigious Textiles, and other similar quality fabrics. One of the reasons I like the PT stuff so much is that it is all dyed and printed here in the UK, which not only keeps jobs here but also ensures that the environmental pollution from the dyeing process isn't just 'shipped off' out of sight, out of mind to somewhere with far less stringent controls, regulation and environmental policing than we have here.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The fabric is sold as 'possible seconds' and that is what nearly all of it is - no more than 'possible'. Normally it is indistinguishable from 'perfect' on short-to-medium length runs. On longer lengths - say 15m and above - slight offsetting of the print register by 1 or 2mm is often detectable between the two ends. That's what makes it a 'second'. I fully understand why this can't be supplied to contract upholsterers, commercial curtain makers, large retailers and the like, and very much appreciate being able to buy it for my purposes at bargain prices!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">More on my favourite shop tomorrow.</span><br />
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<br />Eenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15033554889829111312noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9134840977113412578.post-50097482737517726062013-10-04T14:09:00.001-07:002013-10-22T06:54:12.386-07:00Aprons - and other things - at the market<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our village has an annual market in late spring. It's a big event for our village, which is off the beaten track and has nothing much to commend it to tourists, compared to some of the nearby villages which have stunning views, stately homes, picturesque gardens, 'listed' buildings, medieval churches and even castles. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One or two of our neighbouring villages are very strictly 'preserved' in a sort of time-warp, and hence popular for filming period dramas and the like. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have none of that, Instead, we have a busy village committee who organise things like the market and the field day, and re-enactments on the playing fields. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This year, instead of the market being held in the village 'square' (actually, it's a triangle) it was held in the grounds of the 'trading estate' - an old converted mill complex - which was a much better idea. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had tentatively said I would attend; I had aprons made, lots of bunting, rod pockets for the fishermen ... <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsoNyMYf9pGkJW6KcfycUgOg4gbZDTMo8SOJ-mB6Fj0thdL7LYJHgZ1Za42jrm41vHfqBhulA5Xx2MXouApmWF29uotDezSLzQDZFlL3YfPDR3GOCGZQE49L-1sJZ4SslI8YovB2o2OddH/s1600/PICT0465.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Three colourful aprons drying in the sunshine on a washing line" border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsoNyMYf9pGkJW6KcfycUgOg4gbZDTMo8SOJ-mB6Fj0thdL7LYJHgZ1Za42jrm41vHfqBhulA5Xx2MXouApmWF29uotDezSLzQDZFlL3YfPDR3GOCGZQE49L-1sJZ4SslI8YovB2o2OddH/s320/PICT0465.JPG" title="" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Full aprons drying on the washing line</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">At 8am on the morning of the market, I was still in bed when there was a knocking at the door - it was the market organiser making sure I was ready to attend - yawn! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">I staggered up, and down the lane I went with my boxes and bags. Fortunately it was less than 100m away, and my friend brought me a nice hot mug of coffee from her house as I set up my 'stall'.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgndpJ8-FpmqBI8Op928R4tBj8vbi5_9dcBl6MgSMhXyRHK13OkqJUEiX1DAkUXp39LBqww19l_2Ud78jBdh1mJDEyveALyvozlwLEJqjEFmpPXFz3u03lYhV2BkUWm43AMJZ_O2lp_9ge4/s1600/016+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Phot of my stall, with bunting blowing in the wind and aprons and other items on the table." border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgndpJ8-FpmqBI8Op928R4tBj8vbi5_9dcBl6MgSMhXyRHK13OkqJUEiX1DAkUXp39LBqww19l_2Ud78jBdh1mJDEyveALyvozlwLEJqjEFmpPXFz3u03lYhV2BkUWm43AMJZ_O2lp_9ge4/s400/016+(2).jpg" title="" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My stall at the Village Market - nearly sold out and <br />
only been open for an hour and a half!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was cold and it was windy - </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had to take the aprons off the rack and hold them down with the rod pockets (which BTW were filled with garden canes cut to length, just in case someone thought they might liberate themselves a nice new rod) -.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">but the rain held off and the crowds poured in, eager to buy. The Allotment Society sold out within minutes, it seemed - British Asian women on a day out from the East Lancashire industrial towns south of us almost stormed the Society's stall, determined to fill their gardens with lovely, healthy home-grown plants at bargain prices.</span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7qSncB3Ep1LfGGfmyXUEmAgpOrjzEPVbz6DVxd5u824tyMHDyQJG89TzKjCbmVQz9-hvmY7163JYHKHYjCoXFkbXRRehVZyB7-F_KamYlx6zWVInYZRJZMgx9ROwQmj7I5lK2ZXwBiCSN/s1600/bias+binding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A variety of colourful, patterned bias binding." border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7qSncB3Ep1LfGGfmyXUEmAgpOrjzEPVbz6DVxd5u824tyMHDyQJG89TzKjCbmVQz9-hvmY7163JYHKHYjCoXFkbXRRehVZyB7-F_KamYlx6zWVInYZRJZMgx9ROwQmj7I5lK2ZXwBiCSN/s320/bias+binding.jpg" title="" width="278" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I sold bias binding, too - you can't get binding<br />
like this in the shops! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I didn't do too badly, either. I sold everything and took orders! At one point, just as the photo above of my stall was taken, it was looking very bare so my friend took over the stall for a few minutes while I dashed home for some more stock! I had a couple of half-aprons I'd made, some more bunting (I had to sit at my stall and trim the threads off it - it was finished but not 'finished off') and - bizarre genius - bias binding. I'd got a bias binding machine for Christmas and had been making miles of the stuff; I thought that sewers or crafters would not want to buy a finished item, but they might well be interested in buying bias binding - and they were! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Eenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15033554889829111312noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9134840977113412578.post-14048271186285999452013-10-01T17:05:00.001-07:002013-10-22T06:55:25.231-07:00A new sewing machine<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Well, it's new to me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've acquired a Singer 28K handcrank; her serial number dates her to the first half of 1908. She came from a rural car-boot sale via a friend, for the grand sum of £8.</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSLB9nfulhaqSTMvl6snhyphenhypheniTgF5j-SWApt7GrF5XZNBzApK8g6b7hv1hpkFIknKiAldEkxugLQq6vB9HemS9pcKoq7m7DAdgUpIyBjvwzi3DqVQqApbRjetDsdrl8vNE8gDUehOwmq24Hw/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Singer 28K handcrank sewing machine made in 1908" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSLB9nfulhaqSTMvl6snhyphenhypheniTgF5j-SWApt7GrF5XZNBzApK8g6b7hv1hpkFIknKiAldEkxugLQq6vB9HemS9pcKoq7m7DAdgUpIyBjvwzi3DqVQqApbRjetDsdrl8vNE8gDUehOwmq24Hw/s320/002.JPG" title="" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Singer 28K, made in Kilbowie, Clydebank<br />
Scotland, in the first half of 1908.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We put her on my dining room table, changed her needle, wound her bobbin on my 1914 Jones Family CS (as the Singer's bobbin tyre is missing), threaded her up - and she sewed. Not quite perfectly yet; the tension mechanism needs a thorough cleaning, and the stitch length adjuster is jammed, but the application of plenty of WD 40 followed by a good dose of sewing machine oil in all orifices and wherever metal meets metal will soon solve that problem, I have no doubt. </span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDYe8tHwRThegAt3hoqd6JUvVotfeha9QJyi8-zKAl-zogcvWWfOq256VQ2pwEpWP7lVDVZ0o7b81maNdLxORTRBqYZ5Myw95e014x8u_QBOqabYLy0Bb9BF4ucucpiJX62WNQUuus7S3k/s1600/machine1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDYe8tHwRThegAt3hoqd6JUvVotfeha9QJyi8-zKAl-zogcvWWfOq256VQ2pwEpWP7lVDVZ0o7b81maNdLxORTRBqYZ5Myw95e014x8u_QBOqabYLy0Bb9BF4ucucpiJX62WNQUuus7S3k/s320/machine1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jones Family CS 'as supplied to HM Queen Alexandra'<br />
with 'coffin top' case seen behind.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The lid to her accessories compartment is missing - I think it was a sliding lid, so it must have slid right off - and she has neither accessories nor cover - which I think would have been a 'coffin top' similar to that of my Jones Family CS, seen on the right here. The desirable bentwood cases came a bit later, I'm sure.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How many domestic machines of any type are still perfectly functional at 105 years old? There are literally thousands, probably millions, of century-old hand-crank and treadle sewing machines still doing useful, often vital, jobs all over the world. I wonder if the men and women who made these machines a century and more ago had any idea at all of the heritage they left us? I wish my old machines could talk! I'd love to know about some of the garments they made, the women who used them and the conditions in which they were used. Gas-light? Oil-lamps? Or did they push a table to the window and place the machine there when they needed to sew? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hope to get into some of the 'better' vintage-style fairs by doing 'craft demos' with one or other of my vintage machines. Some of them will offer a free stall if you will do a demo or teach a class. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I must get on to doing tutorials on here - quick and easy lavender bags will be the first one, I think. I make a start on it tomorrow, as it's forecast to pour with rain so there'll be no gardening for me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Eenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15033554889829111312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9134840977113412578.post-79416591079899599012013-09-30T10:32:00.001-07:002013-10-22T06:58:08.808-07:00World's biggest coffee morning<h2>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">Last Friday 27th September, as most people will be aware, was the date selected for 'the World's Biggest Coffe Morning' this year.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">All over the UK in towns, cities and villages, coffee (or tea!) and cakes and other goodies were being served in homes, parish halls, schools, community centres, pubs, shops and - in our village's case - the village Social Club, in order to raise funds for Macmillan.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">As a therapy radiographer who trained and qualified at The Christie in Manchester (before taking further qualifications and then travelling all over the world!) back in the dawn of time, I am all too well aware of the many and varied forms of help needed during a cancer patient's journey. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">One of the girls - Pauline - I trained with in the late 60s/early 70s at The Christie was, until she retired recently, employed by Macmillan as 'the Macmillan radiographer'. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">in a major teaching hospital's radiation therapy department.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">When I heard that Annie, the organiser of the coffee morning at the club, was planning 'stalls', I volunteered to have one. Well, I like to sew, I have the ultimate source of cheap fabric - if it were any cheaper it would be free! - I have years of experience and hours of free time.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggAc2xeCqOEPUvjP9IbeviaI8kD_ou54hN1pOGVKSSGKpX-7rY8JjlgmzV2dsKV7H-gyM2yQ8xj4niriQ1RHOudz3FznN7R5QqK6jtJB_Q5Vt76WSsQJfOSWNd9kq99WFspAtiIztUBx67/s1600/stall+at+Rib+Club+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggAc2xeCqOEPUvjP9IbeviaI8kD_ou54hN1pOGVKSSGKpX-7rY8JjlgmzV2dsKV7H-gyM2yQ8xj4niriQ1RHOudz3FznN7R5QqK6jtJB_Q5Vt76WSsQJfOSWNd9kq99WFspAtiIztUBx67/s320/stall+at+Rib+Club+(2).jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">So I set to work. Four full aprons, four half-aprons, five plastic-bag-holding 'tubes', ten strings of floral bunting, forty lavender bags and twenty rose-and-lavender bags later, I was ready. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">On Friday morning I was up at 6.30 am pouring the lavender into the bags and sewing those final seams ...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">By 2.30 pm I was home again, with two aprons, four strings of bunting, one lavender bag and three rose-and-lavender bags. Oh, and a big bag of home-made parkin! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Annie <i>kissed </i>me when I gave her all my takings, just keeping a fiver back because I'd had to buy the lavender!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Then at about 5pm there was a knock on my door and a lady who'd missed the fund-raiser was there - she'd heard I had bunting for sale and was desperate for some. She bought the lot, so that was yet another £20 ... it's fast and dirty bunting, which is why it was so cheap.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Most of the lavender bags sold within the first hour. I should've made more plain lavender bags. Next time. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">They were much admired, and again a very fast and dirty make. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I'll do tutorials on both the lavender bags and the bunting soon.</span><br />
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Eenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15033554889829111312noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9134840977113412578.post-89079169547230333012013-09-28T18:53:00.003-07:002013-09-28T19:18:10.099-07:00Settled and sewing<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After years spent in and near cities, due to my work, I knew I wanted to return to my rural roots.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So here I am, in the beautiful Ribble Valley of rural Lancashire, living in a red-brick cottage situated in a very, very ancient village, and enjoying the company of a talkative rescued cat and my family of sewing machines.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've sewn for as long as I can remember, learning on my mum's old treadle Singer as soon as my legs were long enough to reach the treadle.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Having lived and worked all over the world, and always had a wanderlust and itchy feet, I'm more surprised than anyone else to feel so settled and contented in a little Lancashire village which runs to one shop-cum-PO-cum-off-licence, and five buses a day, none on Sundays. I've lived here just over a year now, and I simply <i>love</i> it. It's difficult for me to imagine living anywhere else, and for - I think - the first time in my life, I'm seriously thinking about being here 'next year' and 'the year after next', instead of thinking 'where shall I go to next?' and getting that frisson of excitement at the prospect of a new job, new people and a new home in a new country.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I thought I'd chronicle some of my sewing adventures here, as well as some of my thoughts, memories and plans.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHxmtEgWzjtOw2NsywyjnX2KgpDaA7Ew2wYVEgq6lAENA4CmqF-bZVJiVDavLeGih3XFxHribYi8SxDqitlcePhJ_l0kADz3owJHfZk5BndCl2UBaObGl9ZNnxHqNy7H8JNvGZyN8-SuAw/s1600/PICT0469.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="My cat on what is supposed to be my sunlounger!" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHxmtEgWzjtOw2NsywyjnX2KgpDaA7Ew2wYVEgq6lAENA4CmqF-bZVJiVDavLeGih3XFxHribYi8SxDqitlcePhJ_l0kADz3owJHfZk5BndCl2UBaObGl9ZNnxHqNy7H8JNvGZyN8-SuAw/s400/PICT0469.JPG" title="Cat on a sunlounger" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">For <i>whom</i> was the sunlounger provided, eh?</td></tr>
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<br />Eenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15033554889829111312noreply@blogger.com0