Hello

Welcome to my little corner of the web, I do hope you will enjoy your time here, feel free to leave comments, I love reading other people’s blogs as well as writing this one.

I write all my sewing adventures at Pins, needles and Thread because I teach and run sewing groups it made patterns and advice easier to find. The rest of my life you can find here, book reviews, poetry, travels.

I am a home maker, I enjoy many things baking, knitting, crochet, embroidery as well as painting and drawing. I live in beautiful Hampshire with my lovely Staffie, Barney and my beloved E.

As a child I would spend weekends with my Nanna, a prolific crocheter!  We would spend our time watching old black and white movies, she would make large bedspreads in granny stitches and I would knit or play with her beautiful box of glass buttons. She bought me a sewing machine when I had my daughter but sadly passed away a month before my son was born; sewing became a way to keep her memory close.

I would like to say the first dress I made was a complete success; but it was a complete disaster. It was a Laura Ashley McCalls pattern – I had rushed to get it finished and hadn’t ironed any of the seams. A very dear friend of mine took pity on my efforts and so I went to her home every week while she patiently taught me how to make the dress step by step.

Bringing up two children and working did not often leave me a lot of time to sew, but I used to make Christmas presents and dressing up outfits. My sewing seemed to be a catalyst for my children, I remember sweating away making my daughter a raggedy jumper for her morris dancing, it took me weeks of labour ready for her May Day Debut – but she lost interests soon after!

Its my one regret that I did not learn crochet from my Nana but about 12 years ago I took myself off to the local WI and asked one of the ladies to teach me.  I am a kinaesthetic learner and need to see how things are done rather than reading instructions. Thank goodness for youtube, I am still learning, there are always interesting tips and techniques.

I am not a good follower of patterns – but usually can work out how something is made. I tend to mix things together, for example knitting is great for clothing but I will add a crochet edge. I adore felt but will incorporate needle felting. I might like the top half of a dress pattern and combine it with the bottom of another.

I have created projects for sewing world – it is always a thrill to see my name in print. I am in the process of writing a sewing book that will be published later in the year.

I have run a number of classes at Clothkits, Eternal Maker and Harry and Floss.

mini pincushion brooch