Hiya, I am starting a new creative project, thought it might be good place to show my efforts. With a lot of wait time coming up with appointments and treatments I was looking at a portable time fill option - so hand embroidery it is! I just wanted a small, achievable, positive to not need to think too much but focus on.Starting with straight lines (oops maybe will not do it all in 24hrs...remember the slow down being the aim 😉). Then a cross stitch, then a bigger challenge. Three simple kits to start while I learn some needlework. If I am happy with my efforts, I then have a bigger free hand in mind, using some quilting project fabric I keep not having time for.... but now do for a bit. Watch this space 🙂🩷.

Onya! A project is a good distraction from treatment. I still have my sewing books from school with the stitch samplers, some have good marks as in 9/10 and others are average! Never appreciated it at the time but now I quite enjoy some embroidery and knowing how to tack something or back stitch, blanket stitch is handy occasionally!

This is memory lane! The first thing we made was a bag, to hold our sewing books and projects. Machined, press studs and then we had to draw our name on the front Flap and then chain stitch our name!@jend thanks for prompting memories and best wishes with your project and treatment Take care

@JenD congratulations on your craft project. Busy hands are great to slow the mind down while waiting for appointments etc. Can wait to see the finished projects. I do scrapbooking and I have done a bit during and after treatment. It gives me a lot of joy. @cranky_granny I am sure you will love your time with CWA and get to finish your projects.@iserbrown and @"Annie C" I think schools should bring back sewing / cooking for all students. There are a lot of kids / young adults that are unable to cook or do basic sewing. In my year 7 class we had to sew our school uniform winter skirt. Our local alterations shop charges $25.00 to take up the hem on a pair of pants / jeans. I have a daughter who is a little short and she is having some sewing lessons and one thing she is learning to take up the hem on a pair of pants. She said this was a bit boring. She changed her mind when I said the other options was for her to pay for the alterations of her pants herself.

When I was at art school (Glasgow) a year of embroidery studies was required if you intended to teach (long dropped - both me and my art school!) but you know, you just might have kicked something off - small, easy to stop and start. Now, whatever happened to my stitch book??

Well done you, @JenD!! I don't have the patience for needlework ..... I took a small cross stitch project with me on the plane to the UK in 1977 .... it was in the bin before I left the plane! LOL. I've never been good at sewing anything!!

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26 Replies

Fufan
Member
2 years ago
I’ve been quilting about 30 years now. It got me through the lockdowns, which coincided with my cancer. When we downsized recently I got rid of the inherited doileys, but can’t part with a supper cloth with a full 9 inches of crochet around it. I also got rid of the samples I made at Teachers' College: I did not then consider myself a sewer, and counted every thread of Cesarine to get 10/10. However my mother-in-law did leave a stash of beautiful never-used handkerchiefs which I have appliquéd over soft floral blocks to make a quilt. Sewing can be a welcome distraction, and there is a lot being done for charity, too. Check out Boomerang Bags, or Days for Girls.
Annie_C
Member
2 years ago
@TaraJ
I became hooked on patchwork and quilting over 40 years ago. At the time I was the youngest in the class, being a tad over 30! Now I am the oldest in the group teaching the youngsters!
The quilt in the photo I completed a month ago for a friend's 85th birthday. Took me just on two years to finish and I was a month late for her birthday. My friend cherishes this quilt.
TaraJ
Member
2 years ago
@"Annie C"
A patchwork quilt is one of the things on my bucket list ... One day
Love the idea of using the dollies , such a great idea
TaraJ
Member
2 years ago
What a great idea, I need to find a little project as well, one can only flop around on the couch watching tv for so many days in a row

Have seen lots of people crocheting hats /beanies to go in the free tubs for people to take at hospital , which is a good one , but not sure I'm that creative
JenD
Member
2 years ago
Update - 1st stitching done. Onto a cute little satin/cross stitch.
Locksley
Member
2 years ago
@JenD congratulations on your craft project. Busy hands are great to slow the mind down while waiting for appointments etc. Can wait to see the finished projects. I do scrapbooking and I have done a bit during and after treatment. It gives me a lot of joy.

@cranky_granny I am sure you will love your time with CWA and get to finish your projects.

@iserbrown and @"Annie C" I think schools should bring back sewing / cooking for all students. There are a lot of kids / young adults that are unable to cook or do basic sewing. In my year 7 class we had to sew our school uniform winter skirt. Our local alterations shop charges $25.00 to take up the hem on a pair of pants / jeans. I have a daughter who is a little short and she is having some sewing lessons and one thing she is learning to take up the hem on a pair of pants. She said this was a bit boring. She changed her mind when I said the other options was for her to pay for the alterations of her pants herself.
arpie
Member
2 years ago
What a great idea to do with your Mum's Doilies @"Annie C"!! Can't wait to see the results!! ;) Hint Hint!
Annie_C
Member
2 years ago
@JenD
I am an avid and passionate quilter. If I haven't ventured into my sewing room (a 40 foot donga on our block) at least once a day then I am "out of sorts". It was patchwork and quilting that got me through the aftermath of Breast Cancer.
I have all my mother's embroidered doilies. Some would be over 100 years old.Beautifully embroidered and edged with lace tatting. The back of her work is as neat as the front, something I never achieved! The sad thing about my mother's skill in tatting is that she never had the patience to teach me, the skill and art of tatting died with her.
One of these days I will use the doilies in a quilt. Hmmm, I have been saying that for 30 years!
The memories of sewing classes at school are flooding back. I remember making an elastic waist petticoat, complete with embroidered ballerinas around the hem and edged with my mother's lace tatting. I was in primary school, around age 12. I do remember winning first prize at our local agricultural show.
I have turned again to "Slow Sewing" by renewing an interest in needle turn hand applique, an activity that I have not undertaken for over 40 years, finding it very relaxing and restful.
Enjoy your creative outlet. I wish you all the very best for your successful treatment.
iserbrown
Member
2 years ago
This is memory lane! The first thing we made was a bag, to hold our sewing books and projects. Machined, press studs and then we had to draw our name on the front Flap and then chain stitch our name!

@jend thanks for prompting memories and best wishes with your project and treatment
Take care
cranky_granny
Member
2 years ago
@JenD i got my granddaughter everything she needed to make dream catchers. She made one and started a second one then lost interest still got it all maybe one day one of my 7 other grandchildren will take it up.
2 of the girls are coming over in the next holidays to learn to sew one wants to make some aprons. The other one wants to learn how to take up her jeans and pants. Told them first the have to master sewing around a square and a circle.
Im actually looking for 2nd hand sewing machines for them to take home.

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