In my mothers image?

My mother was a seamstress. An AMAZING seamstress. She was a book keeper by day, at night she became the fairy Godmother. She sewed for me, she sewed for my friends, she sewed for anyone that asked. She sewed the daintiest lavender sachets and she sewed THE most exquisite wedding dresses and ball gowns. The first time I went into a store to buy a bra on my own, I sobbed my heart out. Because the best fitted bra's that I had were ones that mum had made-and she was no longer there to make them for me.

Which brings me to my next statement. When your mother tells you that she is teaching you something valuable, believe her.And pay attention. I must have "absorbed" the basics, because I do okay. But when my mother tried to teach me to sew I would say "I dont need to learn because I have you to sew for me".

My mother was a tormented soul and when I was 19, she committed suicide.The impact of her lessons didn't strike me until I had a child of my own...and I became a "whenwe". A "whenwe" is someone who's adult life becomes so removed from their childhood that they find themselves beginning sentences to their own children with the phrase "when we were your age..."

I asked my husband for my first sewing machine a year after we moved in together. I told him about my regrets and that I wanted to learn. Shortly after that, I discovered cake decorating. I threw myself into sugar and the sewing machine was left under its little plastic cover-coming out only for mending seams and raising hems.

I love cake decorating, but with the addition of two more children it has become more difficult to do. Once I start a cake, I need to see it to the end without stopping.I cant do that with three young children (an almost 8 year old and 2 under 5's) and so I work through the night every time we have a birthday.

I have inherited a few of my mothers issues and needed to find a distraction of my own. But something that would relieve my stress, not add to it.For many reasons I decided to get out the sewing machine. The first project I did at this point really bit me. I loved it, and if the kids needed me I could put the needle down and come back later without ruining my project.

I really enjoyed that project and Lordbob praised me endlessly. When he asked later what would make it easier, I told him that I would really like a new machine to start again. As always, he didnt need justification and told me to do the research. I did (More in my next post) and he bought me the machine I asked for.A friend of mine had spent some time with  me when I was sewing on the old machine and it bit her too. When I mentioned that to Lordbob, he suggested I give the "old" machine to her. I did and the two of us have become so engrossed in all things sewing that is feels as if not an electronic message between us  excludes the subject-and so we learn together.

My mum had me spend hours unpicking fabric-because it was the only thing I would do. She used to say "One day you will want to learn, and if you know how to unpick the proper way-you will realise that you can sew anything". She also said "press your seams,iron your fabric and then iron it again" So when I found this post featuring a Tailor's ham and seam roll (incidentally, my mothers maiden name was Taylor) I got excited. I completed my set this evening-it took me AGES to fill them. I used a block of small pet bedding from my local supermarket, It cost me £1.10 for a bag and after filling both, there is a fair amount left over.

It's not my first project since my new machine, but it feels like the most significant.
And so MammaNene, thank you for your pattern (and tutorial). It gave me a moment with my mum.