A most exciting event occurred in our town last weekend. The Dolgellau recycling centre opened its gates! This may not sound exciting to you, but when your nearest tip is a 40 mile round trip, it really is exciting.
I'm not sure if they are offering a loyalty card, but we will be applying.
So far we have emptied the trailer (where we store bulky rubbish), started on the studio (where we store bulky rubbish), started on the loft (where we store bulky rubbish), started on the children's room (
In going through the children's room I came across their car seat blankets (I had a dedicated blanket for the car seat, so that if I couldn't find it in the house, I knew I had left it in the car - do you understand the logic?). They both had their own blanket.
Now as you may or may not know I have a handcrank Singer Sewing machine which I resurrected from a dusty corner of my neighbours house. Although I enjoy using it, it is too slow to be my favourite machine.I was not allowed to use a sewing machine until needlework classes at secondary school.
I was not allowed to touch my mums sewing machine until I was 14.
I found myself shouting at my children for fiddling with tension and pressing buttons on my Pfaff machine. So I decided that the handcrank machine would be ideal to let them loose on.
So this weekend they both converted their blankets into cushion covers.
You are starting them early and I can remember my Grandmother had a machine like your old one but this stood on a table and you worked it with this large pedal thing, loved to play with that. The pillows look so comfy.
ReplyDeleteHow absolutely brilliant! I remember learning to sew at my Grandma's knee, but it was all hand stitching. I had a toy machine (which never seemed to work) and didn't get my hands on the real deal till I was in secondary school, like you. I think they may well remember this their whole life!
ReplyDeleteOoh didn't they do well, what a great idea to repurpose them... obviously they take after their mum in the crafting stakes. I loved playing with the treadle on my mum's old Singer... and could not wait to make things. :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful idea. Bet the children were really thrilled with their projects.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
A x
ps I really do struggle with these two word word verification thingies
Thanks for that, I thought the words were turned off. I'll go and see if I can fix it - I can't stand them on everyone elses blogs!
DeleteAlthough I am a young person (huh!) I actually made my wedding dress and bridesmaids dresses on a treadle machine. the machine had been passed down through my mum's and at the time I couldn't afford an electric one, so had to use foot power. The cushion covers are great - the start of something wonderful. Hope you have a good week
ReplyDeleteHow lovely - aren't they clever. What a great way to get them started - just proves, it's never too early.
ReplyDeleteThat is brilliant, start em young I say. Hope they will continue with it.
ReplyDeleteI bet they loved every minute of it too. Long may it continue
ReplyDeleteAw how lovely! Expect you will be a regular at your new recycling depot. Wish ours was just a tad nearer for me - though with no car now its not like I could pack too much on my bike anyway! Mich :)
ReplyDeleteSo so sweet - nothing like starting them early xxxx
ReplyDelete(our rcycle is 11 miles although one less than 2 miles away - explain the logic of councils?) xxx
Ahhh such a nice thing for them to do :-)
ReplyDeleteIt's lovely for them to learn such a useful skill from an early age. I never learnt needlework at school and am only learning now and I am 25!! I bet they have well and truly got the bug now :-)
ReplyDeleteWow....what a fantastic idea.....And so useful for them to learn from such a young age....I am terrified of sewing machines which at the age of 40 is pretty sad lol
ReplyDeletexx
Thank you for your comment on my blog, the fabric is 100% cotton backed with 2 layers of stick n tear
ReplyDeleteYour children must have loved being able to make something on the sewing machine. My little boy's only 1 and he already want to do everything mummy and daddy do!
ReplyDeleteAww bless, the first steps into craftdom! A lovely idea too, instead of getting rid with all the other bulky rubbish ;)
ReplyDeleteWhat a brilliant idea!I've got a few blankets that need an overhaul.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fab idea and how nice that the little ones could get involved too. Its reminded me of a cover I had as a little girl that's still tucked away somewhere, I might have to do something similar! x
ReplyDeletethat is such a great idea - it does seem like magic at that age and who knows what you may have started with them!
ReplyDeleteThat is the most awesome idea ever! I wish I had let my boys sew something with my old machine when they were young, what a keepsake! I hope you put this up on Pinterest if you haven't already, that is just the best idea ever. In fact, I'm going to use that idea, when my little grandson (unborn yet, but due in April) is old enough to come to Grandma's house and sew something. What a treasure to keep and remember. I DO remember watching my Mom sew and loving to see her do it. By the same token I used to follow my Dad around when he made things (he was an electronic technician and was very handy and always patient). Those are treasured memories for me. You are one smart Mom!
ReplyDeleteStarting them young, I like it!
ReplyDeleteAnd if I owned a singer sewing machine like that then I would NEVER let anyone near it! What a beautiful machine, and what a good idea for upcycling their things.
Brilliant - teach them young and keep them keen ey! And teach them recycling at the same time!!
ReplyDeleteA lovely idea, I'll bet they loved the idea of 'joining in'. A great way to reuse the fabric too.
ReplyDeleteJan x