old.sparkles

Or not - I never get time for much.

Or gardening - think I may have to employ someone - that's a first

Beoz

I did say I wouldn't engage, but since you've gone off topic to gardening, I am going to give my 2 cents worth. Bloody Autumn and the weekly leaf blowing exercise - I might employ too.

old.sparkles

That's okay - it was meant in jest anyway (the post, not employing a gardener)

Young Spark does a bit as he still hasn't managed to find work, but he gets unsure about what to cut back or dig up, etc so hoping that he can learn a bit too

scrubbedexpat094

I wish I could knit. Alas I can't

spouse of scouse

I can do a good forehead knit. Couldn't construct a wearable garment to save my life, though.

I did get nits once in primary school. Does that count?

spouse of scouse

Love your work Sparkles

BEVS

.Attachment 130143

Dorothy

Shouldn't it be The Knitting Yarn? Thread is for sewing.

However, on topic my sister brought me 8 skeins of lovely yarn when she visited so I am currently working on a cable knit jumper. It should be done in a couple of weeks.

I'm more into cake decorating these days though. I've done a few wedding cakes (my favourite to do) but thos weekend is a workmate's daughter's 5th birthday. She wants the Little Mermaid.

Dreamy

I can theoretically knit - I know how to do the various stitches and everything... putting it into practice, I just don't have the knack. It's a bit like me and baking, I know all the theory but my sponges won't rise and my pastry could bounce. I can't seem to keep the tension the same the whole way through with knitting.

Now, with this perfectly positioned thread, can I ask people about sewing machines? I love, love Great British Sewing Bee thingy (whatever it's called) and it's furnished in me a huge desire to get a sewing machine. I used to sew all kinds of stuff and make clothes... about 8 billion years ago (my very first proper job was in a factory that contracted to Marks & Spencer, I still have nightmares about bar-tacking shoulder pads) - so I'm not a complete amateur - but I don't want to spend a fortune on an all-singing, all-dancing sewing machine that probably does the dishes for you if you ask it nicely... on the other hand, I don't want to get something so cheap and nasty that I have to instantly replace it.

Any suggestions? Even if it's just 'oh you definitely need a machine that will do x, y and z'?

Dorothy

Forward, backwards, zigzag and a built in buttonhole setting. Those are the ones I use most. I guess it depends on what you want to sew . I do quilting with mine with occasional dressmaking for the littles. Mostly quilts though so I don't need anything fancy. I used to do loads of sewing when my kids were small.

Pollyana

I used to be able to do French Knitting, at least I think thats what it was called. Wooden cotton reel with 4 nails in it and this long tube of wool would appear out of the bottom...... doess that count?!

moneypenny20

I got my sewing machine from Aus Post! You know how they pile random stuff around the queue line so you've got something to look at whilst in the never ending queue. It was $99 and is more than fine for curtains, cushions etc. I've made a couple of dresses but could really do with an overlocker but can't decide if it's worth it. Will it only get used a couple of times or will, because I have it, get used stacks? There are normally good machine at decent prices in Spotlight. Hate hate hate the shop but needs must.

Dorothy

We used to call that corking. My daughter learned how to do that when she was in Brownies. She had a long enough tube to make a small rug for her bedroom with it.

old.sparkles

An old friend from school found me on FB a while back, and reminded me of when I knitted gloves for everyone (fingerless ones - it was the 80's )

I also used to be able to knit hats, and I have photos of the little sparks wearing some I made.

I helped a friend out recently who had no where to live, and in return she showed me how to work my sewing machine which had been sitting waiting in a box for more than a year.

I managed to successfully alter curtains (that had also been waiting for more than a year) so they now look good.

I also managed to make shorts out of some trousers for the young spark that had got bleach on them so I was pretty pleased with myself.

The friend and her family have since gone back to the UK, so no doubt the sewing machine may well sit idle again for some time

spouse of scouse

Polly, I think anything 'French' deserves its own thread.