Sewing
A Third Age Crafts feature
by our Interests, Hobbies & Pastimes Editor

Sewing, at its most basic level the functional joining together of two pieces of material with needle and thread, is making something of a comeback during these straightened times.

With the ability to sew, you can sew on buttons, make or repair your own clothing and even design and make your own curtains and other household furnishings. It is also the basis for other more detailed and artistic needlecrafts such as Embroidery, Quilting, Applique and Patchwork.

One of the many benefits of Sewing as a hobby is that once mastered, it is a skill that is so versatile. It’s also cheap to start since all you really need is scissors and shears, needles and pins, good quality thread and a tape measure together with your choice of fabric. Later on you might like to invest in a sewing machine which will open up your sewing options considerably and like most things today in this highly competitive world in which we live, needn’t cost you the earth.

So where do you start? Well having armed yourself with the basic tools of the trade as above, a good book on the subject will certainly help. We would recommend The Complete Book of Sewing (Needlecraft) by Chris Jeffreys. The Complete Book of Sewing is the ultimate sewing guide for all skill levels, from basic seamstress to the aspiring Vivienne Westwood.

Detailed photographs cover every sewing technique from sewing a basic hem to creating a couture look-alike. It’s an inspiring step-by-step guide for any sewing enthusiast who wants to create, alter and repair his or her clothes in style!

Readers who have bought this book have said: “I found this book to be, as its title says, the most complete sewing book I own. As I am a beginner at sewing, every time I come across a problem I’ll look into the book and I’ll find a solution to it. If I don’t understand a sewing method, I’ll look at the pictures and there are lots of them. In the front pages there are pictures and advice on the types of fabrics available and their washing instructions. I’m glad I own this book!”

And: “This book covers everything you need to go from beginner to expert. I particularly liked the sections on taking measurements and tweaking paper patterns so that the finished garment fits perfectly. It’s all explained very clearly with plenty of illustrations to follow. Highly recommended!”

For those in their Third Age who would like to learn to Sew in a sociable atmosphere, Sewing Courses are available in most areas.

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