Thread 8 - TalkLair: “Brewing Russell's teapot”

[Kucinghitam]

Continuation of previous threads (thread 7).

The new lair of JTT escapees is all cosy and homey; we have truly settled here. Outside, the garden is blooming with spring flowers. Inside, the hearth is glowing, pictures are up on the walls, rugs are down on the floors (and assorted pets curled up on them).

We just won’t mention the gnawed bones of our prey over there in the corner of the cave…

Reports that Sarah Jane Baker has been sent back to prison, hooray, now he’s a martyr, when if the police/probation had done this last weekend nobody would have known or cared. Now he can call himself a political prisoner and keep on getting all that lovely attention.

I hope he has a nice, long stay.

On rescue dogs, a neighbour of mine was refused because her back yard is open. Her previous dog was a rescue collie, which went everywhere carrying a rubber chicken.

She has another, unofficial rescue collie, the owner had a stroke and she took him.

Pet lovers might enjoy these:

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2023/jul/14/the-2023-comedy-pet-photography-awards-in-pictures

'A life-changing experience' is my favourite.

Ooh mouse that sounds good. I can understand you being excited. Do you have your own sewing machine?

I used to make a lot of my own clothes, though looking back I wasn't that good at finishing, and I quite fancy getting back into it.

My old sewing machine was never that good, despite being quite expensive and eventually I ditched it. I recently bought a 'pre-loved', barely used, John Lewis Lightweight machine for £15 from a charity shop. It doesn't have a light and it is tiny but it sews so much better than my old one.

I have a sewing machine but I've mainly used it to make curtains and bedding. I did make a sundress for a granddaughter but it was a huge faff and I'm not sure she ever wore it. I also made a pair of 70s style silver trousers for my daughter to wear at a fancy dress thing but they probably got worn that once.

Shortly before she died, my neighbour gave me her sewing machine. It's made by Toyota and has all sorts of fancy functions that are a mystery to me. I should really get it out and learn how to use it.

I bought a cheap Singer from Lidl years ago - about £60, and definitely not worth the money. Could never get the tension right, so the thread kept snapping. I got a £200 voucher for my 20 years service award at work a couple of years ago, and used it to get a better sewing machine - it's SO much better! I'm in the process of teaching my son to use it so he can adjust his clothes.

New sewing machine is this one:

Damn, won't let me do a link - it's a Brother FS20S.

Highly recommend Janome as a make. I have this and it's brilliant: https://www.janome.co.uk/model-j3-24

Bernina is the gold standard of sewing machines but they are pricey! They do an entry level model for just over £200 though, which I have heard good things about.

Those ensuites! What a pity, the rest of the house is not bad at all.

angelico53 · Today 08:44

Pet lovers might enjoy these:

I've literally just screenshotted a few of those and What's Apped them to my daughter!

MmePoppySeedDefage · Today 09:39

My old sewing machine was never that good, despite being quite expensive and eventually I ditched it. I recently bought a 'pre-loved', barely used, John Lewis Lightweight machine for £15 from a charity shop. It doesn't have a light and it is tiny but it sews so much better than my old one.

My wife has an electric one and an old, hand-cranked Singer, in a painted case. The second is rather heavy.

@MouseMinge your mention of dressmaking classes has got me thinking I should do the same as it's been such a long time since I was familiar with using a sewing machine. Sewing machine fear is a real thing! How much did you pay?

Aw, those Guardian pet photos are brilliant and hilarious! I love the one with the “flying goalie” collie photo-bombing the women on the bench.

I sent the link to my husband - great pictures.

Yes those pet photos are such fun.

I've just had a rummage on the Bernina website for the entry-level model but came across, and was distracted by this, which seems to do beautiful embroideries, and quilting patterns, designed by Kaffe Fassett:

www.bernina.com/en-GB/Machines-GB/Series-Overview/NEW-BERNINA-5-Series/BERNINA-570-QE-Kaffe-Edition

But it's £3,000...

sewingdirect.co.uk/product/bernina-570-qe-kaffe-edition/

Oh my, that is beautiful.

This is the entry level Bernina I was talking about:

Oops.

https://www.thesewingstudio.co.uk/products/bernette-b35-sewing-machine

I got that one a couple of years ago. To my shame I still haven't used it.

What with the rain today, I was looking through some old files and vids and one really made me smile. Found it on youtube:

That vid always made me laugh, the way the dog looks back over its shoulder as they disappear into the dark.

You definitely need a dressmaking class or something, then!

That dog is hilarious.

I do, lucicle, we both do!

Mr Tric has spent the afternoon searching out video lessons - 18 of them - and we'll start working through them.

The Big Boss is my favourite of all those photos. His ears! That cat is nails and I'm here for it.

@Tricyrtis2022 the course is £210 for six weeks of one four-hour class a week. I got it cheaper because I'm on benefits. Worth every penny.

Funnily enough, with all this Bernina talk, the machines we used are all Berninans from the 1970s. I have a feeling that they might be the same ones we used in sewing classes in the 1970s! They're obviously old school with no bells and whistles but they do the job perfectly and I love the fact that they are roughly fifty years old and still working as well as they ever did. Our teacher has been sewing for over fifty years and said that she's used her Berina for just about everything and only started using overlockers a few years ago because while they're handy, they're not necessary.

I have a John Lewis sewing machine which I think works quite well. I'll be finding out more about that over the next few weeks! We can bring our own into the college if we have them tested for electrical stuff but I shan't be doing that because I am not doing a twenty minute walk with a machine that weighs very, very, many pounds. I'm happy to stick with a fifty year old super machine!

That sewing course sounds brilliant. I have never successfully used a sewing machine (school sewing lessons put me off) but feel it’s something I should be okay at.

And I love the pet pictures!