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Unfashionable Hobbies

73 replies

Kibby · 25/02/2004 12:08

I was talking to a mum this morning at school who's hobby is knitting and quilting, which I thought was so nice in a very old-fashioned way. Has anyone else got and old-fashioned hobby?

OP posts:
bundle · 17/03/2004 10:58

oh thanks marina, hadn't thought of that, doh
john lewis/liberty don't have them, I got so depressed I bought Erika Knight's little cherubs instead and am doing dd2 a lovely simple dress in Rowan denim. mmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Marina · 17/03/2004 11:00

Mmm, I'm doing dd the "Lucky" moss-stitch cardigan from Pipsqueaks in a v. pretty cloudy lilac. Is the Little Cherubs book good?

bundle · 17/03/2004 11:23

lovely. it's lots of 50's style stuff, pretty trad and simple, some with a little modern twist, all in quite muted colours. there's even a knitted dressing gown! v famous five..

bundle · 17/03/2004 11:24

I have pipsqueaks too, but moss stitch takes soooo long, and I have to concentrate ie not watch telly

wilbur · 17/03/2004 11:32

I'm glad this thread has popped up again as I wanted to ask a sewing machine question. For my birthday this year I am asking for contributions towards a new whizz bang sewing machine (my trusty Singer has a seemingly endless repertoire of tension problems and I can't get them fixed for more than 10 mins at a time, grrr). Does anyone have one of those ones that does amazing stitching and embroidery/smocking etc? Any tips on what I should look for? Good brands?

Also, tamum - thanks for the Rowan courses ideas - I'm going to look into one of their weekend ones and see if it might be a good start.

bundle · 17/03/2004 11:51

wilbur, are you in London? I find the ladies in John Lewis' haberdashery dept v helpful..if I was thinking of upgrading my 1913 Singer hand-operated machine (obviously straight stitches only ) then I'd go there

wilbur · 17/03/2004 11:56

Yes, I'm in London and will try JL. Last time I went though they were being refurbished and the haberdashery seemed to be squashed in somewhere temporary. Maybe they're a bit more sorted now. Love that your sewing machine is so old. Some of them do go on forever. Apart from my own Singer, I have my mum's machine, an Elna, which she won in a competition in 1953. It still works fine and can even do several zigzag stitches, but you have to put in these bakelite discs each time you want to change the stitch which is a pain. I will keep it as a back-up though, and in case dd wants to learn to sew. Hope she does.

wilbur · 17/03/2004 11:57

Oooh, I'm sooo sexist. Of course, if ds wants to learn to sew, I'd be thrilled too!!!

Marina · 17/03/2004 13:14

Bundle, no Little Badgers at Barbican I'm afraid In fact no Cherubs or Pipsqueaks either, just the usual public library array of gravy-stained 70s books on chunky crochet.

bundle · 17/03/2004 16:34

marina, thanks for looking. will try our new N4 library, all pink neon & shock, horrow new books. trouble is it's so trendy round our way, the book on our book group's reading list is bagsed by 7 other people before me..ho hum do some knitting instead

tamum · 17/03/2004 17:17

Hi wilbur, glad you liked the look of the Rowan courses. As far as sewing machines go, I got a new one about 2 years ago which is excellent. I liked it particularly because you don't have to use a foot pdeal if you don't want to (and I'm scared of them), but it''s great all round, and incredibly easy to use, considering how many different sorts of stitches it does. It's a Brother Super Ace III (like this ).

Sorry bundle, like Marina, Little Badgers is about the only knitting book I don't possess!

Davros, I haven't done any patchwork since I was about 16, but if I could I would gladly make you a quilt (bit of an empty gesture, eh, but still!)

sammac · 17/03/2004 17:33

Bundle- I have Little Badgers book. Is it just the scarf pattern? I can easily get it copied and sent to you. Just contact me with your address and I'll send it on. I'll look it out right now

sammac · 17/03/2004 17:38

Right - got it. Quick flick through to see what I'd made. It was the quaker ridge cardigan which was gorgeous! Fancy the skull and crossbones for ds next year.

AussieSim · 17/03/2004 18:42

I am ramping up to Scrapbooking if I can ever get completely organised to make a start. Any hints and tips gratefully received

I love Scrabble and some friends in my expat group play it online, but I haven't triend that yet (too busy on MN).

But what I really love is to play golf, although I haven't played here in germany (too expensive and you have to be 'qualified' etc). I did take my clubs home to Sydney in Dec/Jan and last September played in Turkey. I played a couple of times when I was about 4 mths preggers but really paid for it later. Anyway I feel myself getting rustier and rustier every day.

Oh and I Journal and write letters for my DS that he will probably have no interest in reading till I am dead - but I can't resist the urge.

bran · 18/03/2004 11:10

Wilbur, I don't know where in London you are, but a woman in my quilt group went to a beginners class here and found them very good. You could also join the Quilter's Guild as they have a great magazine which always has ads in it for courses. I just had my renewal notice from them and it's about £28 this year.

bran · 18/03/2004 11:13

Firstly I'd like to say that my last post was the first time I've ever done a link - I'm so chuffed it worked.

Secondly, I forgot to say to Wilbur that I found the knitting and stiching show at Alexandra Palace was a great place to buy a sewing machine as I was able to try out just about every of machine that there was.

bundle · 18/03/2004 11:16

oh sammac, that's wonderful! thank you - I'll get in touch via MN with my details. if there are any patterns anyone else needs do get in touch, I'm sure we've got most of Liberty/John Lewis stock between us. x

sammac · 18/03/2004 17:39

Bundle, got it copied for you today, also copied the hat pattern which matches. It is very cute. The star motif is on it too. Will let you know when get email and I can get it off to you asap- get those needles a-clicking :0

sammac · 25/03/2004 17:53

Bundle- still not heard from you. Let me know details and I'll send it off

bundle · 30/03/2004 10:34

hi sammac, I've sent a couple of emails, maybe it's not working>???

Carriel · 30/03/2004 13:10

Not sure why email's not getting through unless we have a didgy email address for you.
You could check your member profile, make sure you've said it's Ok for us to pass emails on to you and if all else fails try sending email again to [email protected] and I'll pass it on

bundle · 30/03/2004 14:08

thanks carrie, I've sent 3 now, and inbetween sent others successfully to other MNers. bundle

bundle · 06/04/2004 10:42

hi sammac, thank you so much for the pattern, been picking out colours for the scarf now the weather has thankfully turned a bit chilly again be in touch soon, bundle x

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