As a young child in the Black Country in the late 30s I was taught by my mother to sew, embroider and knit. I embroidered bought traced tray cloths, mainly floral motifs for presents, mostly satin stitch, stem, or lazy daisy. I was also fascinated by crinoline ladies and samplers. Then came the war and all changed. At primary school we learnt to make aprons from grown-out-of summer dresses among other things. At home it was make do and mend, sheets side to middle, clothes restyled, socks darned, wool garments unwound and reknitted into garments for a new use. Mother’s friend, wife of a funeral parlour owner, used to give us pieces of silk remnants from coffin linings. Other people were able to use parachute silk. My grandmother knitted thick oiled wool socks for seamen, which was very hard on her hands. My mother did voluntary work for the Red Cross sewing pyjamas for injured soldiers.
We all helped in the large garden, and in my grandmother’s garden too, growing vegetables and plenty of fruit. We also kept hens, so provided a great deal of our own food.
After the war my grandmother returned to complicated crochet, making mostly mats and deep lace to edge tablecloths. My mother made clothes, but with new materials, and also developed a love of crewel wool work. We still have the firescreen she made for us. She also enjoyed crochet, which I did not.
I made most of my own clothes, and knitted jumpers, but also did embroidery as a hobby, making plenty of articles for my bottom draw (how old fashioned!).
In the late 40s I entered a local embroidery competition, my stitching was fine but I had used different coloured stranded cottons to the ones in the magazine design, so was heavily criticized. Thank goodness things have changed and we now have so many threads differing in colour and texture, and stitching is more flexible.
My other grandmother mainly did tatting for edgings. Her resident maid made prodded rag-rugs – her aim was to cover the floor of the cottage my grandfather promised her when she retired, which she did using mainly wool tweed samples and mens old suits.
My great uncle taught me netting and knotting. His love was canvas wool work to his own designs. His garden was his inspiration. He grew up on Portland, hence the knowledge of fishing, but the canvas work enabled him to keep his hands presentable for working in the bank.
What followed next in the 50s, University, a Science degree, marriage, medical research. The next big change was four children – three girls and the youngest a boy – so lots of clothes to make, and stuffed toys galore. In the 60s I went to an Embroiderers’ Guild exhibition at the Commonwealth Institute. This started a love of going to embroidery exhibitions. I developed a fascination with needle and thread and joined the Embroiderers’ Guild. My daughters all made bobbin lace and were taught by an old lady locally. Much later (in the 80s) came the chance of taking C and G Parts I and II at Godalming, after that to Wey Valley Workshop and the NEG.
One granddaughter is now on a Maths MSc course but did make bobbin lace. Another, younger, granddaughter also wants to study Maths at university and does cross-stitch. So crafts will continue.