When did you first start making anything and what was it ?
About 3 or 4 years old - it was a 'teddy bear' for my sister.
Have you always been interested in crafts ?
Yes ... I grew up in West London in the early 1950s (with wartime 'Make-Do-and-Mend' still flourishing) - 'crafty' relatives would show me 'how to do it'.
What was your first textile craft?
Possibly FRENCH KNITTING … aged about 6 to make some dressing gown cords for presents.
When did you start to knit & crochet ?
Between 6 or 7 ... I remember making things like egg-cosies and scarves (as gifts for Christmas or birthdays) - often using large wooden needles.
Why did you start to sew ?
Soon after starting to knit, I realised that individual pieces needed joining together in some way! So I dabbled with a crochet hook but soon found that with a sewing needle in my hand, it was easier!
Why did you begin embroidery ?
At school (around 8 or 9), making gym bags and aprons was a suggested needlework exercise - many colourful stitches (eg. running stitch, cross-stitch or herringbone) were worked on blue, red or green gingham fabric.
What of tapestry ?
I first used rug canvas - it had large holes & was easy to stitch using either yarn or various fabric strips.
When did you first use a sewing machine ?
I think about 10, just before going to secondary school. The first machine was a black hand-turned Singer but by early teens, I was using an electric Singer with a few ‘utility’ stitches.
What of your interest in fabric & fashion?
This began with making dolls clothes swiftly followed by the discovery of paper patterns, fabric and yarn remnants! When I was almost 11, an entry in a local craft competition & a ‘highly commended’ certificate, ‘sparked off’ the idea of becoming a fashion designer!
Do you only work with fabric-based crafts?
No, my interest is with many crafts & generally include those that can be defined as working with a ‘needle & thread’ - an extensive range which over the years just keep growing!
What is your favourite item of clothing to make & why ?
Evening wear was a favourite for making dolls clothes when I started sewing & still is to this day when making for adults. When young, I had a vivid imagination: my dolls would go somewhere special & be transformed (like Cinderella) in fairy-tale style stories - disguising their evening clothes under day or night wear!
When did you first make your own clothes ?
As a teenager, I was shown how to use an electric sewing machine and never looked back! The first outfit sewn was made from my father's de-mob suit - a 1940s 2-piece pin-striped suit, unpicked & transformed it into a 3-piece for myself. With a waistcoat, flared trousers (turn-ups) and a jacket, it easily captured the spirit of the 1960s.
Which patterns did you first use ?
Teenage magazines in the 1960s often included instructions of how to adapt and make fashionable clothes - 2 personal favourites were Honey & Petticoat as they both featured popular and boutique-style patterns.