From Doreen
Memories of a Montpellier Quilter
I started school in January 1946. My grandparents taught me to read during the war years while my father was serving in RAOC. He’d been drafted to the Middle East in late November 1940 7 weeks before I was born, returning in December 1944 1 week before Christmas, and 4 weeks before my fourth birthday. We counted ourselves very fortunate. |
Junior school we sewed dirndle skirts, tray cloths, and knitted - bobble hats and mittens, and socks on 4 pins learning to turn a heel. As a teacher I was full of admiration for those teachers who had very restricted materials to work with because of WW2 rationing. Primary school was followed in September 1952 by grammar school. I remember being measured for my uniform in a shop set up in a prefabricated shop in Trinity Street, it had an electronic overhead cash transfer system! We were all required to sew and cook for half a school year, each year for the first 3 years, it was important we could look after ourselves and those subjects were afforded the same respect as every other. Sewing lessons were held in St Columba’s Church Hall near the school because the school lost a fabric work studio due to bomb damage. The needlework teacher was fierce but that stood us in good stead for the future in always trying to get things right the first time. |
It could have been worse, the school was closed down and everyone evacuated to Atherstone for the duration of the war. Many years after I’d left, my mother phoned one evening to say a huge unexploded bomb had been located buried under the staff lawn......across the footpath to our lawns! Barr’s Hill school was In walking distance of what was left of Coventry city centre, we almost all used buses to travel to and from school. During the next 6 years my friends and I watched the huge bomb crater opposite Holy Trinity Church become the basement of the Owen Owen store. Despite all the (sometimes very unsympathetic) rebuilding of the city centre, it is possible to find interesting pockets of mediaeval Coventry which escaped WW2 damage - some surprisingly close to the old cathedral ruins. After school? orthopaedic nursing training in Birmingham, teacher training, and the rest of my life.
From Anne
Memories of a Montpellier Quilter
My Grandma was a very skilled needlewoman, she did wonderful crochet, embroidery and tatting, her hands were never still. She was born in 1884, and experienced a victorian Yorkshire childhood, in the 1901 census she is described as a Dressmaker I remember her showing me photographs of her young self in clothes she had made from fine cotton lawn; even her pinafores were beautiful. However it was her treadle sewing machine’s capabilities that fascinated me; on this she made dresses for my sister and I, we chose our own fabric and with no pattern at all Grandma fashioned the loveliest dresses, the only downside to the process was the fittings which I remember meant keeping perfectly still or being pricked with sharp pins. |
I first remember sewing in my infant school, something like canvas work in which I made cross stitches or running stitches in thick cotton thread and then weaving a contrasting colour through the base stitches,; it was OK but not fast like the treadle! The longer something took to make the grubbier it became. |
In my junior school I remember learning to knit, first a dishcloth, (garter stitch, yarn like string) and then a scarf with scratchy wool (k1,p1 rib). This gave me a life-long aversion to knitting, much too slow and very prone to holes; I would take mine ‘home’ to do a few rows and return it the next day minus holes, all beautiful with even tension….this was because Grandma’s house was between school and home!
So, on to secondary school; at last, real sewing, I had seen the machines!
How very disappointing it was to have to make a plain white apron, with all curved edges; by hand. Why? There were machines lined up on the cupboards under the window! My apron looked like I had cleaned the school’s floors with it at the end of term. Then we went on to cooking; which turned out to be equally disappointing, to me making a salad was not cooking!
The next year I was told we would be making something to wear; by this time my older cousins had introduced me to paper patterns like Simplicity and McCalls so I had high hopes! Soon to be dashed, we were to make a Dirndl skirt, again all by hand, the machines stayed on the shelf. At least I could choose my own fabric, something very colourful from a stall at the local market, such an important decision taking such a long time….Oh how I hated that fabric and skirt by the end of the year, yes it took a year, even though it was no more than a rectangle of fabric gathered into a waistband. It was awful and I never wore it. Don't forget we were much closer to Mary Quant and Twiggy than Heidi!
And that was the end of school sewing, not academic enough! Apparently it was more important for me to learn latin.
But nil desperandum! Because after leaving school and helped by the cousins I finally acquired a sewing machine – electric! And I was off! |
When I married I soon learned to make curtains etc, and then clothes for my boys, little dungarees and shorts and Superman outfits. My youngest once came home from school to tell me he was a King in the nativity play tomorrow and would be needing an outfit! Some old brown velvet, gold curtains and braid to the rescue! |
I still wanted it all to be quick, all finished in no time, I had a busy job and two small children, I didn’t really have time to savour the process. Along with the necessary speed came the inevitable mistakes and faults; after the sewing machine the seam ripper was my next best friend. As the boys grew up I gained a bit more time and enough money to upgrade my sewing machine, I did a lot of computerised embroidery which I loved because it was quick, accurate and automatic, three of my favourite sewing words.
I was never interesting in making quilts; the process was slow, depended on me having a high degree of accuracy and could not be automated.
And then I went to an open day at Oakshott Fabrics (about 2010), there I saw a demonstration of how to make exact half square triangles without sewing triangles! What an idea! Then someone showed me how to make a disappearing nine patch, the whole thing like magic! Patchwork was clever and I was hooked.
Now I have hours to spare so I can slow down and take my time, I can spend a year making a quilt, carefully cutting, piecing and quilting, all by machine, often computer assisted. Never by hand!
I don't think my Grandma would be disappointed in me though.
From Janet
Like so many I used to make my own clothes, even dresses for May Balls when I worked in Cambridge. Needs changed when I had the girls and made so many things for them, using Thodays fabrics. Those were the days! In 1984 a change came along when I saw Rita Humphry’s postcard in a bookshop in town asking for interest in a patchwork group. Montpellier Quilters was born and goes strongly on. I am proud to have been there at the beginning and learnt so much from Rita and Sally-Ann |
From Elaine
Memories of a Montpellier Quilter
How similar are our early sewing memories. I actually remember learning knitting first, from my mum. Knitting was my favourite craft for many years.
My mum went to Schofields in Leeds as an apprentice dressmaker in the 40s. At 90 she can still recall so much of her experiences there, but she had the chance of better pay & less travel and left for greener pastures. Still she must have learned quite a bit as she made so many of our clothes (2 daughters) when we were young. In those days it was a question of economics as much as style. A Singer treadle was her weapon of choice, & I loved it.
I don't recall sewing at junior school, but we learned from Mum & my grandmother taught us to embroider. Senior school 'Domestic Science' was a nightmare for me. Why were female teachers so nasty to the girls? Anyway, the best outfit I made was a pair of PJs, I can picture them still & they were worn for many years. I still love a french seam! Just looked for my needlework notebook, and apart from some useful info, the fabric used for this sample was the PJs fabric! |
My sister & I made dresses etc in our teenage years without a second thought.
My 21st birthday present was a sewing machine. When I started work in 1976 I made some skirts for the office. When I had my son I made cord dungarees. But home sewing was disappearing, and once Thodays closed down, it felt like the end of an era.
When Goosechase opened, it was a spur for me to get into patchwork, which I had already tried out in Australia. Not looked back since, and now that I have a granddaughter, I may even go back to a bit of dressmaking.
Elaine
Memories of a Montpellier Quilter
From June
Learning to Sew
I enjoyed reading the couple of articles about other members experience of needlework at school - I had a look at some of my project folder I completed for my CSE Needlework at school - It was exploring needlecraft and using the skills I had to make items for children. These are some of my project pages (see pictures) I had a very supportive teacher who encouraged me to do both CSE in Needlework and O-level in Fabric and Fashion as the course work and exams were very different. For the O-level I remember making a dress with padded shoulders and epaulettes in white fabric for the top half and a blue denim looking cotton for the skirt (very late 80's fashion) - sorry no photo and I grew out of the dress so think it got cut up and probably made into something else. My mum taught me all sorts of crafts and my Nan taught me to crochet. I think that's why I have always got a craft on the go! I taught myself to do lace making on a pillow from a book as well. Always kept occupied busy making something as a child. |
Memories of a Montpellier Quilter
From Sue
Memories of School Sewing
That isn't straight', 'undo it and start again' were the comments from the teacher when I started to sew a straight line of back stitch freehand at the beginning of the autumn term. We were not allowed to draw a pencil line on the fabric, simply to do it by eye. Well I know that I've got astigmatism but really! I was completely disheartened, and had to undo the stitching which really did look a mess) and didn't have any time to start the stitching again. No doubt you have had similar experiences?
I took the offending item home and ran the seams up on mother's machine at home in no time at all. I can't really remember the teacher's comments when I presented the skirt to her at the next class a fortnight later, perhaps she had forgotten all about the wonky seams though I hadn't (as you can read)
The next item that we made was a needle and embroidery threads case in dark beige linen. Individually we had to design a pattern for the front using chain stitch, satin stitch the dreaded back stitch and french knots.. I seem to remember that everybody in the class was disgruntled at the challenge, after all who kept embroidery threads?. Why couldn't we be doing woodwork like the boys? We persevered and about 5 lessons later had completed the task. Most of the items went into the rubbish bin once the term had ended but I kept my item. (Was this the start of my fabric stash collection?) Living in Wales we had an Eistethfod in March – St David's Day and all that, for which we made fabric leeks and wore them with pride, but I digress. There were many categories but one was art or something along those lines and so I entered my needle case in that category for first year students, No year 7 in those days, Well, I got a prize, I had come first!!!!, There were no second and third places as I was the only student to have entered the category. All I thought about was that I had gained a number of points for the House to which I belonged – Caradoc. Obviously my sewing teacher was not the judge of the competition because my wonky back stitch would not have passed her requirements. Unfortunately I have looked for the item but it must have been relegated to the rubbish bin too, and my backstitch has not improved .
Sue
Memories of a Montpellier Quilter
From Evelyn
With 2020 being for MQ members "The Year of the Book" I know that many of us would be reading more than usual and that this would no doubt renew memories from our youth. In particular we might recall our early sewing memories - did you sit at your mother's or grandmother's side and learn to make simple items, i.e. dolls clothes etc? Several of our past speakers have told their tales, but ...not me! My mother was always so busy working full time but did manage to knit in the evenings, wonderful cardigans and pullovers for each of us in turn. So mostly for me the memories relate to expeditions to a local wool shop on a Saturday morning to select the colour of wool for my turn. Perhaps this is where I developed my love of colour? I still recall the packs of vivid double knit wools sitting on shelves waiting for me to select my favourite.
Looking back my "Quilting journey" began all those years ago when at eleven I passed the 11+ examination. No doubt this came as a surprise to my dear mother as she was so delighted that she went straight out and bought me a reconditioned Singer sewing machine. Already feeling absolutely spoilt my mother then took me by bus to a local Singer shop where I was allowed to select several coloured Silko threads, four tape measures (why?) and a pair of Singer scissors (which I still possess!). Such luxury - it felt as if my Christmas had arrived early and allowed me a day of sheer happiness with my Mum!!!
Oh how I miss that wonderful machine, so simple to use with only one straight stitch but it enabled me to make dresses, curtains and clothes for my sons when they were very young. I can still hear the sound in my mind as I turned the handle and the needle moved slowly up and down catching the thread from the bobbin hidden away beneath the needle plate. I can also remember its weight as I had to slip my arm beneath its throat in order to lift and move it before setting it aside with its grey plastic cover, so chic!
Needless to say I hadn't a clue how to use it but slowly, slowly and with the aid of Simplicity dress patterns and school sewing lessons my confidence grew.
Many years later I am now fortunate in owning two electric Janome sewing machines which have many stitch possibilities, a top loading bobbin etc etc. They are great and I enjoy using them but no modern machine could ever compare with that wonderful gift and the love which my mother had for me. The memory of that day will, I am sure live with me for ever.
Occasionally whilst watching a TV antiques programme I catch sight of an old Singer machine and catch my breath hoping that it could be mine, but no - not yet!!!
Looking back my "Quilting journey" began all those years ago when at eleven I passed the 11+ examination. No doubt this came as a surprise to my dear mother as she was so delighted that she went straight out and bought me a reconditioned Singer sewing machine. Already feeling absolutely spoilt my mother then took me by bus to a local Singer shop where I was allowed to select several coloured Silko threads, four tape measures (why?) and a pair of Singer scissors (which I still possess!). Such luxury - it felt as if my Christmas had arrived early and allowed me a day of sheer happiness with my Mum!!!
Oh how I miss that wonderful machine, so simple to use with only one straight stitch but it enabled me to make dresses, curtains and clothes for my sons when they were very young. I can still hear the sound in my mind as I turned the handle and the needle moved slowly up and down catching the thread from the bobbin hidden away beneath the needle plate. I can also remember its weight as I had to slip my arm beneath its throat in order to lift and move it before setting it aside with its grey plastic cover, so chic!
Needless to say I hadn't a clue how to use it but slowly, slowly and with the aid of Simplicity dress patterns and school sewing lessons my confidence grew.
Many years later I am now fortunate in owning two electric Janome sewing machines which have many stitch possibilities, a top loading bobbin etc etc. They are great and I enjoy using them but no modern machine could ever compare with that wonderful gift and the love which my mother had for me. The memory of that day will, I am sure live with me for ever.
Occasionally whilst watching a TV antiques programme I catch sight of an old Singer machine and catch my breath hoping that it could be mine, but no - not yet!!!