There was a time when I made all my own clothes. I went once a week to a sewing class. We bought the material and chose the pattern, and afterwards we made the garment. I made coats, suits, dresses, blouses – you name it, I did it. I even made trousers for my sons. They were still at the school age, so nothing like a gentleman tailor, just basic jeans or cordruoy. We had a good teacher. My machine was the one in the photo. It was a Swiss make, Bernina, and in a so called swing-box. When finished you clapped the box together and put it away.

I had a separate box for all my threads and still have the threads, but my sewing days are now over. I no longer need anything special, but I enjoyed it at the time.