Happy Birthday Ma

Had my dear Ma still been alive, today would have been her 91st Birthday. She died in 2000, but never a day goes by that I do not think of her in some way. She was a very creative person, a sewer, potter, basket maker and gardener and I have her to thank for teaching me my early sewing skills and fostering a lifelong interest in things textile and growing.


So today, I’m posting a couple of things she did when she was a student at the Glasgow School of Domestic Science in the late 1930’s when training to be a teacher. There is a posting on July 4th this year that explains why she did not complete her course. ( here ) I have two of her sample books ( Subject titled "Housewifery") where she noted how to do French, flat or run and fell seams, darning of linen damask or knitted socks, plackets, patching, attaching tapes and many other techniques, and then with a sample on the adjoining page..... The stitches are minuscule, and would have taken ages.

This pair of camiknickers are made of the finest pale pink cotton lawn, the rolled hem and seams are less than a ¼ of an inch wide, and the sides have lace inserted into strips of pin tucks. There are darts at the back, and a waist band closed with three tiny buttons down the side. They were never worn – perhaps because I think they would have been very draughty!

The little girl’s blue petticoat is made of the same type of cotton lawn, it is finished to the same standard, has a scalloped bottom, lace edging with a placket opening down the back and five little buttons. Sadly this is not in as good condition as the knickers as my teddy bear wore it for a while, and it also has a few rust stains.




To finish today, photos of my Ma, when she was very young, this one was on my very first post.



and as I remember her.