I was taught to sew by my auntie's Mother who was a seamstress. She started me on hand stitched Barbie Doll dresses & cross stitched gingham place mats when I was 5 or 6. Before she died I progressed to the sewing machine with an A-line skirt on an elastic waist when I was 7. The rest was self taught from patterns & unpicking clothes. Even though they never taught me themselves, my great Grandmother was also a seamstress & my Grandmother a ... Read Full Bio »

I was taught to sew by my auntie's Mother who was a seamstress. She started me on hand stitched Barbie Doll dresses & cross stitched gingham place mats when I was 5 or 6. Before she died I progressed to the sewing machine with an A-line skirt on an elastic waist when I was 7. The rest was self taught from patterns & unpicking clothes. Even though they never taught me themselves, my great Grandmother was also a seamstress & my Grandmother a milliner & knitter & i think somehow I inherited their skills. After years of making my own clothes & costumes for school productions & amateur theatre companies I enrolled in a 6 month certificate course in pattern making & garment construction in the mid 90's, to take my skills to the next level. I followed on with short courses in lingerie, evening & bridal wear & I keep adding to my millinery skills with courses in - straw, felt blocking, free Sinamay shaping, feather decorations & french flowers. In September I've enrolled in an 8 day course in the Art of Tutu: English style, a skill I've literally lusted after since giving up ballet at 17. I own a ridiculous number of patterns, instruction manuals & historical garment books.