Sewing: Making Clothes

Oh yes, I made a lot of their clothes, and I learnt to, what is it - when you gather it all - smocking. Yes, I smocked when they were little. That was all done by hand, yes, yes. Bought patterns, and there again, in the war years, it was turning my things into clothes for the children. I had a favourite pattern company.

I don't remember doing a lot of that, no. I do remember smocking the children's clothes...I was very proud of being able to smock, yes!

Looking back, were the materials and threads better or worse than today?

Oh, much better, because - they were pure silk, then we had tussore silk, remember. Tussore silk, oh, beautiful silk, lovely stuff. No, I think, it was pure tweeds, real tweeds. I mean, they're not any more are they? They're all synthetic things now aren't they - materials - most of the materials. Of course, they weren't all washable in those days, not that sort of material, no, I mean, obviously dresses, all silks and things were washable, oh yes - they were - yes.