williamsews

  I’ve made a shirt, it’s been a while, I seem to have lost interest and have given away a lot of sewing stuff; three machines and tonnes of fabric. I almost gave away the very old machines but the charity shop didn’t want them and I’m glad now and won’t be that foolish again. It is an unprepossessing shirt, plain blue, but the fabric is soft and pleasant to wear. I had a serious battle with one of my overlockers and had to admit defeat. Perhaps it needs a service.  A wet and mild summer was promised, and it seems to be just that, it’s rained for two weeks and the garden is bright green and lush. I took a cutting from a gardenia last year and it has flowered, the perfume from just one bloom fills the whole room. I hope there will be a lot more flowers as summer progresses. That’s my lot, Take care, Will.

It's been a long time since I have sewn anything and am looking for something to start a spark. It's pleasant to look through my old patterns anyway. I didn't realise that I had so many in my size and have never been used by me. I have made three of these. Haven't made these but one has piqued my interest... This one; long-sleeved version. It's a 1959 pattern - old patterns fit much better because more effort has gone into the fit. Let's hope it happens soon, my sewing machine needs a run. I gave three sewing machines to a charity shop last week, along with a lot of fabric and I actually don't regret it - I just have too much stuff, let someone have the benefit of it all. That's my lot for the day, Take care, Will.

  The last month of spring, actually; it’s been pleasant  and everything is blooming. Jacarandas are in flower and the whole town smells honey-sweet, the trees will soon lay their purple carpet as the flowers fall. Not a great photograph and it doesn’t show the Poincianas vying for gaudy supremacy. It’s a wonderful sight to see purple and red trees everywhere. Native Bottlebrushes are beautiful, and the parrots love their nectar. My jungle. A birds-nest fern I planted decades ago, it’s now about 2 metres across and beginning to unfurl new fronds. I was speaking to a friend recently, he’s English and has lived here for a long time but still isn’t used to the upside-down seasons – like Christmas in the middle of summer. When I was young, my parents always had a traditional hot Christmas dinner even if the weather was pushing 40 degrees celsius. Nowadays it’s seafood and white wine, people line up at the fish markets at 4 in the morning to buy their prawns and lobsters, etc. I ha...

  My Great-Grandparents left their home town, Newton Airds (now named Newtownards) in County Down, Ireland, and travelled to Australia on the Southern Ocean, setting out in March 1868 – it was a six or seven-week journey. His name was William and his wife, Jane Lawther–my family has been stuck in a name rut for generations…so many Williams! Anyway, I travelled to the UK in the 1960s, lived there for many years and never visited Ireland – I always thought I would have plenty of time and was too busy enjoying all that ‘Swinging London’ offered but I returned to Australia and never made it, so that was lost to me. These are the remains of their Irish cottage at Emu Flat in Victoria (photo by local photographer, Steve McNeil). They had eleven children. William ‘Willie’ Rainey Jane Lawther Rainey This won’t be a genealogy site but still about sewing of course, as well as everyday things. I don’t sew as much as I used to, so thought it was time to move on a little. Regards, Will.

  I made up a quilting pattern that uses small pieces of fabric because I don’t like waste and it can be used in different ways, which is interesting. Patterns among patterns, there are other possible variations as well. Another one, this is not so interesting. I ran out of fabric when I made these blocks and it was one block short and of course, couldn’t find the fabric again…but it will probably be years before the quilt is finished anyway. Cold, windy and not at all springlike today, great weather for sewing. Take care, Regards,  Will.

  A pinched nerve in my leg is making it impossible to sew, it’s been over a week and have had to give in and see a doctor and that means physiotherapy on Tuesday. I bought a walking stick a while ago in preparation for old age, the chemist range is clinical – practical but ugly, I’ve now had a chance to use it (A chance I would happily live without). It’s inlaid with brass. The head looks how I feel. Apart from that, this is first hint of Spring; an Earlicheer (Early & cheery) Jonquil, I had to pick it, the perfume from just one bloom fills the room. So, nothing happening, a length of white polycotton is pressed and ready to cut, I hope I still remember how to make a shirt.

  I can’t believe it, I haven’t sewn for weeks and don’t miss it. Perhaps after so many years it’s burnout. Macramé is the latest, and the Jacaranda outside the back door is weighed down with hanging pots. I’m in a rut with the design but they are rather relaxing to make. It’s mid-winter and my favourite time in the garden; no mosquitoes and no sun hat, I’ve planted a few roses, this usually happens in August but they were in the shop, so why not? They’re doing well. I’ve started one small sewing project, an apron. I live with a watercolourist and he is in need of a new one. It’s raining today, so no gardening. Take care, Will.