Nana's Sewing Machine

My Nana died this year at the age of 93.  She had been a seamstress all her life; making alterations to clothing for the people living in her neighbourhood for a bit of grocery money.  She made all her children's clothes as they grew up, with a family of seven this was no mean feat.  I remember being wildly impressed when she made some garish floral bridesmaids' dresses for my cousins.

I drove the whole way from Hastings to the north coast of Ireland to collect her sewing machine during a beautiful red and orange autumn and here it is, nestling in my studio next to my own machine.  It feels really important that I use it for a project of some significance; perhaps something steeped in reminiscence and history.

I was delighted to discover a few days ago that Finn can operate a sewing machine remarkably well for an eight year old; his pedal control is remarkable.  I couldn't help but hope that the seamstress's genes had passed down into his little feet.