A very quick dash in for this week's Ladybird Tuesday after a stupidly busy day out of the house with Master C.
When I headed off to Fibre East with my knitting group last Saturday I wasn't expecting to find any Ladybird books, but that's exactly what I did find on the first stall I came across. Obviously destined to happen.
I've been looking out for a copy of Learning to Sew for years and was so pleased to find a copy in such good condition. Mrs Fox wrote about this for Ladybird Tuesday back in February and that just made me want a copy even more. The Hobbies and Interest series (633) to which this book belongs is certainly turning into a firm favourite.
First published in 1972 this book really shouts 70s to me. The pictures, especially the one of the sewing kit basics, have a very vintage feel to them and all the basic stitch projects remind me so much of first learning to sew at junior school and at home with my mum.
Somewhere my mum still has a needle case that I made for her at school which looks just like what you see in the picture above with colourful running stitch on Binca canvas.
Part of me is already excited about the idea of sitting down with Little Miss C one day and teaching her how to do similar.
As well as teaching some sewing basics the book also introduced several simple ideas for creative work which would make lovely gifts or decorations.
Many of them are simple things like needle cases, pin cushions or a felt toy for a child, but all have a lovely innocent, vintage feel to them which would make them popular for anyone who enjoys the current retro revival.
Just as soon as I can find the time I look forward to trying out a few of these projects and hopefully they may turn into gifts for (dare I whisper it…) Christmas…
If you have a collection of old Ladybird books then please feel free to join in with Ladybird Tuesday. There are no formal rules to follow, just leave a link to any post you write in the comments below and if you're feeling kind link back to my Ladybird Tuesday category here on Being Mrs C. Thank you!
What a lovely book! I also remember doing that stitching at school with the coloured threads and all the different types of stitches, I still have some somewhere! I’ve joined in again this week and you can find my post here http://www.jenniferslittleworld.com/2013/07/ladybird-tuesday-teaching-reading.html
Love this one too, as you know. Over at Mrs Fox’s we posted on “Talkabout holidays” http://mrsfoxs.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/ladybird-tuesday-talkabout-holidays.html
and now I must dash off and look at what Jennifer has at her little world.