Page 81 - The Digital Cloth Issue 6

My textile journey began Saturday making an outfit the button falls off!” So, I One day computers came along. Dragonflies crown
as so many others begin… to go out in the evening. learned from the best. I didn’t want to work on a
with my Nan. She was the I began a dressmaking Having studied graphic computer, and it coincided with
best influence in my life course at the local adult design for 5 years, I went ongoing serious health issues
growing up. She made me education centre, where I on to work as a graphic and other life events, so I had to
the person I am. was fortunate to learn from designer for 15 years. I stop work.
At around 9 years old I a lady (Joan) who was a loved the work as it was I continued to go to the adult ed.
learned to use my Nan’s couturier. She had ‘hands on’ in those days; classes and as time went on, I
old Singer sewing machine; previously worked for every line was drawn by wanted to design my own

I was hooked. During my Hardy Ames, making for hand and it had to be patterns, which Joan helped
time at college, where I the royal family. She once perfect as though a with. I had no idea at that point
studied graphic design, I said, “When I teach you computer had drawn it… that I would one day make my
would go out in my lunch to sew a button onto a own fabrics.
hour and buy fabric on a garment, the garment will
Friday, and spend all day fall apart with age before After 12 years learning from
Joan, she retired and I began

a machine embroidery course.
One day the tutor said she had
learned to make felt and would
teach us. The following week I
learned to make a piece of
rather thick, uninspiring felt. The
following week we were shown
what could be achieved with this
amazing ancient craft. My
interest was piqued and I Hearts of gold crown
eventually did my City & Guilds

in Felt making.

From that point onwards I
attended many and varied
workshops, from silk painting to
glass fusing. One technique that
really captured my imagination
was ‘burnt cut work’ using a
soldering iron to cut and

mark-make, used alongside free
machine embroidery. This
technique really inspired me and
I began to experiment.

I had an exciting opportunity to
put my new skills into practice
with a very special
commission… My sister
reminded me that I had once
flippantly said, that should she
Art Nouveau crown ever get married, I would make