I’ve adjusted some clothes I’ve bought to fit, rather than sending them back, and I’ve made a fabric backing for a batik print that I’ve had in a box for years. I’ve also done a lot of knitting, particularly for my granddaughter. (I appreciate that’s outside the scope of this project.) I like to use fabrics and yarns that are pleasing to touch and hang well. If I make something for someone else I get a lot of pleasure when they appreciate it. I love a bargain and always try to find nice remnants or special offers for my designs. I’m not particularly creative but I like to find innovative solutions to textile challenges. I find sewing very relaxing and it’s helped me to keep sane during lockdown. I hope my thoughts and images help you to decide how to realise this interesting project.

I’ve never been attracted to running but it was very frustrating to not be allowed to go for long walks in that lovely spring weather, so I started to do some running to get some cardio exercise. I bought some Hygge headbands (on special offer of course) but found that when folded over to make a narrow headband, they were too tight, so I deconstructed them and made a looser headband out of each one. I then realised that people were going to have to wear masks sooner or later, so I used the left over pieces to make masks. I’ve been using these ever since, adapting them into 3 layers when that was recommended. I sewed them by hand because the material was too stretchy to do successfully with my machine. I also made some masks from scratch for myself and my husband, from scraps of fabric or old T shirts, so I usually have one that co-ordinates with what I’m wearing. I’ve been particularly pleased that the style turned out to be one that people still wear.

This was my most complex and most rewarding lockdown project. I had bought the fabric for this about 3 years ago, intending to make a simple tote bag to take my lunch and uniform to work in, but I didn’t have any time for sewing because I spent most of my spare time caring for my father, who died in November 2019. (I’m so glad he missed the pandemic). I retired from my job in February so I didn’t need a simple bag for work, so I designed and made something more ambitious with zips and pockets, and cutting the tapestry fabric to make interesting patterns. I haven’t had much opportunity to use the bag but I’m very pleased with the result and it was very satisfying to make something that needed so much precision. Unusually for me I bought all the materials for this at full price. I used my Victorian sewing machine, as I do for all my projects, with some details sewn by hand.