Mums the word
Diane Rowsell has shared with us how sewing has been part of her tapestry since she was a little girl…
Diane Rowsell, at The Collective Sharehouse
I’ve been sewing for as long as I can remember.
My mum’s sewing machine was always out on the table - new clothes, alterations, repairs.
My first proper introduction was to dolls clothes - we spend hours making patterns and she taught me how to get the best finishes.
My mums top tip was ‘always press as you go’
I went on to make many of my own clothes, especially in the 70’s - some more successful than others - I won’t mention the red polka dot smocked top!
I remember the joys of discovering a pattern that worked really well and then the multiple duplications in loads of different fabrics!
When my children were young, I discovered track suiting and started making track suits and selling them to friends. I called the little enterprise ‘Rascals & Runners’
My own children laugh to this day remembering all the photo sessions we did with them modelling my creations!
In the mid to late 90’s, my two daughters danced with Sandra Smith Principal of Let’s Dance, I had the pleasure of making character skirts and show costumes for the whole dance school.
I have very fond memories travelling to Bradford mills with Sandra in an empty car and returning with rolls and rolls of fabrics and trimmings crammed in, ready to turn into 100’s of show costumes.
So fast forward to the Spring of 2020…I’m sat in my lounge when my 32 year old son says, ‘Mum, you could do this’. ‘Do what?’ I ask. ‘Here, look…this lady Becky wants people to sew PPE for the hospital. You could do this mum’. And so I did…
From surgical gown alterations, scrubs, face coverings, laundry bags, commemorative quilt squares, Christmas stockings and so much more..
For me, a tiny cog in the monumental York Scrubs wheel - I have witnessed what a MASSIVE difference can be made to so many lives (both the givers and receivers) in such a short space of time by so many amazing people - most have never even seen each other
York Scrubs - this project has been HUGE! I can’t find enough words, I don’t think there are enough words! I thank Becky, from the bottom of my heart, for bringing us all together and for giving me a true purpose during this pandemic - being involved has given me a real positive focus.
It’s been a real priviledge to have been part of the amazing York Scrubs story.
Thanks mum!
Without Diane and the rest of our army of remarkable individuals this project would not have been possible, every item has been made with such love and care…
Diane is still busy making these beautiful stockings we will be giving out to local food banks, the women’s refuge, special care baby unit and the children’s ward.