Fun with friends
The message came through a couple of weeks ago.
“Anyone free on Monday morning, please bring your sewing machine, iron and ironing board or just come and make coffee, please”
That’s how I came to be there bright and early on Monday morning, parked outside the village hall, thinking how fortunate we are to live in such a beautiful place. There was no-one around and the air was peaceful and still, save for the clipclop of a couple of horses ridden by two young women out for their morning ride. We exchanged a bright “Good Morning!” as I took my sewing machine over the green, noticing as I went into the hall, that there was “evidence” of birds overhead on the doormat in the porch. How strange, I thought, immediately regretting that I then looked up to see a nest about two feet about my head, built in the rafters of that porch roof. Aaaagh! You know about my “thing” with birds of course…
Over the next half hour a dozen or so of us arrived and set up our sewing machines and ironing boards beneath the bunting we’d made a couple of years ago and the kettle was on ready for the first cup of coffee. My WI had received a request from the hall committee to make some new curtains, please. All fabric and other materials would be supplied, all that was needed was some capable hands and a few hours of our time. We were glad to help!
Many hands make light work when there’s seven pairs of curtains to be made. All were the same size so out came the tape measure, the sewing shears and the cutting table was set up.
As each set of fabric and lining was cut, they were pinned together and handed to one of those ready to sew. The hum and rattle of the machines was pretty much non-stop but it didn’t stop the lively chatter of course! We caught up with the latest news of our friends who’d been on a long distance walk at the weekend, chatted about the play some were going to see at the theatre the following night and from time to time, sought reassurance from the expert curtain maker at the next table that our work met her exacting standards!
The time passed quickly and once the side seams were sewn, we passed them over to be ironed. How many pairs so far? Four? Five?
Next came the curtain tape which needed to be pinned and stitched in place.
Is it nearly lunchtime yet?! The hall committee had said they’d do lunch as well and by the time we were on our third cup of coffee, the door opened and a cheerful delivery of coronation chicken, salad and strawberries and cream arrived.
“Let’s just get these done first, shall we?”
Sewing like this is so much easier than making curtains at home! Not only has everything been measured and cut on a huge table with plenty of space, by the time I was given the curtain to sew, it was all pressed and the tape pinned in place. All I needed to do was to sew a few straight lines. Easy and so enjoyable with the company of friends around me.
I wondered if, next time I need new curtains at home, perhaps the WI team might spring into action again? We laughed as one by one of us admitted that we don’t actually make our own curtains!
After a break for lunch and a last cup of tea before the dishwasher was loaded, we hung the first pair to check the length. We’d each take a pair of curtains home to sew the hems by hand, bringing them back with us to our meeting on Thursday evening, after which the tops would be pulled and gathered and the curtains hung in place..
By half past two, we’d loaded our cars, put down the tables and left the hall as we’d found it that morning. The next time we come here, there’ll be a set of smart new curtains hanging at the window with a small plaque alongside acknowledging our contribution 😉
The fun and friendship was the bonus 🥰
