Currently it contains a length of viyella green paisley material , yards and yards of blue gingham ,some blue fleece and two lengths of trousering, two pairs of old curtains and their linings ( invaluable) , a bag of quilting fleece, a dress length of green small polka dot  and a box of patchwork bits.

The muslins it is then.

I have just spent the morning adding a a foot to the end of a sheet  so that there is enough material to tuck under the mattress top and bottom . Luckily I had an old sheet (due to a leaky pen and doing the crossword in bed ). I feel virtuous.

Yes you have guessed it. I am a hoarder of trifles. (Image  of a cupboard full of mouldering bowls of trifle)- ugh

I just find it hard to throw away any scrap of material and I am fast accumulating bags and bags of bits. They are taking over . I wouldn’t mind but I have decided not to go down the patchwork route when I discovered  what was charged for fat quarters.

I will hoard these almost worthless bits of tat but happily give away  things that will fetch a fair bit at a boot sale. Why do they have them so early in the morning. ?

I have just figured out that in the last 40 years I have spent less than  three  thousand pounds on clothes. ( most of my current wardrobe  has existed for at least ten years and things were cheaper forty years ago) This is why I now find material so expensive. I can hardly say that clothes are expensive with so many cheap imports, but I don’t like the cheap imports ! They lose their shape and colour so quickly and look tatty after a few washes.

Given the choice I would love to dress in the long flowing regency dresses ala Georgette Heyer  book cover heroines , but have neither the figure or the nerve to carry it off. My most favourite dress was a  dress bought for ten pounds in the sixties , It was in jewel colours  on black background  and for some reason made me think persian. It was gathered under the bust and tight around the waist . I loved that dress and wish I could find the same material again.  I haven’t even got a photo wearing it , but the memory lingers on.

The whole school disappeared off to the Black Country Museum and various projects like the school day  have begun. I made this waistcoat from some old curtains.

After that I have some material for two pairs of trousers , but first I want to get a really good fit on the bottom, as most of my trousers end up a couple of inches too low in the crutch and feel distinctly odd to wear. I am going to make a pattern from a pair that do fit well and make it up in some old material- curtain lining before I take the scissors to the expensive material.

I forgot to take any photos while they battled but the costumes stood up to some quite vigorous handling.

Right – time to get back to the sewing, I cut out the third ninjanga suit today after Skyping to the grandchild in question. I got to see all the christmas presents and had a good chat at the same time.  The material I have used is a bit less robust than the red and black so I have cut  it on the generous side so she can wear it over her clothes. It could probably double up as pyjamas as well.