What To Do In Homestays and Lockdowns: Sewing; And No-Sew Clothes using safety pins and straps

Elizabeth Hurley in Versace Dress before the opening of the film (Americans say movie) of Four Weddings and a Funeral. Advertising picture from Wikipedia. Showing the dress with safety pins down the sides.

 Further to my earlier post on no sewing, here are some more ideas for simple sewing and no sewing.

When travelling from Singapore to the UK (for a family wedding) I had two weeks of homestay in the UK. After the wedding the homestay was lifted. (But the numbers at weddings were restricted from 30 to 15!)

Returning from the UK to Singapore, in Singapore there is an enforced two week quarantine in a hotel of the government's selection.

Sources of Sarees England

This is an ideal time to turn fabric I have never used, such as a saree length, bought from a sale of new and second hand sarees at a temple in Watford north west London.

Singapore

In Singapore you can buy sarees from shops in Little India. Also from 24 hour Mustafa's department store which is on the edge of Little India.

Uses for Spare Fabric

The extra fabric provides opportunities for making:

1 a skirt, 

2 top and 

3 jacket, with 

4 a matching hadband, 

5 scarf, 

6 tote bag, 

7 cover a clutch bag, 

8 add a fabric rose, 

9 cover a scratch straw hat, 

10 or a baseball cap with added neck cover at the back - 

11 and even a matching mask!

12 A hanging pocket from the belt loops of a skirt or trousers. Useful at home. when out can take a hanky, or one use wet wipe.

13 A hanging pocket with zip closure or tabe plus concealed zip to hand inside your clothes for security when travelling.

17 Matching cover for bra straps in case they peep out.

18 Matching sarong for husband or mother and daughter outfit or tiny tots in case they get lost. 

19 Spare material attached to a garment is there, not just for matching up cottons and buttons, but also for testing shrinkage, stretching, distortion and colour run during washing by hand or machine - or home dry cleaning kits.

Stocking Up Sewing Equipment

If you are planning sewing, it helps to stock up with matching cotton or suitable thread, and self-threading needles, or needle threaders, and small scissors. 

If you are flying, often you cannot take scissors and needles in hand luggage. You might need to be sure to put them in a sewing kit or cosmetics bag in your checked in luggage.

Or leave them in your departure and return home country before your outward leg of the return journey, in a bag for a friend or stay-put family to deliver or send by delivery company to your lockdown hotel.

Hire Sewing Machines

Could you hire a machine?

In the UK a company was advertising hire of industrial machines from 45 pounds sterling a day plus delivery charges.

You can also obtain a machine for edging carpets and a carpet fringing machine. I always wondered how it was done. Now I know. By a machine. Aha!

Fabric Choices

Some fabrics can be cut with pinking sheers. Watch out for very fine fabrics which fray easily. Also fabrics with large holes which pull apart easily. 

A close weave cotton is generally safer. Make a small test cut first.

Happy cutting, sewing, dressmaking and crafts!

Useful Websites

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Versace_dress_of_Elizabeth_Hurley

http://www.anglosewing.co.uk/industrial-sewing-machine-rental.

About the Author

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker. Please share links to your favourite posts.