My paternal Grandmother taught me how to knit, crochet, sew a straight seam and darn socks. Also how to unravel an old hand-knit jumper and reuse the wool, or unpick the seams of an oversized dress and wash and iron the pieces to cut out a smaller dress for a girl.

All that teaching during WWII came in very handy when my first husband left me in 1963 with five children and no money to care for them. I used to go to OP shops and get some clothing for 40 or 50 cents a piece and reuse them to make clothes for my children.

How times have changed? I don't knit, crochet or sew for the great-grandchildren anymore. Their mothers want easy care, wash and wear clothing for their children. No hassles with handwashing or ironing in this modern world.

Handmade with a lot of love has no value anymore.

Erica