Hi everyone.
I've just joined The Sewing Place.
I'm a retired software engineer living in rural Oxfordshire.
I've been sewing on and off for over 40 years.
First with a basic machine back in the 70s, then I inherited my late mother's Elna SU (very versatile, but all mechanical, not a transistor in sight). Getting the Elna serviced and finding spare parts became increasingly difficult. In the only local shop that could do it the technician was about to retire, so I've now got a singer Quantum Stylist 9960 and a Janome 9300DX overlocker.
I don't sew that much, but over the years I've made a couple of dresses for my wife, numerous curtains and matching cushions from the offcuts. I've made quite a few items for our granddaughter including a "Frozen" dress, and more recently a batch of face masks for the whole family.
One of our daughters has a penchant for "vintage" clothing - read old and fragile, so I'm forever repairing / patching them. Both daughters will insist on buying an American brand which will remain anonymous, but they are fairly expensive items badly made from poor quality material. Once again dad to the rescue, that darn function is a godsend.
Last year I made myself a couple of shirts to the Simplicity 1544BB pattern, but more of that on the pattern forum.