DARNING

[baldy.smith]

When I was a kid my mother used to darn our socks on a Saturday night, does anyone
still do that sort of thing, or are we a completely throw away society now?

She also used to put patches in our trousers, and darn the holes in the elbows of
our ganseys.

[anna]

no Mr Smith ,i dont know anybody that does that anymore .....any rips or tears in clothing ,just means they need new ones ...
and now you have come to mention it ,i took my daughter out and bought her a Christmas Tree ,for her first Christmas away from home ,
and decorations for the tree ,so when we got back ,i asked her for some thread to make some loops on the baubles ,as some didnt have them on ......she told me she didnt have any thread ,,and she didnt know how to sew . ...........so i guess a needle and thread is not as important as if used to be ..

[baldy.smith]

My father used to cobble our shoes himself to save money.
He used to put loads of studs on the soles, and steel toe
segs and heels, to make them harder to wear out. Hand me
downs were the order of the day as well. Glad I was the oldest
cos I always got the new stuff.

[anna]

...lucky you ...
its amazing your Dad doing that with your shoes ...it wouldnt be heard of in this day and age ..they get things too easy ,,,
i can remeber segs ,,my Riders ,and my Brouges had lots of them ,it was the fashion at the time ,,,it wasnt to make them last longer ,,but i supose they would have ,,but fashions change that fast ,and they got left in the bottom of my wardrobe ,as i moved onto Platforms ..

[jimmywizz]

i have a few pairs now that need fixing

[Pilot]

I was 2nd in line to my older sister....them bottle green knickers were hard to explain on PE day

[gilhall]

Baldy remembers my family from his younger days so will not be surprised to know that my Dad always cobbled our shoes while my Mother darned and sewed and patched all our clothes, when necessary. Unlike him I was the youngest, of nine, so new clothes or shoes were restricted to Eastertime and the Good Friday march. All the lads were taught to cobble and the girls all baked and sewed. I lived by myself before I got married and so did my own darning on a 'dolly'. A couple of weeks ago I was assembling a flat-pack set of drawers and while tacking the back board on I automatically held some of the nails in my teeth, just as we did when cobbling. I still have a 'last' in my shed. Thanks for rekindling the memories.

[anna]

I was 2nd in line to my older sister....them bottle green knickers were hard to explain on PE day

.
Lovley story Jill ,thanks for shareing ..

[baldy.smith]

Lovley story Jill ,thanks for shareing ..

It's "Gil" for Gilbert anna, Jill is a girls name and Gil is certainly not a girl.

[jimmywizz]

"them bottle green knickers were hard to explain on PE day " it never bothered sless

[anna]

Lovley story Jill ,thanks for shareing ..

It's "Gil" for Gilbert anna, Jill is a girls name and Gil is certainly not a girl.

my appoliges Gil..

[comeonthen]

you lucky people. I had no clothes or shoes to patch. My father took me to the blacksmith for my shoes. He said that they would last for years, I am still wearing them. as for my clothes I used to make them myself from grass and reeds that I found on Cleadon hills next to our family hut. You people were brought up in luxury.
comeonthen.
Ps would put a smilie on here but I have nothing to smile about, besides I don't know how to do it.

[anna]

[Axeman]

My school photo from Horsley Hill Juniors is a cracker..

I'm the only raggy one there.

Patches on both my knees, raggy jumper that needs a good darning ( and is too big ) ..

One dirty shirt collar up, one down and hair all over the place..

No I'm not posting it...

.

[anna]

PLEASE ..Axeman .....

[johnc10]

Yeah..... ye gotta show us now Axeman

[Axeman]

Oh..OK OK

I'm far left, second row from front.

You'll have to Zoom in on patches.

I remember those slip on shoes as well...the elastic used to snap at sides after a while, so my shoes would keep falling off. :

This will be ABOUT 1968 ish

[anna]

back row ....3 from the right ,what is going on with his hair !!!!!
.
=D> =D> great pic Axeman ,,thanks for shareing ,,and i wouldnt say uou were the raggiest
but your shoes look a little small for you ...bless
.
thought my brother might of been on ,but he isnt ..

[Jarrow Pete]

Is that Mr Bishop the headmaster on the left? Can remember teacher Spiv Gordon he used to punish you by giving you the monkey knuckle treatment,his classroom had a mural of viking ships painted on the back wall. I left there to go to Redwell in 57.

[Pilot]

I remember the headmaster Mr Bishop.........he played the same record at assembly most mornings.....greensleeves.....I still know the words