I love making costumes. I was overjoyed when the community college had a course in actually making historical costumes (which followed history of fashion). I look at all fashion now through different eyes, considering what went into the design.

Wow! What a handy reference guide. I am always on the look out for the best from Threads.

I'm not sure whether I discovered this myself, but I later read it in a Martha Stewart book. Wrap and pin a piece of cloth (I used felt) around the vertical post of your sewing machine and use it as a pincushion. It is so handy that I don't forget to take the pins out before I almost run over them with the needle. I also tuck a seam ripper into the cloth, and sometime small scissors. Unlike magnetic holders for scissors and such, the cloth has no ill effects on the machine.

This household of two owns five machines. One inoperable (White circa 1905) that belonged to my great grandmother is displayed in the front hall. My fiance has two machines of the forties or fifties, one in a cabinet. I have a Singer from the late sixties and my pride and joy, a Featherweight 1953 (my birth year). All these are in the dedicated sewing room. I take classes at the community college in fashion design to up my skills - they had a fabulous historical costume workshop where I completed my Civil War ensemble. I have yet to tackle draping and tailoring. My fiance does a credible job of fitting himself and grading up patterns for his super-size body. We look forward to creating distinctive wedding wear. The perfect wedding gift would be a serger or an electronic sewing machine!