The British Navy didn’t provide uniforms for their sailors back in the early days of sailing ships, so the ‘matelots’ would make their own. Often at sea for months on end, they were given afternoons off to make new clothes or repair old ones, it was known as ‘make and mend’.

The tradition continued through decades of austerity and two world wars, though it was in the civilian world rather than the navy. Lack of finance was the prime mover, if you couldn’t afford to buy maybe you could make – many folk did.

Not all the ‘makers’ were women, though most were, collecting the name seamstress along the way (seamter for men). No surprise that many items were made for the great outdoors, a nice little example of which we have here in the collection.

Don’t know where this one came from, but thanks to whoever made it – we reckon in the 1970s. She didn’t make this one, but a lady called Mary Gillespie made several other items in the collection – our favourite seamstress.