Yours, Siobhan

My mum used to knit me the most awful jumpers back in the 1980s, which was a particular hideous time for both handicrafts and fashion anyway, but one in particular left me traumatised.

I used to go to a poetry workshop on Saturdays and one weekend we were being filmed for a children’s TV show because the author Malcolm Bradbury was joining us for a writing session.

Anyway, my mum clearly wanted the sailor’s top she had made for me to have its moment of fame and she insisted I wear it to the filming. The top itself wasn’t too bad, and Princess Di had made that big square nautical style collar quite fashionable at the time. But my mum decided to give it her own special creative stamp by knitting it in the colours of the day. So one side was cream and the other brown – I looked like a cow.

It’s the only time I remember being devastated after being made to wear something I hated, so I made myself late and when I got there, filming had started. I just sat and watched, feeling sorry for myself until one of the film crew took pity on me and showed me how to make an origami swan. So one bad craft karma was cancelled out by a good craft deed.

Having started a new handicraft corner today to showcase readers’ hobbies, I’m looking forward to hearing your stories. Although hopefully none quite as foolish as mine.

Keep your memories and photos coming to siobhan.mcnally@mirror.co.uk or Community Corner, PO Box 791, Winchester SO23 3RP.