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Did you make anything at school ?

(92 Posts)
Teetime Sat 06-Feb-16 09:14:39

At grammar school my parents insisted I take Domestic Science to O level (forward thinkers they weren't) beacuse I was a girl and would have to feed a husband and children - deep joy! Anyway before we began the course we had to make our own apron which was white with royal blue bias binding edging - which was hell to do and mine was a bit messy. Anyway the O Level turned out Ok as it taught me all the basics that I use all the time - every kind of pastry, sauce, grilling, boiling, baking etc., how to gut and clean fish, all the different kinds of cake methods and on and on. The final exam was a three course meal to your own recipe and to a budget. I cant remember it all except pork chops with capers in cider- I still do that now and again.

Maggiemaybe Sat 06-Feb-16 08:55:08

A fetching apron for cookery, a PE bag with name embroidered on, and like hildajenniJ, a blouse with a mandarin collar, which I don't think was ever finished. We only had one electric sewing machine in class and had a rota for it. I preferred to use the manual ones anyway because the electric one went too fast and any less than perfect work had to be unpicked and done again, including a wonky stitch. Even tacking stitches if they weren't precisely the right length - five eighths and three eighths of an inch, for goodness sake! We used to have to measure each one as we went along grin

ninathenana Sat 06-Feb-16 08:40:00

I spent a whole term hand sewing an apron. I had to unpick it several times as it wasn't up to teachers very exacting standards.
We still have a coffee table that DH made in woodwork class. The style is very '60's but I'm not allowed to get rid of it grin

hildajenniJ Sat 06-Feb-16 08:20:34

I made a blouse from yellow and white cotton material, sleeveless, with a mandarin collar. It took all term for me to finish it. Before we could start cookery (domestic science), we had to make an apron, and then wear it in subsequent classes. Mine was purple and white.
I hated sewing! I've never been near a sewing machine since!

Greenfinch Sat 06-Feb-16 07:39:00

For some obscure reason we had to make a pair of white bloomers which we were then supposed to wear ! Then we had to knit a pair of grey socks which then became part of our uniform.

shysal Sat 06-Feb-16 07:36:55

A dry Victoria Sponge cake, using half an egg. I think we must have been given a recipe from the time of rationing!
In my O level exam somebody turned up the oven my bread rolls were baking in. I rescued them just before they burnt too badly.

loopylou Sat 06-Feb-16 07:13:02

An apron with a gingham border that had a cross stitch pattern, a needle case my mum still uses, a wooden handled knitting bag, again cross stitched, all made at junior school.
Don't think we did needlework at the Convent.

Falconbird Sat 06-Feb-16 07:01:15

In needlework we made cookery aprons and caps, and later Baby Doll pyjamas. I didn't like cookery or needlework and managed to give it up in the third year which was a huge relief.

Cookery was particularly awful. We made soused herrings, meat pies and lamb stew and it all had to be carried home in Kilner jars inside cookery baskets.

My dad, who was unemployed after the war used to look forward to the things I cooked but I was glad when I didn't have to endure it any more.

tiredoldwoman Sat 06-Feb-16 06:44:26

In primary school we had to knit a cover for a coat hanger complete with pop poms - it's still in use ! It must be 50 years old !

absent Sat 06-Feb-16 06:15:41

A couple of embroidered needle cases at primary school – both of which I gave to my mother and one of which now resides in my own sewing basket. In the needlework class in my first year of secondary school we made our domestic science aprons for the following year and something else that I can't now remember. The most interesting things I made were fabric designs which I then printed in the art class. I wore a towelling beach robe with starfish designs for several holidays in my teens.

grannyqueenie Sat 06-Feb-16 00:58:49

Oh yes, it's all come flooding back! Don't remember making anything in secondary school but primary school was full of completely useless useful activity. Starting with a pot holder made out of that stuff called binca?, then progressing to a handkerchief sachet (what was that about?), and the piece de resistance (and believe me I resisted!) was, wait for it...a lap bag, I never did find out what that was supposed to be for...the mind boggles! Put me off sewing for life, but I could, thanks to school, probably still darn a sock if I had to and my daughters seem to think I'm good at invisible mending, so maybe it wasn't all wasted after all grin]

Judthepud2 Sat 06-Feb-16 00:15:30

Hah! Not much if I could help it! was kicked out of dropped 'Domestic Science' after a year. But spent most of that year making a fetching seersucker waist petticoat. We had to put in a tucked hem to let down as we grew. I had to make 4 tucks as I was small. I never grew much more, and never wore the d--n thing anyway! #wasteoftime

Synonymous Sat 06-Feb-16 00:04:22

I knitted for the first time at school when I was about 7 years old. We all had to make vests in 3ply wool and it took a very long time. The reason for this is that if you went wrong or dropped a stitch or the tension was incorrect you had to undo it and do it again. Some of us got pink wool, others got blue and mine was white but my completed garment ended up as grey and off white stripes with blackish blobs. grin
They were knitted for a local orphanage and I was very sorry for the poor little souls for whom the vests were destined! Woolly vests don't bear thinking about! shock

Coolgran65 Fri 05-Feb-16 23:40:57

Passed my domestic science exam with a chocolate marble cake, it was choc and green.....emerald green. Must have tasted ok.

Coolgran65 Fri 05-Feb-16 23:37:57

I made a nightdress, awful thing.
Also for a school trip to Germany we made dirndle skirts in the school colours. Royal blue with patch pockets and that zigzag trimming stuff in yellow sewed on the pockets and at the hem line. With a knitted royal blue jumper. We were near killed by the heat as it was mid summer.

tinaf1 Fri 05-Feb-16 23:30:42

A smocked apron and some inedible rock buns still can't make rockbuns

NanKate Fri 05-Feb-16 23:24:25

In our sewing class I opted to make a nightdress out of a vivid piece of purple material. It took me the whole term to sew down the sides of the nightdress and make a hole to stick my head through. hmm

I can't remember ever wearing the nightdress and I have hardly ever used a needle and cotton since, other than to sew a button back on.

What did you make or cook ?