Mrs Bennett, was an older Yugoslav women who had impeccably manicured nails and traditionally tailored clothes.

Initially my sewing started off with one lesson per week later increasing to two and took place at The Block Arcade Dressmaking & Craft School – 286 Collins St Melbourne.

The school was located on the 2nd Floor in a square room with white walls, high ceilings and a large bay window over looking Collins Street.

Even now when I am in this part of Collins Street, I look up and imagine my young self looking out that window. In the room there was a very large central cutting table which we (usually 4 or 5 women) all sat around.

Sewing machines located on independent sewing tables were set up in rows next to the walls and there was a red fabric screen in the corner which was used for modesty when doing a fitting.

The routine: 4pm arrive and begin your work, 5pm tea and biscuits, 6pm pack up.

I was always the youngest person there, most of the women attending were in their 40’s and had come straight from work.

This two hour window of time was precious for me, it transported me into a world of listening to grown women speaking about their lives, their work and their relationships all while learning about: the straight grain of a cloth, how to alter a pattern, tacking a garment so that it actually fits, how to herringbone stitch a hem as well as how to sew a straight line.

It was a quiet time of reflection and expansion all at once.