Stitching
Story
Stitching sisterhood
words Heidi HELBIG
PHOTOGRAPHY john krÜger
“Eileen, I’ve got a little problem,” says Lyn Brew, her head bowed in concentration as she turns her fabric over in her hands.
“You haven’t got enough lining,” Joylene Seppelt offers helpfully, leaning across the sewing table to take a closer look.
“No,” returns Lyn, “I’ve got too much lining!”
“We call this reverse sewing – we do a lot of that,” rejoins Val Dixon, to a chorus of laughter around the table.
It’s a typical Thursday morning and Eileen Bartel’s weekly masterclass is well underway in her makeshift sewing room at Angaston.
The chatter flies quicker than a sewing machine needle as the assembled women use their collective wisdom to tackle matters of life and stitching.
“I call this group my advisory bureau because, you know, they are an authority on everything,” quips Eileen.
“We’re onto Mr Putin at the moment!” adds Joylene.
“And sometimes we have a salacious gossip when the door’s down,” adds Lyn with a devious grin, as more laughter erupts.
For 25 years, Eileen’s classes have been a mainstay for Lyn, Joylene, Val, Anne Batten, Dulcie Waechter, Lyn Schmidt, Joy Linke, Elaine Bartlett, Margie Reimann and Louise Schubert who, at not yet 60, is the “baby” of the group.
“I call this group my advisory bureau because, you know, they are an authority on everything.”
- Eileen Bartell
The ladies come for much more than just Eileen’s expert dressmaking skills, swapping everything from fresh produce and books to life advice.
“We’ve laughed together and cried together; we were even bridesmaids together when Eileen got married in 2021,” says Lyn.
“Three of us have birthdays in February, March and May and we’re all the same year – next year we’ll need to have three 80th birthday parties!”
Their friendship and collective love of sewing has helped them through some challenging times too, including grief, loss and sickness.
“When Joylene had a kidney transplant 14 years ago, we all had a go at making her a beautiful nightie,” says Lyn.
“And I’m still wearing it,” adds Joylene. “It got me through a very, very trying time.”
Their matriarch Eileen, fondly referred to as the “Queen”, instigated the sewing group after training and working professionally as a seamstress.
Her love of sewing, stitching and handicraft was evident at an early age.
“You see I always liked sewing – my first sewing teacher at Angaston Primary School was Mabel Green,” says Eileen.
“She used to let me do things by myself, and I would knit in the schoolyard for girls who had little dolls – I’d make them clothes.”
Eileen learned much from accomplished sewing teacher, the late Rosina Hage, and went on to work as a dressmaker for the late Barbie Harris, an Australian designer known for her unique paintwork on silks, who made her mark in Melbourne’s fashion scene.
“Barbie gave me an awful lot of advice; she was a designer in her own right,” says Eileen.
“Back in the late 70s and early 80s she would sell a three-piece outfit for $1000 – that was a lot of money in those days.”
Today, Eileen remains highly sought after for special occasion attire, such as weddings and christenings.
She also has the honour of making the elaborate robes worn by the Barons of the Barossa at official ceremonies, taking as long as eight hours to perfect the velvet collar and intricate braid.
Within her close-knit group, Eileen is universally adored for her expertise, knowledge and patience.
“She’s a wonderful dressmaker,” says Lyn.
“When we’re making something Eileen will have a good idea how to change it to make it more attractive to suit our figures, or she will add a design feature,” adds Joylene.
The length of a pant leg when seated, or the comfort of a jacket worn by the mother-of-a-bride, is Eileen’s specialty.
“It’s those nuances of sewing that Eileen is so good at,” says Val.
“That’s something Eileen always does; she thinks about those things,” adds Anne.
Eileen’s talents also extend to pattern-making: “She whacks the paper on the table, measures, here, measures there, puts the ruler down, and there’s your pattern!” declares Lyn.
Not content with just sewing, the group also dabbles in embroidery, patchwork and crocheting: “There’s so much talent in this room,” observes Val.
Under Eileen’s mentoring, the group has grown in confidence and each member makes clothes for themselves and loved ones to mark special moments in time.
Joylene recalls making a smocked gown for her granddaughter Bethany’s christening, while Lyn recently made 36 red-and-white checked shirts for CWA volunteers to wear at the Royal Adelaide Show cafe, plus aprons for Kind Hearted Kitchen volunteers.
In addition to sewing tips, Eileen’s classes also offer practical advice borne of many different careers.
“If you want medical advice, we’ve got two nurses; if you want education, there’s two teachers,” says Eileen.
“And if you want to know about teeth, open your mouth and I’ll take a look!” laughs Lyn.