By Jonty Ralphsmith
Christmases are extra special for the family of a Longwarry grandmother who has the pleasure of sewing gifts for her family during the festive season.
In the lead-up to December, Alana Vodden’s family browse her sewing room at home where she has one industrial and three domestic machines and put in an order.
It’s a tradition that has run for many years and adds a heartening touch to the festivities.
“I make whatever they like,” the 68-year-old grandmother of 13 said.
“Gifts are personal items each year. When I go to visit for a sleepover, my grandchildren put on clothing I’ve made.
“My daughter brought them over for Christmas [last] year and they were wearing something I made for them for Christmas two years ago!”
Alana has known how to sew for 54 years, working across a range of factories throughout Melbourne and running a part-time dressmaking business when she worked in financial management.
A common Saturday morning task when Alana was younger was going to the shops with friends who would tell her the clothing they liked the look of.
It would then be Alana’s job to compose a quick sketch, get the fabrics with her friend and sew it that day so it could be worn on Saturday night.
She can work across a variety of machines and fabrics, having made wedding dresses during her time and said it was a crucial distraction during the difficulties of Covid-19.
“I spent most of my days in my sewing room and I loved it,” Alana said.
“I designed and made so many things during that time – I couldn’t have gotten through it without my dressmaking. I’m on my own and it would have been so lonely but I would go into my sewing room and say ‘what am I going to design today?’
“It makes you relax, it takes a distraction to take away from the stresses of life and you’ve got something else you can concentrate on.
“When you’ve got the finished product it’s so rewarding to the person who made it and then to sell it to the person who is going to appreciate it, you get so much joy out of it!”
Although Alana is a dressmaker, she encourages all people to take up a craft as a means of satisfaction, having recently opened up a co-operative shop, Country Crafts, in her home town of Longwarry.
“I kept learning over the years and I think that’s what any craft does for you: it gives you the urge to continue learning which I did and I’ve done numerous courses.
“You meet people from all walks of life and you make friends and contacts through that which has been very rewarding.”
