Helensburgh Book Nook volunteer makes her own clothes

Lynne Tillyard learned to maker her own clothing before the Covid lockdown and it then became a "godsend" hobby as the world stopped.

Now she sports her own outfits while volunteering at the Book Nook in the Helensburgh Community Hub.

"I was sickened by fast fashion," said the 58-year-old after seeing reports about the fashion industry and shocking factory conditions abroad - and particularly the devastating factory fires.

"It changed my thinking towards how much we consume and dispose of and how much we have in terms of possessions and how we undervalue people with skills.

"We are at the stage of being almost completely overwhelmed with stuff."

Lynne Tillyard shows off the jeans and jacket she made herself (Image: Newsquest)

Lynne took a class at Fabric and Finery in Helensburgh making simple patterns by hand, such as zipped bags and bunting.

Then it was basic machine work, and then Lynne branched out into simple tops. From there, she honed her craft during lockdown, something to "keep my brain functioning".

Now the Helensburgh resident makes most of her own clothes, only having to buy underwear or waterproofs.

As we chat at the Book Nook, she is wearing a jacket, her most recent creation, and jeans she made.

"It's so easy now," she said. "There's a lot of online support. I buy all my tools from Fabric and Finery. We are very fortunate to have a shop like that in our community.

"She's not any more expensive than buying online. And if you run out of something, it's just down the road."

Lynne's jacket was her most recent creation (Image: Newsquest)

There's the pleasure of making your own stuff, but also making clothes that fit.

Lynne, at 5'2" tall, can now get anything she wants that will suit her just right.

"It’s lovely to see it all coming together and being able to wear your own clothes," she said, showing off the jacket with inside seams finished with Liberty fabric.

"There's more satisfaction than buying a finished piece.

"And it fits me. I never bought dresses - nothing fit properly. It was always difficult to find things to fit."

She added: "I’ve not made clothes for other people though, that will probably be my next move. I have said to my son and husband I could branch out."

Lynne greets a steady number of residents popping into the Book Nook on a Monday. They can usually get about 50 new donations at the start of a week. And visitors are keen to pick up new items for just £1.

It is like a library in some ways, except you can both own the book you take away, and donate your items to a home where you know others will appreciate them.

Lynne said the donations can be good quality and even quite current as residents finish their latest read - and want to share it with others.

"It's a nice way to recycle," she said. "People do come in and they're grateful for a good home for their books.

"They want them treated well and that they will find a good home - they know they can be passed on to someone else to enjoy."

But the space is also for browsing and the social interaction.

Two monthly book clubs - one meeting in the day and one at night - have sprung out of the Book Nook, and even a theatre group and a craft club.

The Book Nook is at Helensburgh Community Hub (Image: Newsquest)

Whenever the Book Nook is open, there are two or three volunteers on hand, including younger members getting socialising across generations.

"It’s become its own community and we notice if people are not there," explained Lynne. "It’s just a very sociable space where people are welcome in.

"It’s a very special space. The Community Hub is a way of bringing people together with a love of books - a way of sharing what we have enjoyed."