WAHM Worx

I know many of you are always asking💭 for domestic sewing machine recommendations 🪡 and while you know I’m a Janome girl through and through... now that Janome is no longer available in South Africa🇿🇦, I can confidently recommend the Brother FS155🙌.

I’ve spent some proper time on this machine now, and honestly, it is a pleasure to use😍. It’s user-friendly, produces beautiful, consistent stitches, and handles everyday sewing with ease. Best of all, it’s affordable💸 (Payflex option - your bank account will thank you 😅) while still offering great quality and reliability - an excellent choice for any sewist🧵👌. I can even sew my son’s name on his school clothes 🏷️🧒... mum win🏆!

Quick story... the reason😬.

December really has it in for my sewing machines🎄🫠.

They say bad things happen in 3s... well, this is officially the third December (that I can remember) where something dramatic happens to my domestic machine 😭 - always when all the technicians🛠️ are on leave, of course 🌊✈️.

This time, the culprit was my dear husband💕😑, who decided to fix his own pants without asking... on my domestic machine, when he absolutely should have used the industrial one🤦🏻‍♀️. Somehow he managed to throw the timing out⏱️, and now the machine won’t even pick up the bobbin thread🧵💀.

So, out of sheer desperation😵‍💫, I bought this Brother FS155 from Takealot🛒 during the holidays.

Honestly... between this hobby🧵❤️, a budget that’s completely gone out the window💸🪟, and the occasional questioning of all my life choices🤔😂, I’m just holding on and laughing😆.

Janome will be fixed... eventually🛠️🙏, but luckily I have a backup to save the day 🦸‍♀️✨.

My workshop stays strictly off-limits for surprise DIY pants repairs 🚫👖🫣.

Every.👏 Single.👏 Time.👏 someone at work finds out what I get up to after hours, the reaction is priceless and immediately tries to plan my business empire.

“I can’t believe you made that! You should advertise, you’d make a fortune!” 😏

And I have to laugh, because sweetheart, the advertising isn’t the problem. 😆

The real problem?
🤲 Only two hands - and cloning is still frowned upon, apparently.
🕰️ Only 24 hours in a day - how rude.
💤 Energy levels that run low - because, shocker, I also need sleep!

When I did sew full time, I was working hard, not rolling in money. So no, I didn’t retire early, I came to the corporate world for a break! Who would’ve thought spreadsheets could feel like self-care? 😂

Now I sew for joy, not just for bills. So when someone says, “You should do it full time!”, I just smile and think… been there, stitched that. And honestly? I’m exactly where I’m meant to be. ❤️

Orders? Still not happening. My sewing machine and I are enjoying a strictly “fun only” policy, for now. 😝

Gorgeous purple floral and butterfly grow-with-me summer dress in size 1-3 years for a precious little lady.

The result of ironing synthetic fabrics (husband's shirts), buildup on my iron. CARBRO HOT IRON CLEANER works like a dream, follow the instructions and the buildup just melts away without damaging your iron.

You're welcome!

Throwback to this lovely review from Elmarie.



WAHM Worx | handmade by Melanie

Melanie Swart

Loved making this plain waterproof softshell snap-in-one nappy with a custom print AWJ topper. My absolute favourite type of nappy!

This client sent her own fabric to be made into a snap-in-one nappy. Cutting someone else's fabric will always be nerve wracking, no matter how many nappies I've made!

Flats, boosters, fleece liners and covers - the old school way of cloth diapering with a modern twist. Today we're swapping out the terry squares for cotton fleece which is a trimmer option as well as more absorbent. Boosters are made of the same absorbent fabric to give you more absorption in the wet zone. Fleece liners gives a stay dry feeling against baby's bum and catches solids to make cleaning easier. The origami fold is my favourite. Fasten the nappy with a snappi and add a waterproof cover. This option is the most affordable and also dries the fastest!

Avoid using the single-use nursing pads! These reusable pads are super absorbent with a hidden waterproof layer. Wash and reuse, easy!

Pssst, they are all in stock and available at a discounted price of R70 per set.

Oh my heart! This koala snap-in-one nappy is just too cute. Did you know you can have a cloth nappy made in any print your heart desires?!