A HISTORIC firm is aiming to get things all sewn up for the children’s hospice Derian House.

Hobkirk Sewing Machines in Darwen Street is donating three computerised machines plus accessories, together worth more than £1,000.

The generous gift is all the more fitting because today is National Sewing Machines Day.

Another East Lancashire firm supporting National Sewing Machines Day is Lestan Sewing Machines, in Manchester Road, Nelson.

Hobkirk’s Darwen Road shop, home to the company since the 1960s, hosts a fascinating museum, which features up to 140 machines, some of which date back as far as the 19th century.

Chairman Peter Hobkirk, who in the 1960s joined the firm set up in 1900 by his grandfather William, is curator of the museum and has had a passion for sewing machines ever since coming on board.

The firm has 19 employees and has taken on three apprentices, who will become sewing machine engineers. The other engineers are in their 50s or 60s.

Mr Hobkirk said: “The future is very rosy and very busy with domestic and industrial sewing machines.

“We are sewing machine people and we have expertise at a higher level.”

Mr Hobkirk said people often came in to donate old sewing machines used by older relatives for the museum, which is upstairs.

He said: “They might say, ‘It belonged to my mother and it is very much part of our family life’.”

“Sewing machines have given me a living but they are very much more than that.”

Mr Hobkirk said his wife Christine sews, choosing to use a German-made Pfaff machine.

He said: “I used to have the machines at home. That was bad news. This was a happy release for her.”

A spokesman from Lestan Sewing Machines said it could not stage any event to mark the national day this year as it closes on Tuesdays but planned to do so next year.