Today I hand-hemmed a fancy Christmas dress for a four-year-old. I was with my friend while she shopped for her granddaughter. When she expressed regret that this one was too long for Evy, I volunteered to shorten it.
Sitting by the Christmas tree with needle and thread mined rich veins of memory.
First, Christmas dresses and little girls. When our daughter was this age, we got her a fancy Christmas dress in red with black velvet trim and a crinoline skirt. She was mighty pleased, and I took a lovely picture of her wearing it with the new ice skates Santa brought her the same year.
Next, hand sewing. Until a few years ago, I used to sew a lot, and was willing and able to do finishing work by hand. Now I do most sewing, including hems, with my old Bernina sewing machine. But the skirt of this dress was cut on the bias, and I had to gather the top part of the hem, iron it down and then do the stitching by hand. A lesson in patience, and memory.
Finally, Evelyn. When I was a child, I adored the name Evelyn, and in fact, the first doll clothes I ever made were for my doll Evy. Once very popular, this name is now rare. Until a few years ago, Vancouver had an Evelyn club for women who shared that name.
May Evy enjoy the Christmas season in her fancy dress, not only this year, but next, when her Mom will be able to let it down, because I turned up the extra fabric rather than cutting it off.
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