posted by Lily on sewing

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Meet Dolly …

She’s been Abby’s constant companion over the last few months … as well as a regular source of quiet, imaginative designing, stitching and dressing.  Dolly now has a better wardrobe than either Abby or I.

This weekend the theme has been lime green and a dear little piece of Japanese piggy and patches fabric from Patchwork on Central Park.  Hours were spent, last night, perfecting the pattern for the dress and shoes.  There was focus unlike that Abby is ever able to conjure up for math homework! She’s really improving with her pattern making – there’s nary a time she forgets to add seam allowances, and she now carefully takes all of Dolly’s measurements and meticulously transfers them to the pattern, ensuring that she won’t make any wasteful cuts

She is esecially proud of the shoes and socks.  Dolly’s not fond of keeping her shoes on so some innovative design was required – thus, the shoe and sock in one.  Nevertheless, one shoe managed to disappear last night on the quilt in front of the sofa.  We searched the quilt, the room, the house from top to bottom and do you think we could find that wretched shoe!

Abby was convinced Toph had eaten it.  I was sure it had to be somewhere close.  In the end, much to the outrage of Abby and amusement of Julian, after taking off my own skirt to shake it out, I demanded Abby whip off her shorts and shake them out.  “As if!” she squealed.  “I think I’d know if the shoe was in my shorts.”  She lowered her shorts to her knees and was then about to pull them back up.  “No, all the way off and shake them out.” Well, what do you think fell out of the leg of the Abby’s shorts – Dolly’s shoe.  Extraordinary!  Goodness knows how it got in there, but if you ever lose a small piece of fabric, it is clearly worth checking your clothes :-)

The dear little buttoned flower hairclip, mounted on a safety pin, was stitched this morning along with the wrist bands, and the ensemble declared finished.  Now I’m under orders to go back to P on CP and the felt store (an absolutely gorgeous Steiner store close by called Little Sparrow, where Abby and I have enrolled in a series of classes – Waldorf doll making, felt critter making, and felt picture making), buy a few metres of the piggy fabric and a good half metre of the green felt and when Abby visits Nan/Mum for two weeks at Easter, Dolly’s outfit will be added to a list of goodies Mum and Abby plan on making for themselves – my mum is an exceptionally talented dressmaker – pretty much anything Abby is able to draw, Mum can make. :-)  What fun they will have on the back porch.

Now, the sun has finally set.  Julian’s birthday present – a badminton set for our back garden – has provided hours of good fun this afternoon, and we’ve eaten a beautiful dinner out under the trees – cooked by Julian from his other birthday present, the unequalled Claudia Roden’s classic Middle Eastern Cookbook.  A very fine Sunday indeed.

If you’re yet to have your Sunday – may it be filled with good games, good stitching, good food and plenty of recharging for the new week ahead.  If your weekend, as is mine, is done, I hope it was lovely and you’re ready for what comes tomorrow.  Good night dear friends :-)