A Series of Unfortunate Events
It all started innocently enough. A chemisette was sewn, and then another, because surely Hattie would need several. One was allocated for a summer jumper outfit, and one for the fall. And...
Hattie’s Wardrobe
Mad for Plaids in Fall
When I was in first grade, my mother stitched me up a wonderful wool mix-and-match set. There were two pleated skirts - solid cranberry and cranberry plaid - along with a reversible...
When Nothing Quite Matches, in Marvelous Ways
Embracing creativity has meant letting go of what used to win me awards: precision, logic, etc. Because when it comes to art, perfection is sometimes at odds with beauty. And I was...
How it’s Done . . . and Why
When I do insanely complicated things I have to answer two questions. First of all, why? What's my reason for the extra effort the project will take? In the case of Hattie's...
The Deep Satisfaction of Radical Neatness
I may have mentioned previously how influential my mother was when I first learned to sew. She was the perfect combination of patience and uncompromising perfectionism. She explained carefully, without rushing. She...
When the Hardest Part of Sewing Isn’t the Sewing
I have to confess to an embarrassing weakness. I do my best to hide it. I have my private "accommodations". But sewing for such a tiny doll has tested the limits of...
In the Beginning . . .
Hattie has been with me for about a year, and even though sewing time has been sparse, it's safe to say we've made the most of it. I began with "whites" which...
No Wagons Here!
The fashion plate above represents clothing worn by children in 1857. It falls right in the middle of the years when firms like Kister, Kestner, Hertwig and others were exporting thousands of...