The Portion of my Inheritance

My neighbor of 34 years called a few weeks ago and asked us to come over. When we arrived at her house she was hard at work sorting and cleaning. She told me that she was going to turn 96 next month and she wanted to make sure that her fabric would go to someone who would appreciate it and use it.

So the three of us sat in one of her bedrooms that had obviously been used for her sewing room. Her sewing machine sat in front of a window, safely tucked into a sewing cabinet, the kind that looks like a single desk. Remnants of her sewing years lay scattered throughout the room. Two plastic sewing cases sat next to her machine along with a couple of bags of fabric. The room was now used for storage as she explained to us that she could no longer sew.

I went through the dresser that held her beloved fabric, drawer after drawer and Martin put the fabric in bags as I made my choices.

There were times that when I pulled out a piece of fabric her eyes would lite up, and I would see a memory splash across her face and she would say, “Let me see that one!”

I understand.

There were a lot of beautiful fabrics, but I definitely had my favorite.

The instant I pulled this fabric out I knew it was meant for Aria. It matched her bright, fun and spontaneous little personality. Happy flowers covered it with brightly colored jewel dots in each center. The soft polyester fabric had the 60’s vintage look and probably is in fact from the 1960’s, or close to it, and I knew immediately what pattern I was going to use.

This 1960’s peasant dress pattern is not the first of the peasant styles. This style has been around forever and has recycled and turned up in just about every fashion era, and I have made my fair share of them.

This pattern is so easy to sew up, just a few pattern pieces and just a few seams.

One of the things that I love about the peasant look is the elastic around the neckline. I left a small amount of fabric above the casing to make a soft ruffle.

The pattern also called for elastic at the waist but I chose to put a belt instead. My plan was to get a blingy turquoise belt, but I have not found one yet, but I am still on the lookout.

Aria changed the look also by adding her cowboy boots, giving it more of a western look.

This dress will always be special because of the fabric. It will be a reminder for me of my dear neighbor and of the joyous day we sorted through her fabric.

 And they mounted four rows of stones on it. The first row was a row of ruby, topaz, and emerald;  and the second row, a turquoise, a sapphire and a diamond;

Exodus 39:10-11