The journey begins

This past Tuesday, I had finally reached a point with the dress I'm sewing that I desperately needed to do a fitting on my granddaughter. With one of my grandson's in tow, we made the two hour trip to my daughter's house to spend the day, and pick up more fabric that will be needed for the bodice of the dress. With the dress having to be historically accurate for the time period (think Gone With the Wind),  it has taken a good deal of research, but I think my granddaughter and I have been very successful. A huge weight was lifted off my shoulders when she saw it and became ecstatically happy with the result thus far! I know it doesn't look like much right now, but trust me, it's going to be beautiful on her. I only attached the top flounce temporarily so I could get my marks for the other four. I will then begin permanently attaching them at the bottom, and work my way up. Each flounce is over three feet long, and has to be gathered...by hand! The skirt is lined, complete with buckram in the lower foot of it or so, for body when she puts on her hoop underneath. When my granddaughter told me this dress had to be completed by the end of March, you can't believe the pressure and stress I had been feeling. While I was at my daughter's house, she re-read her information and found she had made a mistake. I had been granted a reprieve...it's not due until the end of...get this...APRIL. WHAT!??!?! That's right, I have a whole 'nother five weeks or so to finish this project. My granddaughter has also been sewing since she was around the age of 7 or 8, so I recruited her to help sew some of the hems of the flounces. All in all, we had such a wonderful day, and I feel so privileged to be a part of this project!!!

Last night at knitting, I presented Lew with his hat and I can't tell you what a compliment it is when this man said to me, "great job, well done (in his British accent) Dee". Lew has been knitting since he was five years old, for a total of 81 years. No need to adjust your screen...you read that right...81 YEARS!!!! And his work is indicative of that. I wish I could show you some of his lacework, but he says he doesn't have time for Ravelry so he doesn't get on there. His work is absolutely incredible, and his knowledge matches it. If you happened to be at Stitches West, he was the guy at the Lace Knitter's Guild booth, and more than likely he had a lace piece he was knitting on. My daughter and granddaughter came last night to group so that my granddaughter could interview Lew for a school project she has to do. It was fascinating to listen to Lew talk to her about his life, and I'm looking forward to seeing what she writes. It was so cute watching them, and I think each of them are equally impressed with the other. Alex because of Lew's knowledge and his genuine nature all around, and Lew because of Alex's beauty (ok, I know, I'm biased..so sue me) and her determination. I've never seen Lew take a picture of anything or anyone, and when he saw Alex at Stitches with the dress on that she knitted, he asked her if he could take her picture! She is 16 years old, but she has been knitting already for 10 years, and her skills are proof! This isn't the best picture of her in her dress, but I had to do some cropping, which didn't help. I just wanted to give you an idea....she knitted this dress in mohair shudder and the white spots you see at the hem and the wrists, are hearts in the design. The rest of it is a lace pattern. I think she chose the perfect color too!!!

Have a happy St. Patrick's Day and may the luck o' the Irish always be with you!!