Stitches

My Grandma...stitched her dresses,
With a needle.
She pulled the cradle close around,
So she could tweedle.

She rocked the baby gently,
And used her hands.
She put the stitches in and out,
And used her threaded strands.

She gathered in her bussle,
And made collars round her face.
And on every single ruffle,
She carefully stitched her lace.

Her dresses...they were lengthy,
And way below the knee.
When she stepped into the Surrey,
No one her legs could see.

My Grandma was a wizard,
And we were far from being rich.
She made her nimble fingers fly,
And put in every stitch.


E.P. 1908 - 1989


Note; this is detail of the blessing dress that Ethel wore as a baby in 1908.