When Janet was about seven, she’d been offering helpful suggestions about the clothes her mother designed and sewed. She was determined to make her own skirt.
At the fabric shop, she ran her fingers along each bolt of cloth, probably about sixteen times. Her mother didn’t mind. She was doing the same thing. Finally, after much indecision and heavy consultation, Bolin chose a navy blue cotton broadcloth with a red pin stripe.
Back home, under her mother’s watchful eye, she cut out a couple of large rectangles and a strip for the waistband. Using her mother’s old black Singer, she carefully stitched the rectangles into a tube, then gathered the tube to the waistband. She made a buttonhole and sewed on a big red button. Bolin and her mom folded a deep hem, and Bolin’s mother, whose ability to stitch a straight line was far superior to Bolin’s, sewed the hem with her machine. For the finishing touch, her mom showed her how to wind red embroidery floss under one machine stitch and over the next.
Bolin had made her own skirt and embroidered it, too. The rest as they say is history because she was hooked.
Janet was kind enough to share her Thanksgiving traditions with me. As to whether or not you want to make reservations…
What are you most grateful for?
This beautiful planet.
Favorite Thanksgiving tradition?
When I was a kid, seeing my grandmother's special china, silver, and lace tablecloths. And the glasses with the South American motifs painted on them-don't ask me why those came out at Thanksgiving.
Where will you spend Thanksgiving this year?
At home.
Most memorable Thanksgiving memory?
That poltergeist.
What do you do the eve before Thanksgiving?
Kick myself for not doing more ahead of time.
What's your number one splurge food?
On Thanksgiving? Turkey. When I was a kid, it was the sweet gherkins and the olives.
What do you prefer sweet or salty?
Spicy.
What are your plans for the holidays this year?
Article comments