05/03/2026
This is a little project i've been working on..
Mary's late mother grew up during World War II, when nothing was thrown away. As she'd say: 'You never knew when it might come in handy '.
She maintained that habit all her life, so it wasn't really surprising that when I was clearing out her house, I found a summer dress she had sent away for decades ago via a Good Housekeeping offer, as it had been supplied: the cut-out pieces, ready to sew together, with some brief instructions. She had saved all this for 60-odd years.
This year I decided it was time to put the dress together. I didn't want to attempt it myself so I commissioned Cat to take on the task, for her expert sewing skills and because I thought Mum - a great believer in making do and mending - would have very much approved of her sustainable, recycling approach to fashion.
It's been lovely to work with Cat on this project and to incorporate some additional personal touches. The facings and the cuffs were missing but I found some fabric (from a dress my sister made in the 1970s) that went well with the main material and Cat did the rest. Cat also made a belt and supplied a vintage buckle and I found the buttons among my large collection, some of it inherited from Mum and my grandmother.
I'm so pleased with the finished dress and looking forward to wearing it when the weather warms up. Thanks to Cat, I now have a truly unique piece of clothing that I think of as a work of art, a piece of fashion history and a special reminder of my mum.
