I have had this unfinished Holly Hobby dress in my possession since Georgia was little. My grandmother gave it to me – I can’t even remember the full story of this piece. Anyway, I was cleaning up Elora’s wardrobe because she is well and truly in size 2 clothes now – clothes need to be sorted: to keep, to give away, to put in storage. I saw this Holly Hobby pinafore hanging with her other dresses, and I was reminded to finish off the dress that my grandmother started, many many years ago!

I wonder who nanny began sewing this dress for, or whether she had begun it to add to her collection of handmade products that she sold. I wonder why she stopped the process of making this, and I wonder how she planned to finish it. I have a few ideas of how to complete this little dress, and I hope she would be pleased with the end product, when I finally get around to doing it.

I remember Holly Hobby well. I used to love gazing at Holly Hobby fabric, taking in all the different images and patterns. There are so many stories to be told, just from one piece of cotton! I found myself doing exactly that as I photographed the fabric today – wondering what the characters were talking and whispering about, and thinking of all the possibilities of where that girl is riding on her bike! As I smoothed the fabric over, I admired the bicycles and the girls’ hats. I love those enormous signature Holly Hobby hats! I love the simple, dainty little flowers and the delicate patterns on the fabric.

Most of all I just love this little unfinished pinafore. I love it that nanny sewed it with such care and precision. It makes me tear up to think of her sitting at her Singer, hearing it roar and buzz to life at her careful hands, creating little pieces of clothing and accessories, with love. Ah, nanny. How I miss you.