Before our daughter Suraya, now a big girl of five measuring 103 cm.,
came along, I was not that interested in clothes for children. Now, I
am an expert. Suraya is becoming an expert. Her father, Hanno, shares
mostly my point-of-view when it comes to aesthetics and quality. Suraya
has other influences. We have to deal with our differences, which is for
all concerned not an easy matter.
I started to make
things for her. I began crocheting, knitting and sewing again. Goodness,
memories of those years of home science came flooding. Making patterns
with brown paper and burning holes in the paper to mark the stitch line
with a lit mosquito coil - who ever came up with that idea? Then sewing
bits of thread into those burnt out holes. Sewing buttonholes by hand.
My sewing machine does that now. Embroidery. Unpicking mistakes.
Recalling those years, I think of Shoba and her passion for fabrics and
lace and embroidery templates, and another school pal Nurlian, who also
had a passion for clothes.
I must admit, I do not enjoy
sewing as much as I do crocheting and knitting. I have just finished a
broad-striped organic cotton scarf. Suraya instructed me on how broad
each colour panel should be. When I was about to finish the seventh
colour, I asked her if it was long enough and she said, very firmly,
"It's finished, Mama."
