My nan, Pearl was born on 30th November 1906 and every year I share something she made that I still have or something she taught me to do. My nan was very influential in my life as I was growing up as we shared a love of making! She was always really encouraging and shared her skills with me as well as her craft stash whenever I went to stay.

I am getting low on physical items that my nan made to share with you now, Sum of their Stories has been around for 12 years after all. but I did mention a couple of years ago that my brother had turned up on the doorstep one day with a bag full of dolls clothes that his daughters no longer played with that he thought had been mine originally. This means that dolls clothes are going to feature in my memory tributes for a little while longer!

This little red crocheted dress belonged to a doll I had called Carrie. I named her Carrie, not after the popular horror film character (horror is not my thing at all!) but because when she was new she came with a little carry case so you could take her out and about with you. She was quite a small dolls, about 4” (10cm) tall I guess and she was in a permanent sitting position - so she could go in her little carry case of course.

Because she was so little she didn’t fit in any of my other dolls clothes so my nan, Pearl, crocheted this little dress for her. This was what she was like as a maker. One day I’d mention I didn’t have anything for Carrie to wear and the next week when I saw her, my nan would produce a little red dress just like that - ta dah!

Isn’t it sweet? It’s had a few repairs that I can see over the years but all things considered it’s holding up pretty well.

So today I’m remembering Pearl, my grandma who not only taught me how to do lots of very specific craft skills and techniques but also instilled in me a “why buy when you can make it” and a “I can make something like that” mentality.

Julie

You can read more of the annual tributes to Pearl, my other grandma Ellen and my mum here: their stories.