The alphabet

The great thing about clearing out stuff is that sometimes you rediscover small instances of cuteness. Like this.


I made it for the firstborn before his arrival. It's tiny. He only wore it on a few occasions special enough to merit the risk of its ruination. The first time it was put on he was promptly sick all over the front, as he was over all clothes on him and anyone near him.

I remember so well the concentrated passion with which I worked on it, the plastic texture of the cheap acrylic wool made in South Africa, the shine of the expensive embroidery yarns.

What, I wonder now, is the iconography of the alphabet doing on a newborn's garment? The cutesy bunnies and hearts and flowers and birds are comprehensible. But why the alphabet? Is it the drive to succeed, to have ones child succeed, writ (embroidered) large on the chest? Perhaps a statement of learning (lettering) intent. Or maybe a hark back to the sampler and thus a demonstration of my own prowess and worth:

By the 18th century, samplers were a complete contrast to the scattered samples sewn earlier on. These samplers were stitched more to demonstrate knowledge than to preserve skill. The stitching of samplers was believed to be a sign of virtue, achievement and industry, and girls were taught the art from a young age.

The original recipient now wears a blazer, white shirt, tie. Is learning other alphabets than this. I shall have no more babies. Where should this little garment go? so much else has gone to the bin, the charity shop, the recycling centre. I find this very hard to part with in those ways. Somebody have a baby, quickly!