Page 79 of Threads of Kindness
Sunday slipped into the exhibit room from the back, taking a seat beside a laptop on a nearby stand. She would manage the livestream setup, and had the perfect vantage point to watch the first seam of her wedding dress take shape.
Lyla adjusted the camera tripod and then moved to the small microphone positioned near the machine.
“Okay, Anita,” she stated. “Are you ready to go live?”
Anita swung to face Lyla. Her expression shifted from concentration to surprise as she caught sight of the crowd now staring at her. “Is everyone here to seeme?” she asked, voice trembling slightly.
“They sure are,” Lyla said with a smile. “You’re the woman of the hour. I can’t remember the last time the library was this busy on a weekday.”
Anita blew out a breath and reached for the first fabric pieces. “Let me sit down before you start, okay?”
“Suggestion?” Gordon called from his spot at the edge of the crowd. “Why don’t you start by describing the dress tothe audience?” He looked at Lyla. “Does the camera show the worktable?”
Lyla leaned in to check. “It does.”
“I’d stand at the table to begin,” Gordon said. “Describe the dress, then walk to the sewing machine. Tell the audience about it and mention that your grandmother taught you to sew on it. Then start stitching.”
“That’s a great idea,” Sunday said, nodding.
“I can do that,” Anita agreed. She stood beside the table, hands resting lightly on the pattern pieces.
“And we’re live in five … four … three … two … one …” Lyla nodded.
“Welcome toDress Cam,” Anita said, looking directly into the camera. “I’m Anita Archer, owner of Archer’s Bridal here in Westbury. I’ll be sewing a wedding gown for Sunday Sloan, rare book librarian at Highpointe College Library—right here in an exhibit filled with vintage sewing machines I’ve collected over the years.”
She smiled, her posture relaxing.
“First, let me tell you about the dress. It’s going to be spectacular on our beautiful bride. We’re making it from satin gazar. The dress will have a fitted bodice, a V-neck, and long illusion sleeves in hand-appliquéd lace. A line of covered buttons will extend the length of the back. If you watched the royal wedding of Kate Middleton and Prince William, you’ll recognize the style—elegant, timeless, and romantic.”
“I’m going to begin by sewing the right front bodice to the right back.” She picked up a pinned piece of fabric and took her seat.
“Before I begin, let me tell you about this sewing machine.” She ran her hand across the shiny black enamel with its gold-leaf nameplate. “It’s a Singer 15K, manufactured in Scotland in the 1930s. My grandmother bought it in 1939, and it was usedat Archer’s Bridal until 1980—when she and the machine retired together.”
She smiled warmly. “She taught me to sew on this machine. It’s been in use for over 80 years, and, with a bit of loving care, it’ll keep going for many more. It produces beautiful, even stitching—and I love working on it.”
Anita turned the wheel to raise the needle, positioned the fabric, lowered the presser foot, and began pumping the treadle. The needle moved with a steady hum as the fabric glided forward. She removed each pin and set them to the side in her pin cushion, guiding the seam with practiced hands. When she finished the first seam, she cut the threads and held the completed piece toward the camera.
“There. Our first seam is done.” She laid it at the far end of the table and picked up the next pieces. “Now we’ll do the same for the left side of the bodice.”
She continued working, narrating each step. When she finished a seam, she held it up to the camera, explaining its place in the design. And every time she glanced up, she was surprised to see the crowd hadn’t thinned; instead, it had grown.
When she finished stitching the last of the day’s pieces, Sunday asked, “Would you like to take some questions?”
Anita looked out at the crowd. No one raised a hand.
“We’ve got questions from viewers online,” Sunday said, lifting the laptop. “Nancy in Ohio wants to know why you chose satin gazar instead of plain satin.”
“That’s a great question, Nancy,” Anita replied. “Satin gazar has a beautiful shine, like traditional satin, but it has more body. It doesn’t cling—it flows. Sunday’s skirt will move gracefully when she walks.”
“Three more online,” Sunday said. “Let’s answer those, then open it up to folks here at the library.” For fifteen moreminutes, Sunday read questions, and Anita answered them with confidence and warmth.
Lyla stepped forward when they were done. “Dress Cam will be back tomorrow,” she announced. She shut off the camera and microphone. The crowd dispersed.
Anita leaned back in her chair. “I can’t believe we had questions from people online.”
“One viewer suggested we post daily photo updates,” Lyla said. “I’m creating aDress Cam Journalfor the library’s website.”
“You’re a natural at this, Anita,” Gordon said, joining them.
