My mother, Janet, was taught to sew by her mother, Judith, who was taught to sew by her mother, Amy, and so on throughout time, possibly back to the Mitochondrial Mother of Sewing herself.
At many of the pivotal events in my mother’s early life, whether as a baby being christened, a young debutante or a blushing bridesmaid, she was wearing a gown made for her by her mother. Young Janet was also a keen sewist, but
