Stages of approach to the actual construction of a worthy frock for the first Christmas in the life of Mabel Watson Payne were documented here and here and here and here. Over the weekend (at long last) this legendary garment began to take shape. I worried in advance that the embroidered hem-border might seem visually heavy when the whole thing came to be pieced together – but the proportions turned out all right, I think. Hand finishing is still proceeding on the inside. There will be a real-life fitting later in the week and then the ultimate truth will be known.