They don't have meetings or agendas, they just sew
by Ana Watts
The members of Lucy’s Sewing Group are keen of eye, deft of hand, 
great of heart. They gather on Friday mornings in the lounge of the Cathedral Memorial Hall in Fredericton to sew. “It’s as simple as that. We don’t have meetings, officers, agendas or even parties — except on the odd occasion when one of us turns 80 and we go out to lunch to celebrate,” says Ann Dalzell.
The 80th birthdays are problematic, however. “We’re all ancient, except Rita and Jean,” says Helen Smith.
“We would be very happy to have new people, especially young people join us,” says Ann. “I think some of the younger people think our work is esoteric and requires difficult stitches, but we really just do the simplest sewing, we just try to do it extremely well.”
Helen is acknowledged expert with hems, her stitches fine and even. She learned her craft at school in Ireland. And Flo learned her fine hemming at her mother’s knee on Deer Island. Hand work seldom graces most school curriculums these days but Lucy’s Sewing Group is willing to keep the craft alive. “We will gladly teach anyone who wants to learn,” says Ann.
The members of Lucy’s group sew because they are good at their craft, enjoy each other’s company and a cookie with a cup of coffee — but mostly they sew so even the smallest churches in this diocese are able to afford the finest quality altar linens. Lucy McNeill, the founder of the group, came to Christ Church Cathedral from Halifax around 1955 and brought with her the fine art of ecclesiastical embroidery. As a result, hangings on altars, lecterns and pulpits throughout this diocese are fine works of art. Their threads of silver and gold, flosses the colours of flowers and gems, dance over the finest silks and brocades.
Times change, however, and today the products of Lucy’s group are white on white — white symbols of our faith embroidered on linen they import from Banbridge, Ireland. They embroider and hem lavabo towels, chalice veils, purificators, corporals, credence cloths, altar cloths/fair linen (their largest and most ambitious pieces) — anything to do with the altar and the sacraments. A lot of their work is used at the cathedral, some is sent to Anglican House in Saint John, and they are happy to receive orders from any parish in the diocese. Simply call (506) 453-9471.
“Ours is not a money-making group, we provide a service and we provide it for the best price we can,” says Ann.
22 May 2012
Diocesan Communications
