New Sewing Companions

Writers: AL, Kaysea
Date Posted: 31st March 2008

Characters: Eliste, Neke, Tahna
Description: Eliste meets Neke and Tahna and they make plans to quilt together.
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 8, day 16 of Turn 4

"That's right, give a twist as you unhook and it'll give a little more strength to that link." Neke instructed Tahna as the girl bent her head to her tatting. The girl was becoming more of an expert than Neke herself was these days, and was able to ask for more and more for each work. She had a consignment of lace collars for delivery to Emerald Falls Hold the next time they docked, so she had her work cut out for her along with her normal chores for this trip.

Neke turned her attention back to her quilting, until a shadow fell across her lap and her hands. She looked up into the weak sunlight and realised it was one of the passengers, she smiled up at her, "Hello, I'm Neke and this is Tahna." she said in greeting.

Eliste returned the smile with a small one of her own and nodded politely. "Well met." She paused for a moment, something she'd come in the habit of doing since she was still not used to the name she had given herself. "I'm Ellina." Her gaze moved down to the quilt upon which Neke was working and her smile grew a little wider. "That's quite lovely."

"Thank you, its the Paddlewheel, a family traditional one - for obvious reasons." Neke smiled, "You quilt?"

"Yes I do." Eliste hesitated, then looked for a free chair. It would be nice to chat with someone who quilted again. "I love the colours.
My mother taught me how to quilt. I enjoy it very much."

"Please, sit down." Neke cleared the fabrics that were sitting on the chair next to her, to make room for Ellina. "Do you do it for pleasure, or do you sell yours as well?" Neke asked, wondering if the woman was one of the competitors from Emerald Falls Hold.

"Oh, well..." Eliste sat down and shifted a bit. "I enjoy it, so I do it for pleasure, but almost all of my quilts have been sold, so I guess both." Helvar refused to let her keep any for herself. He had gotten angry when she had embroidered her daughter's with her name so he couldn't sell that one. It was the only one she had made that she had been able to keep. He had even taken the three she had brought with her after their marriage. That had almost broken her heart. One of them had been made for her by her mother. "Do you sell yours?"

"Some - " she nodded, "we use them on the boat, but also take commissions and even sell to the traders, when we meet up with them."
Neke said, glancing over at Tahna, "And Tahna there has just started selling her tatting - she has a dozen collars to make before we dock back at Emerald Falls."

"I don't know how to do that." Eliste looked over at the collar that Tahna was working on as they spoke. "It looks lovely. I've seen some women wearing those, but I never knew how they were made. Is it difficult?"

"It takes a while to learn the different stitches, but once you have the basics, it isn't too hard. Tahna's been doing it for about two turns now."

"Aunt Neke is better at it than me." Tahna said quietly. "She taught me."

"I don't have the eyes for it now." Neke shook her head, "It becomes a strain when you get to my age." she smiled fondly at her niece, "So Tahna has taken over from me."

"I think it's lovely Tahna. You have a gift." Eliste smiled at the younger of the two women. "Does anyone else do this on the boat, or are you two the only ones?"

"We're the only ones - so far." Neke replied, looking speculatively at Ellina. "Though I'm sure when Linli, Tahna's sister, is a little older, she will start becoming involved in one way or another."

"I don't believe I've met Linli." Eliste tilted her head to the side as she watched Tahna's fingers move and create. "Is she a resident of the boat as well,then?"

"She's Tahna little sister, you've probably seen her running around with her cousins. They can get into mischief but on the whole are good girls."
Neke assured her. "Fog is their father - I think you know him from the day you arrived?"

"Fog?" Eliste sat up straight in surprise. "I didn't realise he was married and had children." She supposed she shouldn't be so shocked.
He seemed like a nice man. Why wouldn't he be married?

"He has the girls..." Neke nodded, "just the two, but his wife - she's not with him any more." Neke didn't like to talk behind Fog's back, and tried to steer the conversation away. "So you're travelling to the next stop - and then, on to a new place of work?"

Odd. Eliste thought for a moment that, perhaps, his wife had died, but Neke's words made her think otherwise. The obvious hint to change the subject was taken with grace. "Well, I will probably work for a bit, then try to travel further to another hold. I'll have to earn some marks before I can move on."

"Oh, I thought you had a position to go to? I didn't realise..." Neke flushed brightly, "I'm sorry I didn't mean to be nosey."

"No, it's all right." As long as Neke didn't ask for details about where she was leaving, Eliste was fine with it. "I'll figure out something." She looked down at the quilt, then back up at Neke. "Do you think I could come sew with you some time? It's nice to have company while working."

"Of course!" Neke smiled, "New sewing companions are always welcome.
It's nice to just sit and sew with company to chatter to."

"For now, I think I'll roam around the riverboat for a bit. I've been so cooped up in my room." And since they were no longer docked, Eliste felt better about getting out. When do you meet together?"

"If the weather is cooler, in the commonroom, if the weather is pleasant, we'll be sitting out on deck together, so you won't miss us."

Eliste nodded. "Perhaps tomorrow, then?"

"Sure, we'll see you then." Neke nodded, pleased to have someone new to talk to and exchange idea's with - she felt sure the others would as well.

Last updated on the April 5th 2008

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

New Sewing Companions