A Rabbit Story

Once upon a time, in the early 1930's, a dear little boy was born. He was the first child of an eldest daughter, and the first grandchild of a very interesting lady. Like many another much-wanted child born into a large family, there was no shortage of presents.

One present, sewn by a friend of the Grandmother, was a linen bib:

It was made with cream linen with a peach coloured cotton binding and a cute embroidered brown rabbit.

The baby boy grew up, as baby boys do, had a sister and a brother and the bib was passed down. After that it was put away safely by the mother until one day her daughter came to visit with her own first daughter. Out came the rabbit bib from its place of storage and back into use it went.

By the time the bib took its next holiday, it had been used by all nine of the lady's grandchildren whenever they visited her. She even had a china rabbit bowl to match it, which was with difficulty relinquished each time a new baby arrived. Both rabbit bib and bowl were treats connected with visiting Granny.

Some years later the daughter's first daughter came to visit from East Africa with her own roly poly baby girl, so once more out came the rabbit bib...and the rabbit bowl. The Granny passed away soon after her second granddaughter was born, but the rabbit bib was sent to the daughter and used for all three of the daughter's grandchildren.

By now the rabbit bit was looking rather tatty and the binding was parting company where the linen had frayed. The granddaughter considered how to keep it and decided not to repair it. Instead, she traced around the shape and then traced the pattern of the rabbit onto paper:

Its such a darling little rabbit!

This January another granddaughter of the original mother in this story had twin girls, so exciting!

Presents needed....hmmmm....the new fabric has been chosen, the rabbit pattern transferred ready to be embroidered and behold! the rabbit bib will start a new chapter of children!

All this from the kindness of my Great-Granny's friend who wanted to celebrate a new baby...who'd have thought it would become a baby heirloom?

And the baby who originally received the rabbit bib? Well he's heading for his 80th birthday and available for a game of tennis or golf whenever the weather permits!