It is a yearly pleasure --as those of us with family heirloom garments know to clean and mend a beautiful garment, such as this summer dress that belonged to my great grandmother Jennie Wedin-Westegaard. She was raised on a homestead farm in the North Dakota Territory, married well and became a doyen of Valley City. I once posed for a studio in Jennie's dress and a copy of the photo was given to me in a vintage daguerreotype box (in need of repair now! ). My daughter has worn the dress for certain events and perhaps, if we are gentle with the dress, my grand daughter too will have a chance to wear it.
It requires love, white thread and a needle! Every year I re-stitch loose edges where the lace and the lawn meet. I check the seams, the tiny buttons on the back of the neck and the hems. I wash it carefully and dry it in the sun where it naturally bleaches white and translucent.