Flint Dog

  Chapter 7: A stitch in time

  Next morning Mother was full of excitement at the prospect of learning how to sew. She hurried everyone along over breakfast and the morning jobs.

  "What's the rush?" grumbled Father as she practically pushed him out of the hut.

  "I'm going to learn how to sew, that's what the rush is," she retorted. "Now, go to your axes."

  Father shrugged and set off for his favourite flint spot. Mother and Hazel Eyes made for Basket Maker's hut. Youngest tagged along at a distance. Several other Birth-givers joined the procession to see the old woman, all curious as to what was going on.

  The old woman was waiting for them outside the hut. She already had two skins lying on the ground in front of her.

  "Good morning," said Mother politely.

  "May the Goddess smile on you," replied the old woman graciously. "Now, first we need to make a needle to do the sewing."

  "And what is that made from?" asked Mother.

  "Bone. I need a small piece of bone and a stone to shape it with," the old woman told her.

  "Hazel Eyes, go and get me a bone and one of Father's stones, quick now!" ordered Mother.

  Hazel Eyes sped off at once.

  "While she is gone, we can make the thread," went on the old woman. She took a flint knife and carefully sliced a thin strip of leather off the edge of one of the skins. She turned it over and shaved the hairs of it with stroking movements of the flint blade.

  "Now you try," she said to Mother. Mother nervously took the knife and began to cut another thin strip. Her cutting was a bit wiggly and she and some of the Birth-givers giggled.

  "You will get better," laughed the old woman.

  A loud panting and the thudding of feet announced Hazel Eyes' return. She was red in the face from running so fast. She carefully laid out a handful of bones and a large, rough stone.

  "Thank you, my child," smiled the old woman. Hazel Eyes blushed with pleasure.

  The old woman selected the smallest bone from the pile and set to work filing it with the rough stone. The Birth-givers watched in silence. Youngest was fascinated to see the shavings of bone flutter down to the ground. The piece of bone grew thinner and thinner. The old woman only shortened it a little. It was now about as long as Youngest's hand and as fine as a stalk of corn.

  The old woman then filed carefully at one end.

  "What are you doing now?" Youngest couldn't help asking.

  "I'm sharpening it, curious one!" she smiled. "How does this feel?"

  And with that she pricked him very gently on his hand.

  "Ouch!" yelped Youngest in surprise. The Birth-givers laughed. Youngest frowned. The old woman winked at him and Youngest stopped feeling quite so cross.

  "Last of all, I need to add an eye to the needle," explained the old woman. She took the knife again and sliced into the other end of the needle. Youngest could see now that this end was a little fatter and flatter than the rest of the needle. After a few deft strokes, a hole appeared.

  "There!" exclaimed the old woman. "Now we can sew."

  The Birth-givers watched breathlessly as the old woman took her needle and one of the strips of leather. She tied a knot in one end of the strip and threaded the other through the needle's eye. Next she skewered one of the skins near its edge with the needle and pulled it right through. The leather strip followed it. Then the old woman did the same to the second skin. This time as she pulled the leather strip through, it pulled the two pieces of skin together. The Birth-givers gasped in amazement.

  The old woman laughed. "That's all it is! You carry on sewing along the edges of the skins you want to join. Remember to tie a knot when you have finished sewing to hold the thread tight."

  She handed the needle to Mother. Mother carefully inspected the old woman's stitch. Then she had a go. She drove the needle into the first skin.

  "Ow!" she cried, and dropped the sewing. There was a bright red drop of blood on one of her fingers.

  "You must be careful with the needle," warned the old woman.

  Mother tried again. This time she was more careful where she held the skin. She did a perfect stitch. And another. Then she handed the sewing to another Birth-giver. They all had a go, even Hazel Eyes.

  "Thank you," said Mother when they had all tried. "This is a wonderful thing you have taught us. We are very grateful."

  The old woman nodded and turned to go back into the hut. Mother and the others hurried away to prepare the noon time meal. The morning had flown by.