cloth finisher and mender, of Kuttenberg
“I sew coats and mend seams from dawn until the tallow candle burns out.”
Things Elishka Vejmola had written, latest first, with the glosses of her neighbours.
the Thursday before Whitsun, at Compline
My fingers are cramped from turning three heavy coats today. Francis drank his wages again and stumbled in looking for coin. Praise God my floorboard sits tight. If Dorothy Thrush shouts at her father about that carter one more time, I will stitch her mouth shut.
Nota scribaeDictated quickly, while the girl counted stitches on her fingers.
the feast of St Pancras, at Vespers
Magdalena Ebner still has the shears, Enneleyn holds the smoothing iron. They squabble like children in the dirt. I guard my own needles. A borrowed tool is a lost tool, and a lost tool means no bread.
Katherine has my finishing brush! I am not giving up the shears until I get it back.
the third day of Easter week, at Sext
The market was full of soldiers and bread costs more groschen than last year. I took in three extra shirts from the apprentices just to buy flour. Margaret Preng is slowing down with her work, but I have no time to help her.
My hand throbs, Elishka. Just one shirt would be a mercy.
Nota scribaeShe spoke so fast I had to make her repeat the part about the bread.
the feast of St Gertrude, at None
Klara Carter wept for an hour over a lost silver thimble that belonged to Hedvika. It is gone. Tears do not mend clothes or put pennies in a safe place. Work the needle you have.
It was my mother's! You have no heart, Elishka, only needles and thread.
I have work, Klara. That is better than a heart.
the Monday after Ash Wednesday, at Prime
The master tailors sent down a pile of rough wool. I must finish it all by Sunday. Svatava means well but she cannot sew as fast as she used to. I am putting away what I can. I just need a little more.
You work too hard, child. You will ruin your eyes before you wed.
Nota scribaeThe girl kept looking over her shoulder as she spoke of putting things away.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
Simon will come back with silver, you bitter mouse, and then you will see!
Where is the respect for the man of the house? Get back to your sewing.