Queen Anne's Lace

Queen Anne’s Lace1

Once upon a time in a small, rather unimportant country, long since gone and forgotten, there lived a lovely young queen named Anne. She was a beautiful queen but she was also very conceited and self centered. 2

When she was nearing the day of her 20th birthday she decided to have a huge party in her own honor. “I will invite all the important people in the surrounding countries”, she thought to herself. “There will be kings and queens, lords and masters of great mansions. And I shall wear the most beautiful gown in all the world. Everyone, especially the young princes will become enamored with me and I shall have my choice of suitable men to wed”. 3

Everyone in her kingdom was expected to do their part in the preparations for this grand affair. The bakers were enlisted to bake their most tasty cakes and breads, the cooks planned a lavish menu, the musicians practiced their best music. Puppeteers and other entertainers scampered to do the queen’s bidding. Everyone who had skills that could be utilized were commanded to work to make the queen’s birthday ball a most memorable event.4

Queen Anne herself began plans for her ball gown. She told her seamstress’s that it must be the most beautiful gown ever made. Every day the seamstress’s brought her new suggestions and drawings for the new gown, but the queen was never satisfied. 5

“No, it’s not beautiful enough”, she complained. “Put your minds to work, you can do better than that”. No matter what they tried to do, it was never right, never enough.6

After many attempts at pleasing the queen, the head seamstress, Clara came to her in distress. “Your Majesty”, she said in dismay, “what are we to do? Your birthday is only three days away and we still have not been able to make your gown? Please, you must help us. Surely you must have some idea of what you desire”.7

The queen thought for a moment about what she would want. But she couldn’t think of anything that was special enough. It could not be just an ordinary gown of ordinary fabric. It had to be special, different. She must be the most outstandingly beautiful lady at the ball.8

Later that day she called for a servant to bring her riding horse around. “Perhaps if I go for a ride, get some fresh air, I can clear my mind of all the other incidentals for the party”, she thought. “And I shall have Clara accompany me so that we may talk about this without interruption”.9

And the two rode off in the direction of the meadow, where it was always pleasant riding. As they approached the edge of the meadow, Queen Anne was struck by a tree limb and knocked off her horse. She fell to the ground, hitting her head on a large rock, and lay unconscious on the ground. Clara quickly dismounted and ran to the queen. 10

“Wake up, your Majesty, please wake up”, she cried. The queen opened her eyes slowly and looked up at Clara dazedly. At first she couldn’t move but finally after a minute or two she was able to pull herself to her knees. There right under her nose was a most beautiful sight….. a flower, or rather a cluster of flowers, tiny white buds. She was surrounded by many of these flowers. She had seen them many times before but never up close like this. They were just weeds and she had paid them little mind, taking them for granted. But from down here, on her knees and up close, they were lovely beyond words. 11

“Clara, look”, she exclaimed excitedly. “That’s it, that’s my gown, look how beautiful it is!” Clara looked, thinking the queen had been knocked senseless, daft from the blow to her head.12

“Really, Clara, that’s my gown. I want a gown made of the most intricate lace, just as you see here!”13

“But that’s just wild carrot weed, Your Majesty”, Clara explained softly so as not to daunt the queen. 14

“I know that, Clara, but no matter. Look at the dainty petals. This is what I want, a gown made of the finest lace, just like this flower. Hurry, you must get started. You have only three days to do it”. She picked a handful of the wild flowers and tucked them into her scarf.15

“Oh, my”, thought Clara, “three days to make an elaborate lace gown. How will we ever manage it”.16

That very day she gathered all the seamstress’s together and told them of the task ahead. They all looked at each other in dismay for only two of them knew how to do such delicate work. And so began their task. Over the next few days their fingers flew, their needles flitting back and forth tatting delicate flowerlike shapes into yards and yards of lace. 17

Those that were best at making lace worked on that, while the other seamstress’s set to work making a pattern to be used for sewing the pieces together. They all knew it was an almost impossible task to finish in time for the ball but they also knew it must be done, for it was the queen’s demanding wish.18

They worked so hard, pushing themselves to the limit and on the morning of the party, they had nearly completed the gown except for some last minute sewing before the final fitting. The queen had come to their sewing room several times each day, demanding that they work faster, to hurry with the completion of her gown. Now it was time to do the final stitches, make it fit her perfectly. 19

Clara went to fetch the queen and as they entered the sewing room, Queen Anne gasped with delight and wonderment. There before her hung her gown, yards and yards of delicate lace formed into a beautiful piece of art. She tried to picture herself dressed in this beautiful gown, making her look even more lovely than before.20

Clara helped her into the dress and they all began making it into a perfect fit. A tuck here, a seam altered there, the bodice let out a tiny bit to fit her breasts, and finally,all was done. 21

As Queen Anne stood before the mirror gazing at her reflection, she suddenly felt humbled. She no longer felt that she was as significantly important as she had felt all her life. This beautiful gown, all the hard work that had gone into it, all the devotion of her seamstress’s, the flowers which had inspired it, those were the important things. 22

She turned to the women around her and smiled, really smiled, sincerely and lovingly at each of them. With outstretched arms she went to each of them, gave them a most unexpected hug and thanked them individually for their hard work.23

That night at her birthday ball, she was indeed the most beautiful lady there. But it was an inner beauty that was noticed by all. The gown was simply an adornment to compliment that beauty. She danced with all the men, conversed with all the ladies and didn’t even think about herself at all, which was surely different for her. Before today she had always thought of herself first. 24

When the ladies asked her about her beautiful gown she was happy to share her story with them.25

And that, my dear children, is how the wild carrot weed became known as Queen Anne’s Lace. 26

By Dee Garner27

February 5, 200528