An enchanted world, frozen in the pattern of a drawing-room curtain,waits patiently while Nurse Lugton sews. Then, as she falls asleep in the lamplight, the antelope nods to the zebra, and soon the elephant, the tiger, the ostrich, and all the other creatures awaken and begin to make their way toward a sparkling lake and a magical town.
Quiet misfit Rose doesn’t expect to fall in love with the sleepy beach town of Leonora. Nor does she expect to become fast friends with beautiful, vivacious Pearl Kelly, organizer of the high school float at the annual Harvest Festival parade. It’s better not to get too attached when Rose and her father live on the road, driving their caravan from one place to the next whenever her dad gets itchy feet. But Rose can’t resist the mysterious charms of the town or the popular girl, try as she might. Pearl convinces Rose to visit Edie Baker, once a renowned dressmaker, now a rumored witch. Together Rose and Edie hand-stitch an unforgettable dress of midnight blue for Rose to wear at the Harvest Festival—a dress that will have long-lasting consequences on life in Leonora, a dress that will seal the fate of one of the girls.
When Ji-su’s mother is chosen by the emperor to be a seamstress in his court, Ji-su vows to learn to sew the beautiful Korean bojagi, or wrapping cloths, just as well so that she will also be summoned to the palace and be reunited with her mother.
Lady Hahn is a seamstress, and her seven friends are the tools she uses to sew- Mrs. Ruler, Newlywed Scissors, Young Bride Needle, Young Bride Red Thread, Old Lady Thimble, Young Lady Flatiron, and Little Miss Iron.
When Lady Hahn’s friends start boasting “I’m the most important,” Lady Hahn turns her back on them. But it doesn’t take long for her to realize how much she needs her friends as every one of their contributes in a special way.