"Fabrication" (Holmes Minor Monthly Prompt, July 2019)

[gardnerhill]

Title: Fabrication
Author: gardnerhill
Form/Wordcount: 221b
Characters/Pairings: Sherlock Holmes, John Watson
Rating: G
Warnings/Content: None
Summary: Watson's dexterity with needles does more than mend lacerations.
Author’s Notes: For the Holmes Minor July 2019 prompt: Needles



The first Christmas Sherlock Holmes and I shared digs, Holmes unwrapped a pair of homemade black socks. I smiled at his incredulous stare, pleased not only at his reaction to my gift but also that I'd managed to surprise him. (In those days I'd been banished to my room whilst my eccentric flatmate saw his clients; I'd put those hours to good use.) "A soldier wearies of holes in his stockings, Holmes. Army service also contains a good number of idle hours. I went from darning my footwear to making my own."

When I started accompanying my friend on his cases, I brought another bag besides my Gladstone. Train trips are ideal for progressing on a jumper or cap, and I could listen to Holmes' explanation of the case without missing a stitch. The Irregulars soon modeled my winterwear, as did our page boy and Mrs. Hudson's grand-niece.

My hobby had a more practical application when my bone needles made splendid makeshift rapiers during a fight with a gang of forgers. For saving his life, Holmes gifted me with a pair of steel needles (my bone ones having broken during the fight). He proudly wears everything I make for him.

"We two are close-knit," I told Holmes, "our friendship a purl of great price."

He hit me with a wool ball.

Comments

[mightymads]

So adorable! And I can easily imagine that remembering Granada, and all those blankets, scarves, etc which looked hand-made :)

[gardnerhill]

Watson might have wanted to work with brighter colours for Holmes, but if the man wants grey and brown he gets grey and brown.