I haven’t sewn for years, but my mom recently bought me a sewing machine, explaining that I could “save TONS of money” by making my little girl’s dresses and such. Considering that I buy almost all of our clothes at yard sales and super-clearance sales, I rarely pay more than a buck or two for ANYthing, but what the hey. I figure I can make some cute little things for babypoet.
I did a preliminary test dress, which turned out too big and I screwed up the button placket, so I’ll have to use eye hooks instead. Overall, though, it was encouraging, so now, I’m using the $8/yd material (see all the money I’m saving already?) for Dress #2.
And it’s Cute. The bodice is sage green and cream stripes, and the skirt part is a gardeny sort of pattern in matching colors. I got the button placket right this time, so I just have to hem and put the buttonholes and buttons on. Then I’ll do some decorative top-stitching, maybe.
But you know…I had no idea how emotional I would be about this. Imagine! I am making a DRESS. For my very own Little GIRL. The baby I was never going to have, because I only needed three kids, for heaven’s sake. The baby I should have never been ABLE to have, because of that childhood bout of illness that should, by all rights, have left me sterile. And the GIRL I feared I would never be able to treat right, because of my own screwy history.
When I was pregnant, I cried almost every day over this secret fear: Would I ever be able to treat a little girl right? Would I hurt her, out of some bizarre need to hurt myself? I don’t feel kindly at all toward the little girl that I used to be, how would I ever be able to be kind to this one? But then she arrived, safe and sound, and I found that not only can I love her beyond all reason, she is also teaching me to love that little girl part of myself.
So…I’ll finish up this sweet little dress, and then I’ll probably go out and buy some more material, and start the next one. These are precious chances, and I don’t dare waste them.
~karol
That is so adorable. 
I have an antique sewing machine and I sometimes open it up to play at sewing. I haven’t actually created anything since I was in elementary school (when mix-n-match cottons were in vogue for the stylish first-grader).
I should go shopping for a pattern and some cute material next time I have some extra money…
How sweet, bodypoet!
I’d love to sew something for my little girl. Too bad I don’t know how to sew! I pick up most of her stuff at Value Village, so outfitting her never cost me that much, but I’m sure it’s nothing like making something for your sweet little bunny with your own hands. Good luck!
I rarely sewed for my Perfect Child[sup]TM[/sup] when she was little - most of her wardrobe came from consignment shops. But on a couple of occasions, she asked me to make her dresses - including for her 8th grade awards ceremony and her first prom dress. She had very specific dresses in mind that weren’t in style, so they weren’t available in stores. But we found patterns and fabrics that she liked and I made modifications to suit her.
How cool is that - my teenager wanting me to make her prom dress?? 
I so miss sewing for my daughter…I made such adorable dresses for her when she was little. I didn’t always finish them…I seem to recall a black velveteen and royal blue taffeta dress that never got its zipper…thank God long hair hid the pin at the neckline…but many others got finished, and loved. The next time I sew for her will probably be her wedding dress, but knowing my daughter, it’ll probably be purple crushed velvet.
There’s just something about making something special for your own little one that beats buying clothes in a store. My favorite outfit, though, was a teeny tiny little denim jumper I made for her when she was 2 or 3. Just so cute, and so perfect on her. Sigh. Of course, she still fits into a lot of things I made her in junior high (and she’s 20!) but does she wear them? No. But she wears stuff I made for myself back in 1975…and wonders why the boob fairy skipped over her!
I love sewing for Kiddo. My biggest accomplishment to date was an exceedingly difficult (the head at least) costume of the Teletubby Laa-laa. She looked frigging adorable.
PS FairyCM My mom made my prom dress too, for the same reasons.
Okay, get this (and prepare for a resounding “AWWWWW”). My mother made me a dress BY HAND when I was about a year old. My dad was so impressed that he went out and bought her a sewing machine. She made ALL my school clothes and holiday dresses (as well as my sister’s) until I was halfway through high school. It was really great, because I was very small and couldn’t wear the styles appropriate to my age group unless my mom made them. Geez, I miss her!
What nice memories. Someday Sage will (maybe) have this dress to show her little girl. My mom still talks about sewing for my older sister when she was small.
I have all these vintage tablecloths that are just calling my name…“I’d make a really cool hip dress for baby Sage!” they cry. So I may be doing some experimenting soon!
~k