Thursday, November 7, 2013

Sewing for Little Miss Princess

Flashback to 2007 when I started blogging, with a post called "Sewing for my Kids".  My daughter was 4, and my son was almost 2 at the time.  "Having a daughter and loving to sew seem to go together. I love choosing fabric and patterns for her to wear, and she gets pretty excited when she knows the project I'm working on is for her."

May 2008, Simplicity 2912

Well, some things don't change! "Mom, that's pretty fabric! What are you making?  Is it for you?"
This question has been asked far too often in the last year or so, and I'm ashamed to admit that I can't remember the last thing I made for my sweet girl. I think it was a skirt for Christmas last year? I'm a bad sewing mom...

My "Little Miss Princess" is now 10, and isn't nearly as excited about Princesses as she once was. We are dealing with that funny age of wanting to be a teenager and expecting trust and independence. Next year she will move onto the Middle School, and as a teacher and mom, that scares the living bejeesus out of me.

So, what a sewing mom to do? Stitch up something sweet for her (still) little girl. Something to surprise her (it was laying on her bad when she came home from school) and remind her that she's still my number one daughter and that I love sewing for her.
The fabric was purchased at Haberman's late this summer, a pretty border knit with flowers, dots, and stripes.  She picked it out, so I knew what she had in mind when I pulled the pattern Monday morning.  McCalls 6785
 There are a few different neckline options and lengths, so I'll use this again soon.  I cut the size 12, which runs very true to RTW size.
I placed the stripe near the hem, and after cutting the first piece, I realized... it's was the crossgrain and had no stretch across her body now.  Oops. Thankfully, I cut a size up (since she wasn't home for me to measure), so it fits. For now.  I got creative (and lucky with the amount of fabric remaining) and place another stripe down each sleeve.

When she came home from school, I got big hugs and tears. I left it long, unsure of the length, so we decided on a tunic to be worn with leggings, rather than a dress. Perfect for the cooler season, with bright blues & greens, flowers, polka dots, and stripes! I'm definitely planning on making a couple more of these for her, maybe in a nice sweater knit.

Sewing for my girl... makes us both smile!

10 comments:

Dilliander said...

What a lovely surprise! Your daughter looks delighted... and delightful :)

Anonymous said...

Your daughter is beaming that you took time to make this for her. Brings back memories of my sewing mother surprising me with sewn clothes

Love your luxe sweatshirt, too

Pam said...

Awwww! I love I her smile and the color looks great on her! My girls still love me to sew for them and they are in their twenties! I love that!

L said...

Cute top for your DD!

Lori said...

The smile tells it all, great job, Mom, you are her hero. Take that before she gets to middle school (lol). It is a super cute top and great fabric.

RhondaBuss said...

What a great top! I want one too :) just think, it won't be that long before you are making a wedding gown.

Bunny said...

Adorable! Sewing bonds us with our little ones, doesn't it?

Meigan said...

Very cute top. I actually just bought this pattern on Wednesday!

Sue said...

It looks lovely on your daughter!

Kyle said...

I have done the same thing with fleece and a hat I sewed up for a friend...bwah ha ha when it would not fit...cut the wrong way.

Hmmmm...I really like that collar. Could I get into a girls 14? Probably not.