Monday, August 27, 2012

First Day of First Grade Dress

Did you stay up the night before school started each year like I did?  Too amped and excited/nervous to sleep?  Every single year.  And now, again, again because my teensy twins grew up in a blink and start first grade tomorrow.  They wear uniforms at their school but this summer as I was rereading the uniform policy I noticed that it was really generous in its terms. 

Girls may also wear solid-colored collared dresses in one of the uniform shirt colors.

I missed that phrase last year but today I rectified the situation by making Bird a red dress for the first day of school—tomorrow (in true night-sew fashion, with no time to spare).  Her favorite parts are the square glittery buttons and sneaking polka dot bias tape inside.  I think the dots make her feel rebellious.

The fabric is a stretch poplin from JoAnns.  The pattern is Simplicity 5226 with the only modifications being the tucks added to the front bodice, the back bodice, and the pockets.  I made a size 7 and it is generous on her.  I put a 5 inch hem on the bottom and will be surprised if it doesn’t last two years when I take that out and add a tuck to hide the crease. 

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Thursday, August 2, 2012

Flashback August 2, 2001

Eleven years ago I married my husband.  And because this is my sewing blog, I introduce the dress that I made to be married in.  I am still happy and proud of that gown from a decade ago.  I drafted it myself and hand beaded the waist and hem circumference.  I can’t even guess how many hours I spent with that.  My skills (and my person) have matured and grown a lot in the years I’ve been married.  I can say that Ryan and I have worked hard, played hard, and loved hard in these years.  We’ve been blessed with accomplishments, change, and growth.  A redo now would certainly produce a better garment.  Perhaps one day I’ll have the chance to potentially make those changes in gowns for my own daughters.  I cut my wedding dress up in 2005 when I made it into tiny little baby clothes for my twins. 

 

PS Love you babe!SCAN0008

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