Unselfish Sewing: Join Us!

Have you already read about Skirt Week? If not, read more here. Entries are already rolling in, and later this month the tutorial fun begins. We’ll follow that with info about sponsors and prizes, and then a really fun week of voting for our favorites. It’s a fun time all around.

But today, I’d like to talk about dresses.

As much as my first daughter loved it when I made a dress for her, my second daughter FLIPS for it. And now that the second is old enough to know what’s going on, they’re both interested the instant they see me making something new. And this time, the dresses I’m working aren’t for either one of them. Or me. There’s been a little bit of consternation about that, but I’m taking the time to explain to them, too.

This little 18mm rotary cutter is my new bff. There’ll be more talk about that another day.

I used my coverhem machine on the hems. As I was working on them, appreciating that I have the crazy luxury of using the machine– especially in this context– I was afraid I didn’t get the tension quite right. I want these to be sturdy. So I added an extra line of stitching just to be sure it’s not going anywhere.

The print is “Hoopla – Garden” by Moda. It’s one I’ve had in my stash for too long, so it was time to put it to good use.

I topstitched the contrast band too, just in case. Because I pictured a little girl who could be so excited to have a new dress… I’m hoping it will last.

Here’s the first of the four I’m making. A sturdy grosgrain ribbon to tie it up. I hope there’s someone crafty in the vicinity of this size 4-ish recipient if she isn’t a bow fan. Would be easy to shorten it and hide the knot in the casings for a kid that’s not as into flourish. Although that’s probably my first-world ridiculousness talking. I’m feeling grateful for a lot of things this Mother’s Day weekend, including being able to make these for girls that will appreciate them.