It screamed at me from the shelf, "Make Miss M a dress from ME!" Okay, it didn't really scream, that would be a totally different problem. But I was looking for fabric with apples to make her an apple picking outfit, because one must have an outfit for picking apples. (It's my first girl, cut me some slack. ;) ) Alas, I have been unable to find apple fabric suitable for the image in my mind. I'm picky like that.
Anyway, now I have this fabric and I have some idea of how I want the dress to look. Not all one fabric, kind of bohemian, a little patchworky. (I need some coordinating fabrics. Shucks, I must go back to Joanns. ;) ) I found some patterns that sort of resemble what I want. (pinkfigpatterns.com) but not exactly because a fall dress in my neck of the woods usually means long sleeves.
There is another issue. I am not an expert seamstress. I mean, I can follow a pattern but I haven't perfected things yet. (This is why knitting is so nice, you just rip it out and start over, no cutting out etc.). There is a part of me wondering if I should even try to make the dress in my mind's eye for Miss M. It very well may look like something a 10 year-old made for her doll. (And I'm not talking a gifted 10 year-old, I'm talking me at age 10. : D) In my mind, it does not look like that, it looks adorable and perfect and like something I would proudly (pride may be a problem) dress her in for church. :) What if it turns out looking like Cinderella's castoff? That's time and money and well, pride. :O.
Only time will tell. A lesson I've heard it from my builder brother my whole life was reinforced yesterday. "Measure twice, cut once." Apparently, I mismeasured Miss M because the adorable circle skirt will fit her next fall or maybe the one after that. The good news is, at just under a year, I could have sworn her waist measured 17"...apparently it's considerably less.
I could write a whole bunch about how God has a pattern for our life and no matter how we muck with it, He will use it for good. I do believe that. I also believe that trying to make the dress is the most important part because it's about the journey and the process not only the destination or the final product. I just want the product to be wearable (and cute and to match my expectations.) Just sayin'.
-Peace
You'll be fine! She will love it because you made it and the best part will be the apples. Kids remember the darndest things. Have fun sewing. I hope you post a picture of how it turns out.
ReplyDeleteHow about making a jumper with the bohemian, patchworky feel and putting it over a turtleneck so you don't have to deal with sleeves but it is still fall appropriate? Is it just as hard to make a sleeveless as sleeves? I don't sew so I have no frame of reference. But I do have some papers that will coordinate with that fabric for a layout of apple picking. Shall I send them your way??
ReplyDeleteThank you both! I did buy a jumper pattern this weekend. This fabric will not be her apple picking outfit, I have something else planned for that. No, seriously, I do, and I bought that fabric already. The Husband has called it a addiction. :D he bought me the sewing machine, so does that make him an enabler? ;)
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