My girlhood memories of summers in the seventies often feature homemade clothing. My mum was a good sewist who made my sister and I dresses, partly out of economic necessity but also because of the enjoyment and satisfaction gleaned from making something for a loved one from scratch. Perhaps this is why I have felt compelled to make a simple summer dress or skirt of some description every year for Ruby. (Tommy however is sadly neglected in the made by mama department for which I have yet to make amends).
As each summer passes I am acutely aware that this may be the last year she accepts my offerings, before casting them aside with embarrassment. I remember when I made my mum knit a sweater for me aged 13 and snubbing the final result, it must have broken her heart. But I accept that making our own choices about clothing is an inevitable part of growing up.
I'm usually ruthless when it comes to decluttering but I will treasure these little outfits, despite their amateur construction (several of them have required more than one mending session!). This year's effort is a shirred sundress made using Erin’s tutorial. From a thrifted pillowcase (I think this kind of goes without saying) which could be best described as "Pacman meets apple circa 1982" I'm thinking.
Oh Lina! This dress is beautiful! I am totally digging the Pacman meets apple circa 82. :)
Posted by: Crystal | May 29, 2009 at 07:17 PM
I love the dress! Anything circa 1982 is great in my book, especially if it's pacman, or apple! Did it take long to do the smocking on the top? Love, love, love it!
Posted by: Danielle | May 29, 2009 at 10:07 PM
I love this! The shirring is adorable! And I loved hearing your thoughts on mama-made dresses and children making their own choices.
Posted by: Mary Beth | May 29, 2009 at 11:17 PM
Lovely dress - I have a Martha Stewart one bookmarked but I think I prefer your version!
Posted by: dottycookie | May 30, 2009 at 06:00 AM
it's lovely, I'm longing to make a shirred dress/sun top.
Posted by: driftwood | May 30, 2009 at 08:48 AM
Thanks Danielle, it's actually elastic thread on the bobbin - super easy and
very quick. The whole dress was done from start to finish in about an hour!
Lina
Posted by: Lina | May 30, 2009 at 10:12 AM
Go for it Tess, it's so simple. I was a little nervous of the elastic on
the bobbin, but it was really easy!
Lina
Posted by: Lina | May 30, 2009 at 10:13 AM
I want to find some little boy patterns - got some cute little trousers tagged so far, now just need a couple of extra hours in a day to get them made!
Love the dress, one to keep for prosterity.
Posted by: French Knots | May 30, 2009 at 10:57 AM
Lina it's lovely and that pattern is fab!!
These things always come back into fashion so I would definitely keep it for future grandchildren - maybe?!? (Sorry!)
Have a lovely weekend,
Nina x
Posted by: Nina - Tabiboo | May 30, 2009 at 11:55 AM
I haven't made the children any clothes for years - but I really enjoyed making Dot a couple of tiny outfits when she was a toddler - I even hand stitched a little blouse for her. I've done other things since then but they are the ones I love and treasure most.
Lucy x
Posted by: Lucy Locket-Pocket | May 30, 2009 at 03:28 PM
gorgeous dress , I'd definately keep it
Posted by: Periwinkle | May 30, 2009 at 03:45 PM
I was just chatting with my mom today about the homemade matching dresses she used to make for my sister and I...they were the best and we lived in them. I think they might be in the basement somewhere....
Posted by: jessica | May 30, 2009 at 07:37 PM
I saw that tutorial and have bought all the materials to have a go but haven't got round to it yet. Yours looks lovely, I love the fabric
Posted by: Thimbleina | May 31, 2009 at 05:35 AM
I want one! I remember some of the clothes my mom made me and I turned my nose at them - well, we get a bit strange when we hit a certain age. I hope you have many summers of homemade dresses to come.
Posted by: Anne | June 02, 2009 at 12:28 AM
i love the top! i finally bought some elastic thread. now i need to work up the courage to use it!
Posted by: amandajean | June 02, 2009 at 09:29 AM
nice work Lina!
Posted by: Lecia | June 02, 2009 at 12:40 PM
I really like that red fabric! We had a lot of handmade clothes as children too - the shirred sundresses were always the favourites!
Posted by: Helen | June 07, 2009 at 05:21 AM
I love that dress. What a cool find on the fabric!
Posted by: Ransacked Goods | June 12, 2009 at 12:16 PM
That's inspired to go for the front and back shirring...I hadn't thought of that, as it would have meant barely any fitting at all. Wonderful - and actually, I so love the way that it looks too - it provides more of a visual break between the top and the bottom of the dress.
Thank you so much for posting me the link. x
Posted by: Florence | June 23, 2010 at 08:21 AM