Summer sewing - made by mama

 

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.

Comments

[Crystal]

Oh Lina! This dress is beautiful! I am totally digging the Pacman meets apple circa 82. :)

[Danielle]

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!

[Mary Beth]

I love this! The shirring is adorable! And I loved hearing your thoughts on mama-made dresses and children making their own choices.

[dottycookie]

Lovely dress - I have a Martha Stewart one bookmarked but I think I prefer your version!

[driftwood]

it's lovely, I'm longing to make a shirred dress/sun top.

[Lina]

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

[Lina]

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

[French Knots]

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.

[Nina - Tabiboo]

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

[Lucy Locket-Pocket]

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

[Periwinkle]

gorgeous dress , I'd definately keep it

[jessica]

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....

[Thimbleina]

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

[Anne]

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.

[amandajean]

i love the top! i finally bought some elastic thread. now i need to work up the courage to use it!

[Lecia]

nice work Lina!

[Helen]

I really like that red fabric! We had a lot of handmade clothes as children too - the shirred sundresses were always the favourites!

[Ransacked Goods]

I love that dress. What a cool find on the fabric!

[Florence]

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