Unselfish Sewing on the Horizon

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Josephine's 2nd Birthday

Happy Mother’s Day!

I’m back to blogging after a lovely vacation visiting family on the west coast followed by a short vacation from the vacation when I returned home. My daughter, Josephine turned two and we celebrated thoroughly with family, friends, plenty of cake, barbecue, and California sunshine. Good times. The kind that make you want to start sewing for tiny people.

Like most parents, I put a BC (before children) marker on the mental timeline of my life. In 2011 BC I got deadly serious about garment sewing. In 2012 BC I joined The Sew Weekly and nearly knocked myself out sewing like a junkie for 25 weeks. Later that year, I got knocked UP instead. Fast forward to 2015 and I am still deadly serious about wardrobe sewing, but now, I’m starting to get the itch to sew for my daughter, too.

I’ve always been a selfish seamstress. There’s still so much to do to properly clothe this grown woman body, that I haven’t put much energy into making clothes for a growing baby. Except for the cute little denim dress I made for Josephine’s 1st birthday (which still fits as a tunic), her wardrobe is all gifted and hand-me-downs. But as she grows up taller (while staying narrow), I realize it may be time for some custom-fitted garments that apply the same size grading I use on mine.

For the past two years, I’ve watched her personality emerge. Sewing for her expressive little toddler body will be fun. She runs EVERYWHERE, has never seen a Disney movie so thankfully knows nothing of princesses, enjoys counting, identifying shapes and colors, riding her stroller/tricycle, coloring, exploring and sorting things, and stacking tall towers of blocks. I think any of the Oliver and S patterns would suit her perfectly – at least that’s what I’m telling myself after stalking their cuteness for so long.

The key to managing my new motherly sewing urges is careful planning around my own projects. My recent coast to coast flight reminded me: If you are travelling with a child or someone who requires assistance, secure your mask on first, and then assist the other person. Adapted for this context: If you are sewing for a child or someone who requires assistance, secure your invisible zipper first, then sew for the other person.

Do you sew for children? What are you favorite patterns or companies?

12 thoughts on “Unselfish Sewing on the Horizon”

  1. I used to sew alot of dresses for my daughter when she was a little girl. Then I had two boys who weren’t that rewarding to sew for. Now my daughter has two little boys. I make the odd thing – for example vintage dressing gowns, Christening robe and hat. But I wish she had a girl! Personally I find vintage patterns alot of fun and very economical. But when my kids were small I used the European trace off childrenswear pattern magazines.

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    • I almost forgot about vintage patterns! I’ve admired a handful on Etsy in the past. Now that my interest is up, I might get swallowed up in a vintage children’s pattern hunting expedition! Thanks for the recommendation. Strangely enough, I secretly wished for a boy to keep my sewing focused on me — and now, I wouldn’t change a thing!

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  2. Your granddaughter is such a cutie. I always found it hard to justify sewing for my kids when they were little – so much time spent on the garments, then they drop chocolate ice cream on it or, shock/horror – GROW! Actually, Princess was a dab hand with scissors as I recall. The Oliver and S patterns look gorgeous. I have loads of vintage kid’s patterns, handed down, but honestly I’d be petrified of touching them. Glad you had a lovely sojourn across your wide brown land Najah. I should mention it may not be referred to as ‘brown’, perhaps thats just us here in Oz!

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    • Thanks! But she’s my daughter not my granddaughter. The badly lit photo must be aging me. Ha! As for my land, it was wide brown, green, and blue. 😉

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  4. Sewing for kids is surprisingly fun, fitting is so much easier and the smaller size makes everything go faster. PDF patterns are a piece of cake. Plus you can get away with quilting cotton, so many cute prints. I highly recommend the Made by Rae Geranium dress, it’s a classic and easy to customize. Also, I have boys so I haven’t done this much myself, but Mommy-and-Me outfits!

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    • I checked out the Geranium dress, and you’re right…it’s perfect! I’m a little weirded out by Mommy and Me outfits, but I have put some thought into some coordinating colors, but not sure I can go totally matchy-matchy.

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