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?