It’s Day Fourteen of National Sewing Month! Too see the daily blog posts, projects of the day, and more National Sewing Month details, click here.
My name is Jenya. I am a sewaholic. As soon as my little girl goes to sleep my feet take me to the sewing room, my eyes glance over the fabric, and my hands start creating. I like to share about the cute little things I have made on my blog, While she was sleeping. Please feel free to pop over and have a look.
A few weeks ago there was an interesting discussion on AllFreeSewing’s Facebook page about sewing with special fabric. I thought it would be appropriate to share how I treat my special fabric.
My grandma was a very talented seamstress. I don’t remember her ever using a pattern, and yet she could whip up just about anything! I have tender memories of some of the outfits she made for me when I was little. When I caught the sewing bug my mum passed a lot of fabric on to me left from my grandma. We are not talking about just any fabric – gorgeous vintage fabric.
Now, tell me – and please be honest – would you get a cup of coffee plus a cake and just sit there looking at them before leaving without even trying them? Or how about getting a pair of heels you always wanted and never taking them out of the box? To me, having vintage fabric and not using it doesn’t make sense. I am armed with scissors, and I am not afraid to use them… even on precious vintage fabric!
Please let me show you a few of my favorite outfits I made for Little Monkey out of my vintage fabric while she was sleeping.
I made this dress when I was very new to sewing. I used my grandma’s fabric. This fabric is at least 30 years old. Little Monkey only wore this dress for a few months, but to see her wearing something her mummy made out of her great grandma’s fabric was very special to say the least.
How gorgeous is this Clydella fabric! A shop assistant thought it was printed in the late 60’s. It is 19% wool and 81% cotton. After sitting on a shelf for many years this soft and warm fabric became a little dress for my daughter. Little Monkey enjoyed wearing it last winter.
Some of my grandma’s gorgeous vintage corduroy became this cute and simple pinafore.
I am currently participating in a sewing challenge known as Secret Squirrel (sewpony.blogspot.com.au). Participants are required to create an outfit for a child using five ‘acorns’ of inspiration. One of the acorns for August was ‘Tangerine’. As soon as I read that I thought of some of my grandma’s gorgeous fabric and made a little tunic for Little Monkey (pattern by Sew Sweet Patterns). Don’t you just love this color?
I love making clothes for my daughter. I enjoy seeing her wear her mummy-made clothes everywhere – even at childcare or the playground. Yes, even clothes made out of precious vintage fabrics. Because you see, when I buy a cake I like to eat it 😉
Remember to visit Jenya over at While she was sleeping for truly inspiring sewing projects!
