Detour--Granddaughter Request

Before I launch into the topic of this post, I want to let you know that I was a winner! I received my prize from Luanne over at Let's Create Today for leaving a comment on her blog. Please go visit her as she ALWAYS has something interesting going on in her "neck of the woods!" I received this beautiful card with her photography and a piece of her hand dyed fabric! Trust me, the hand on this fabric is luscious! Thank you, Luanne!!!!

A couple weeks ago, our almost four year old granddaughter asked if we could make some clothes.  This is the granddaughter who likes to spend her time in the studio drawing or creating on the design wall. Of course, I said yes, knowing full well that she was going to choose a pattern that either the fabric would be a challenge or the pattern would be a challenge. She likes to wear, as she calls them, "princess dresses."

She's been eyeing the leftover fabric from her sister's birthday cape. Click the link if you want to see the fabric and read about the cape.

Mind you, she doesn't understand why I can't make her a cape out of the leftovers; but, she wanted that fabric. I got out the patterns and suggested a simple blouse. She agreed. A few days passed and I knew she wouldn't be happy with the blouse so I made a trip to Joann Craft and Fabric store. I selected some pink netting and pink organza to go under the leftover fabric. I know she'd like a swishy skirt better than a blouse!

Then, my eye lit on the smocked fabrics in fun character prints. There was a Hello Kitty, Micky Mouse, Doc McStuffins to name a few of the options.  I thought she might enjoy a trip to Joann's to pick out her own fabric. I also decided that I couldn't just take one granddaughter and buy just for one granddaughter.

So, I enlisted the help of my husband to help with the 2 1/2 year old. We practiced following directions. The almost four year old can repeat the directions and demonstrate that she can follow them. The 2 1/2 year old? Well, not so much!  I can't tell you how many days in the last two months that we have been practicing stop and go. Some days are better than others!!

The day arrived for us to go to the fabric store. We practiced the directions at home before we left; but, the two year old was catching a cold; and was feeling yucky. She didn't want to go anywhere; but, my husband's lap!

The four year old was excited about going to the "Quilting" store. I explained Joann's wasn't really a quilting store; but, that one day, if this day went well, we'd go to a real "Quilting" store. She said she was prepared and she opened a little case. Inside was a piece of paper with some marks on it--her list--and a purple plastic play "debit" card! She was so excited about the debit card and was concerned about how she was going to get it to the store because she didn't want anyone to take it from her and she didn't have a pocket to keep it safe! She said she wanted to "buy" her dress!

I kept asking her how she had an account to have a debit card and her reply was, "Daddy, takes care of everything!" Oh my, her commentary made me chuckle!

She chose a Disney themed Mickey/Minnie mouse fabric. . .not so much for the mouse profiles; but, because there were pink polka dots and a second layer of fabric resembling a ruffle. She also chose a fabric for her sister. . .it is also a Disney themed Minnie mouse fabric with a dark pink smocked top and black polka dots on the bottom of the fabric.

This fabric is smocked at the top and in one seam, you've created a dress. Simple and fun. . .I HOPED! We also purchased a coordinating fabric for straps for each dress. She pinned the back seam the day we bought the fabric; but, decided that was enough sewing for one day.

The next day she came, sewing her dress was her first concern. So of course, we started right away on the project. She knew that I would help her; but, that she was the one who would be sewing. We made a French seam for the back seam. We spent time pressing four straps and then top stitched the edges together. She can guide the fabric well and commented about all the different lines we used to guide the fabric!

She knows the difference now between ironing and pressing. She likes ironing better!


She tried on the dress after completing each step. When we finished the hem, she put it on and said that she wanted to wear it home to show her mama and could we call Auntie and Great Grandma too???  But first, would I announce her to Papa so she could make an entrance??? Of course, it was yes to all. She is so proud of her dress because she made it HERSELF with a little help from Gran.

It was a GREAT one and a half hours in the studio! More quilting related posts ahead; but, this was an experience too precious not to be documented!