Janet, the proud mother of three-and-a-half-year-old L., has sent me this story. L. asked her mother if she could make a dress (has she been reading this blog?). NOT a skirt, L stressed. A dress. Janet loves sewing, so she was thrilled.
L. picked out the pattern, decided what material to use, what color rick-rack for trim (her mom says she's on a major rick-rack kick -- a girl after my own heart!) and where it should be placed.
With a little help from her mom, L. laid out the pattern and cut it. She did the pinning and sewed all straight seams (although her mom helped a little, and did do the zipper, the rick-rack, and the bias tape).
Here's L. in her dress -- isn't it (and she) adorable?
I am, frankly, in awe. I didn't make my first dress until I was three times L.'s age, and the idea of my little boy (who is twice L.'s age) being even NEAR my sewing machine (what with its sharp swiftly moving parts!) gives me the writhing heebies, so I don't know who impressed me more; L. for her accomplishment or Janet for her forbearance and patience!
I can tell you one thing, though -- by the time L.'s a teenager, she'll be making something like this:
Won't it look great with rick-rack?
Adorable, and she's super ahead of me! I didn't start sewing til I was 20.
Posted by: Kiba | 08/03/2006 at 07:02 AM
Wow, i am super impressed. My little guy (6) has been hankering for his own sewing machine (kid friendly, obviously). He designs his own clothes and I sew them for him, lots of fun! Perhaps it's time to take the plunge...
Posted by: fox drink water | 08/03/2006 at 07:03 AM
That's wonderful! And adorable! And rick-rack definitely doesn't deserve it's for-kids-only reputation! All my kids (2 girls, 2 boys) sewed on the machine by the time they were 7, if nothing else just to say they did it. The oldest daughter started at 2, unfortunately, when she accidentally hit the button that lowered the needle to pivot and it slid alongside her nail right through the fleshy part of her fingertip and secured her to the machine for several panic-stricken moments. Now almost 21, while not passionate, she has gone on to sew several lovely items. It helps to have a speed control---when the kids want to sew, the first thing they do is move the speed from the bunny to the turtle and away they go!
Posted by: mickey | 08/03/2006 at 07:07 AM
Hooray, another empowered sewing machine user! She will grow into zippers and darts ; ) and know that she can do anything.I must say, it pays to start off with something you want to make. Placemats and vests are fine, but you learn much better when love and desire are involved.The sky's the limit now, baby. And she's cuter than cute.
Posted by: Becky O. | 08/03/2006 at 07:14 AM
FANTASTIC!!! it is such a great story, this little girl will always appreciate her mother's courage and generosity in helping her make a little masterpiece of her own.
Posted by: rowena___. | 08/03/2006 at 07:35 AM
Oh My Gosh!What talent!! We are getting the first look at a future designing DIVA!! Thanks Erin, for sharing this with us. Conrgrats L!! You should be very proud.( Mommy, you should be too!)Hugs,Janet
Posted by: lanetzliving | 08/03/2006 at 07:38 AM
Oh, this does my heart good!
Posted by: Gigi | 08/03/2006 at 07:41 AM
What a great story! I love L's design. It is great when kids want to sew--my youngest brother got a hankering to make a pillow case when he was about 6 (and I was 14), so I helped him with it and it was such a proud accomplishment for him. Gosh, now I'm misting over.
Posted by: trenabdesigns | 08/03/2006 at 07:55 AM
Oh, I love it. What a cutie!
Posted by: Absinthe | 08/03/2006 at 07:56 AM
CUTE! I started at 9 w\ Barbie clothes, very small! This would have been easier!
Posted by: Anonymous | 08/03/2006 at 07:59 AM
I started nagging my mom to teach me how to sew before I was in kindergarten. She said that I could use her sewing machine when I was tall enough for my feet to meet the speed control. Well, I have always been tall for my age, and she had to make good when I was 5.I did not, however, sew through my finger until I was 17.Amy
Posted by: Anonymous | 08/03/2006 at 08:39 AM
L. looks like a cool brezze in that little frock
Posted by: john | 08/03/2006 at 08:49 AM
This is so cute! Even better, L is already liberated from ready-to-wear. What a clever little girl.
Posted by: Sniper | 08/03/2006 at 08:50 AM
I hope they save this dress and NEVER give it away! What a keepsake!!
Posted by: Anonymous | 08/03/2006 at 09:09 AM
She cut it! At three and a half!!! I don't think any of my four kids could cut along a straight line on a piece of paper at that age...let alone guide a sewing machine. Wowza!
Posted by: Lisa Laree | 08/03/2006 at 09:45 AM
a prodigy!meanwhile, I LOVE the Elsa Shiaparelli pattern. love your blog
Posted by: Marji | 08/03/2006 at 10:15 AM
What an inspiration to hear that there are still young people who want to learn how to sew. This story gives me hope that the art of dressmaking is still alive and thriving!
Posted by: robertajune | 08/03/2006 at 10:17 AM
What a wonderful dress! I could use her eyes to thread my needles and bring me joy with her color selections. You must be so proud of her
Posted by: Anonymous | 08/03/2006 at 10:58 AM
she CUT it? sorry, I'll have to watch the video to believe it.
Posted by: Anonymous | 08/03/2006 at 11:21 AM
What a great story! Youngest dress-a-day-er yet!
Posted by: Rose | 08/03/2006 at 11:42 AM
What a touching story. I was, unfortunately, never taught to sew. My mother was always fond of saying, "I don't sew and I don't bake." Well, I am baking a lot now and I usually get rave reviews for the goodies. Maybe one day, I'll blossom into an adult sized L.!L. & Janet should both be proud of this dress. It's really cute. L you look adorable in the picture!Holly
Posted by: lucitebox | 08/03/2006 at 11:59 AM
Super Cute! The rick-rack is great. She'll be gorgeous in the Schiaparelli, too!
Posted by: Summerset | 08/03/2006 at 12:01 PM
Thanks everybody for the kind words; they only add to my excitement. I really hope she becomes a designer so that mommy can have a new wardrobe!I am L's mom. She did have a lot of help from me. With cutting, we used a rotary cutter. Held her hand the entire way, guiding her. We used a shoebox under the foot peddle. Over all it was SLOW going, and that's alright. She did poke herself ONCE with a pin (that'll learn ya.)The downside: I must correct tensions and stich length/style all the time now. She thinks the machine is hers.Next up is a lime green nightgown that she picked material for at a garage sale. Thanks everybody! Especially Erin for making on Mother's WEEK (or year!)-Janet
Posted by: zimmersarmy | 08/03/2006 at 12:02 PM
Wonderful! I love the way she wanted to use the rickrack.I made a shorts outfit when I was 8, but I don't remember having so many choices!My second son (who is now 21 and a firefighter) was interested in sewing from a young age. We worked together on some things, but eventually I put him in a kid's quilting class so somebody else could teach him how to take care of a sewing machine. That was a good move.
Posted by: Cathy | 08/03/2006 at 12:16 PM
lucitebox, your comment reminded me of my mother's approach to tailoring. She used masking tape or a stapler to do her hemming. Sometimes she'd forget and we'd end up with wads of masking tape in the dryer. Maybe that's why sewing still seems like a dark mystery to me.
Posted by: Sniper | 08/03/2006 at 12:31 PM