Start 'Em Young!

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?