S started second grade today and was excited to wear a new dress my mom made for her using the same pattern that she used to make a dress for me when I was this age. S still wears my old dress, but her new one is made in school-approved colors (S’s school has a dress code) and with fabrics the three of us picked out together last spring. She wore it with a handkerchief linen Music Class blouse I made a couple of years ago.
I have such fond memories of the sewing my mom did for me when I was in school. I always felt very secure and loved when I wore the clothes my mom made because I knew she was thinking of me when she selected her fabrics and during the time she spent assembling my dresses.
I want S to feel that love too, so I like to involve her in my sewing. She often helps to choose fabrics, and we talk about what we’re going to make. When she was younger she would sit on my lap while I sewed, but these days she would prefer to do her own sewing with no help from me. No matter what, I know she’s proud of the handmade clothing she wears and she knows that it’s one of the ways I show her I love her. Today when I said goodbye I hoped that even if she felt a little unsure of herself, she might look down at that dress her Grandma made and remember all the people who love her!
I think a lot of the projects I’ve designed would be great for back-to-school. From the Little Things to Sew book, what about the Penguin Backpack or the Messenger Bag? Or the Bento Lunchbox? All fun projects that can be used all year long.
For boys, the new Cargo Pants + Raglan T-Shirt would be great, wouldn’t they? Or, of course, the Sketchbook Shirt + Shorts are good for warm school weather at the start and end of the year.
The Music Box Jumper is a great jumper option for girls. What about the 2+2 Skirt and Blouse, or the Music Class Blouse + Skirt? I can think of so many patterns that would be great for school. Every year I make two pairs of Nature Walk pants for gym class, and S has really been liking the Badminton Skort because she loves the shorts underneath the skirt. (She’s a dress or skirt girl, but she loves to play, too.)
What are you sewing this fall? Have you already finished your back-to-school sewing, or are you just getting started?