They don't grow up or leave home or exit your heart. Children...
I love this pic with my daughter - she was ten, I was 34. That expression on her face is her signature look even now. Happy girl, girlish, and fun. And my best friend.
Ashley is 43 now and has a planned surgery at the end of the month. Of the female order, menopause issues. She's anticipating a two week leave from work and recovery at home, and of course I'm going over to lend a hand in the first days after she leaves the hospital. And to give Darrin company also. This is hard for him as well - they are so very close.
(Of course Ashley and I talked about including her plans in this post. She feels very strongly that women need to listen to their bodies and prioritize their health needs. So she's happy to be a second voice here. Thank you, love).
I was thinking about what I could make that would be helpful to her. And a robe came to mind immediately. Do you have this hospital memory - they get you up and out to walk the halls, pushing your IV stand with your gown flapping open in the back. Well, got that covered! I found this lovely pattern, Butterick 5544 Rachel Wallis robe and gown. (Club BMV has it in both envelope and download, but I'm impatient and downloaded it from Sewing Patterns).
Pretty! and easily transformed to a button front robe with roomy patch pockets.
This fun flannel is from JoAnns, and yes, it's mosaic skulls. She'll love it.
The front of original pattern is slightly overlapped and closed with two inside buttons along the skirt/bodice seam. I redrafted it to have a faced button placket. And I simply echoed the placket in the turn of the skirt facing.
On the inside...
All the seams are finished and felled for maximum comfort, and because flannel becomes somewhat fragile with repeated laundering. I don't want a seam to pull out.
I want one! which means I'll make myself one before long. Hers is so soft and easy to wear.
Still thinking of Ashley, I also sewed a muslin of Simplicity 2031. I hope it's a wearable muslin, because the crinkled gauze knit is really cute. I found the pattern by chance, on Honey Pie's blog. She mentioned that it looks like a popular dress sold by Torrid - one of Ashley's fav stores! And I downloaded it from Sewing Patterns as well. I think it's a sleeper. It has no reviews on Pattern Review, and Honey Pie's pics are the only ones I've found. Now that I've sewn it - it's so pretty and easy to sew, definitely repeatable.
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| Fabric from Fabric Mart |
Because Ashley is 5'9", I added 1.5" to the bodice front and back length. On my Emile, which is my height, it looks like the elastic casing hits on the waistline. But on Lizzy, Ashley's dress form, it is higher, as intended.
Such a long rambling post.
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My thoughts are with all those touched by the events unfolding in France and Belgium. Bye for now, Coco
My daughter has a one week old baby and the Simplicity pattern looks good for nursing. Does the crisscross bodice open enough for that?
ReplyDeleteOoo, a grandbaby. Congrats to you all. I think that done in a knit, as is this one, yes, it would work for your girl. The pattern mentions using woven fabrics, but I think it's just too much fabric and skirt for a woven. I sewed Ashley's usual size for this, and I just drafted one for myself and cut it out in an ITY knit.
DeleteThanks for the reply, Coco. My thoughts and prayers go out to your daughter. She will feel your love in those special gowns.
DeleteHaving gone through surgical menopause as a 30 yo, I can say that anything pretty and feminine will be appreciated. Nice work Coco. Best wishes to your daughter for a speedy recovery.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mary. I was with you as a 30 yo - my grandmom was 22 and my mom only 24. Ashley has struggled with this since she was 33. And she's very much at peace with the surgery - she knows she will feel better and be healthier afterwards. I'll share your thoughts with her :-)
DeleteThese will make your daughter feel so special, beautiful job. I wish your daughter a speedy recovery.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Lori. And I'll send your thoughts her way.
DeleteWhat a beautiful picture of the two of you! Priceless. I hope that Ashley's surgery goes well, and she feels better than ever afterwards. She will appreciate the robe and gown - the are perfect! Thinking of you.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Andrea. Sorry I'm late replying! but it went well. And she's living in the robe post-surgery.
DeleteWhat thoughtful makes. Every daughter loves that her mother made something just for her. All my best to her at this difficult time.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Diana. Moms and daughters are special...and it's hard for me to see her having problems and surgery. I'm late replying, but she's a week post-op now and doing great.
DeleteBeautiful! Your daughter is a lucky girl to have a mom as talented as you sew for her!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Sue. I wish she were closer so I could do more. It's fun.
DeleteWhat a great photo of mother and daughter! Your closeness is comforting to me. I cherish my relationship with my daughter, who is now 19. I know my time with her here at home is running out so I am indulging any bit of sewing together that she asks for:) Blessings upon you and Ashley both.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Angela. Sorry I've taken so long to reply. Your comment really touched me. I love my girl so much and I really appreciate your thoughts.
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