Lizzy (age 11) woke up this morning wanting to create. Her best friend received a sewing machine for her birthday and they’ve decided they’re going to be fashion designers.
I’m a beginner seamstress (I shouldn’t even use the word ‘I’ and ‘seamstress’ in the same sentence), so I was reluctant to let her play with my machine as I’m not really in a position to teach her anything. I reluctantly (because who am I to stand in the way of an artist?) told her she could find some old clothing and cut it up and use the fabric to make something.
Truthfully, I expected nothing but a messy dining room (that is where the sewing machine lives).
She chose the shirt she is wearing in the picture above. It was a smock style shirt with two front pockets. Sadly, I didn’t bother taking any photos of the process. I didn’t expect the wonderful outcome.
She cut the shirt straight across right under the arm holes, folded it over and sewed in a waist band. Then she salvaged a piece of elastic from an old pair of jeans, measured Georgia’s waist, put the elastic in, closed up the waist band and …
tada –> a super cute skirt that fits Georgia just right.
My only contribution was threading the sewing machine and then forcing her to iron the seam before she started sewing.
Obviously, I made no contribution to Georgia’s ensemble at all. She is totally responsible for the stripes/plaid/rubber boots combo. As long as there is pink, they match.
MK xo
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Disclaimer: One shirt was cut and killed in the making of this post (and skirt).
23 comments… add one
I love it! She is poised to be supercrafty, like her mama!
@Naomi, You are too kind! Funnily enough, until this blog I’ve never thought of myself as crafty at all. Well maybe in the sneaky way.
I’m seriously blown away by the brilliance of this project! Genius. And the model looks fab in it. It’s a wonderful ensemble — stripes, plaid, and all. The wellies tie it all together :)
@Antof9, Thanks Ant! I was really impressed as well. She did a great job. Georgia loves the skirt. FREE clothes, I like that.
Fabulous! So well done Lizzie.
I think the outfit is superb! Georgia doesn’t look too happy though; why?
@Pauline, Thanks Paul. The outfit is very Georgia. I’ve learned to pick my battles.
I must have just caught her in the wrong second. She was actually quite cooperative and loving her skirt.
Fun Fun Fun!! I am pretty darn impressed!I can barely draw a straight line with a ruler never mind visualize a shirt as a skirt!
@Susan Knight, Thanks Susan! Thank you for stopping by.
Great job! She’s officially trumped anything I could sew, I have a lead foot and can’t seem to manage to slow down enough to sew a straight seam. So if I can’t glue it, pin it or staple it I leave it to my mother :)
I had to laugh at Georgia’s face, she looks “impressed” with the experience!
How fun! And good for you for letting her try (and mess up a little) on her way to success.
@debbie, Thanks Debbie!
Lizzy is such wonder child and a budding fashionista…my 12-year daughter also loves to sew dresses for her doll. We also get surprised for what our kids wonderfully crafted..:)
Looks like you’ve got a designer on your hands. Sounds like a fun day. I don’t even think I can do this, and I’m much older. Impressive that you let her try. Such a scary thought! :P Wonderful outcome though. Very nice.
@Maya, Thanks Maya, and thank you for stopping by.
I am blown away that she was able to think of that at her age, much less execute it. I see a definite career in fashion design for her! I couldn’t figure that out now if I was brainstorming ways to clothe myself or go fashion-less! And the ensemble is truly cute! I have a grand daughter that went through the “anything pink” phase. Now she has moved on to purple!
@TessaM, Thanks for stopping by Tessa! She did a great job.
GREAT job!!! That is fantastic. :) Way to go Mom for letting her do it. :)
@Janice (5 Minutes for Mom), Thanks Janice!
i’ve got nothing to say but this kid is awesome!at her tender age she knows how to recycle and she’s really creative!greatwork girl!
@Sean, Thanks Sean. I think she’s awesome, but I am partial :)
Wow, she is really talented, and hopefully when she becomes a teenager you can just have her shop at a thrift store to make her own clothes instead of fancy department stores.
I think the kid is really gifted. I love her work. And we all know that recycling is good .I am impressed.
@Jennifer, Thanks Jennifer!