This week I made some aprons for my girls. They are 8 years old and 5 years old. We have always been committed to teaching our girls to dress modestly and to explaining why they need to do so. Our oldest girl, Abs, has been having a very difficult time lately with her dress. It seems that over the past year her weight, and figure in general, has drastically changed. She’s out growing her clothes quicker than I can afford to replace them! Not to mention the fact that every seam, ruffle and appliqué drives her batty.
All these factors have driven me closer and closer to the decision of sewing clothing for the girls. Now, I am not a sewer by nature. I’ve sewn straight curtains a couple times for my bare windows, but I’m convinced that anyone can do that with at least a minor bit of success. Last winter I made my very first sewn item – a bag. While it’s not perfect, I do love it. It is the bag I carry every day I go out and others seem to think it looks very well done. Hey, I’ll accept that as a success!
Well, I recently received a pattern for a girl’s Edwardian apron from Sense & Sensibility. I’ve often visited they’re website and drooled over the lovely dresses there. I would love to sew a comfortable, modest and properly fitting dress for myself and my girls from their patterns. This apron pattern was a perfect introduction. I learned some valuable lessons about sewing (like have a seam ripper handy!) and I also gained a little more self confidence.
The girls are thrilled with their aprons and desirous of more. Abs is begging for a hand sewn skirt. I truly believe they desire to express modesty in their clothing, especially Abs. She’s getting to the age when clothing and looks really start to matter to a girl. I see her making good choices about what she wears and it’s very difficult when nothing seems to fit. She gets discouraged at times and I certainly don’t want to lose her to worldly thought and example. The clothing for little girls offered up in today’s major retail outlets are often nothing more than scraps of cheap fabric fashioned to copy the adult versions. Modesty is long gone and has been replaced with fad and fashion.
I firmly believe that my girls (and all of us, for that matter) can like the look of what they wear, be comfortable, modest and God-honoring. I’m seriously considering making as many of the girls’ clothes as I can. Mine too. I just hope I can produce wearable garments. The aprons have been a great start, though, and I’m encouraged to try some more.
There are a ton of apron patterns around the internet for free.
