I’ve Been Banned

My children have too much handmade stuff

Dear friends,

Since finishing the sweet little pintucked Elowen, I’ve completed another test pattern for Tiny Folk Patterns. This time Florentina put a call out for a quick pair of knit leggings - a staple in any little girl’s wardrobe these days, yet I hadn’t attempted any. In my stack of fabric was the perfect knit fabric: flowers and unicorns with sparkly manes that I’d originally bought to make a skater skirt for my eldest daughter a few years back. She’s now officially a teenager, and less keen on such a garment. My three-year-old, however, has recently come into her princess-unicorn-twirly dresses with a side of Eloise era.

Sold.

The Leo Leggings

I cut out the pieces one evening, thinking that I’d sew them up and take some modeled photos of her during our field trip to the art museum later that week. I knew the museum’s Italian Renaissance court would have the most spectacular light no matter the weather. The week flew by (as they tend to do), the morning of the trip arrived, and I still hadn’t sewn them up.

That morning I awoke determined to follow through on my original plan - the photo opportunity was too ideal. I would sew them up before breakfast - it would be a true test of the speed of the project. I prepped a breakfast casserole, popped it in the oven for a half an hour and set to work.

It was a dream - one where everything goes exactly as it should. When the timer went off on the stove, I was holding a pint-sized pair of sparkly leggings. I held them out to my tousle-haired recipient and was thanked with the biggest grin, followed by a demand to put them on immediately.

These pants have since been on repeat in her Outfit of the Day rotation. A matching pair sits cut and ready to sew for the baby, but they may have to wait a bit.

Where I Get Myself Banned…

This week Florentina posted another tester call. This time it was a darling little summer romper with tie straps. I was about to press the apply button, but my thumb instead navigated to my text messages. I jokingly sent the following to my husband.

“Tell me not to sign up for the sweet little romper test and to make something for my dern self instead.”

His response?

“Don’t sign up for another f#*&ing test for the chidlers! They have enough hand made things. Use the dang yarn I bought you to make something for yourself!”

Followed shortly by:

“Seriously though, no more kiddo test knits or sews until you make something for you. They do have more than enough.”

Ladies, find you a man who encourages you to make something for yourself - especially if you have crafty martyr syndrome. Every member of my family has a handmade sweater…except me. Every pattern I’ve tested has been for the kids, or my husband. I make things for my family members all the time - often as Christmas gifts. I’ve made a few pairs of socks for myself. Most recently I tried finishing a sweater for myself that I’ve had on the needles for five years. Sadly three pregnancies will change a body, and it was gifted to my eldest daughter this past Christmas.

So there you have it. I have been banned from making anything for the kids until I suck it up and make something for myself.

The Plan

For the remainder of April I’ll be putting forth a solid effort to make a few items for myself in time for #memademay.

I have two full weeks before May 1. I will be challenging myself to sew two garments in that time: Sew Liberated’s Hinterland Dress, and their Petrichor Pinafore. I have both patterns already, and the linen for at least one of them.

Hinterland Dress and the Petrichor Pinafore by Sew Liberated

I’ve also cast on a knitting project for myself: the Brontë Sisters Shawl by Lindsey Fowler of Lost and Fawned Knits. This is using the “dang yarn” that my husband got me, along with other alpaca and alpaca/wool blends that have been languishing in the acquisition pile. (Photo by Lindsey Fowler)

I’m excited and a little nervous for the next two weeks, but I hope to be checking back in with some good progress next week!

With love,

Briana