26 May 2008

A little bit of tatting

I know this blog is about tatting but sometimes I digress a little. No excuses this time, though, as there is a little itsy bitsy bit of tatting involved here!
It is a loooooong, loooooong time since I've made a little girl's dress and I'm going to brag about this one! I bought the pattern about two weeks ago and had forgotten the thrill of taking out those flimsy bits of tissue paper to sort them out. I remember this as being one of the highlights of dressmaking when I used to make all the family's clothes.
Way back when my two were tiny (the oldest has recently turned 40) I used to work at a playgroup every Friday morning. The pay for this was the princely sum of £1.00 ($2.00). With two tiny daughters in a double pushchair I used to dash back through the town, after playgroup, to the Friday street market where Cliff had a fabric stall. I spent my
£1 on fabric to make clothes for the 'females' in the family.
Even when I was back in full time work (teaching) I would try to get to the Friday market for my fabrics and remember occasionally dashing back to school, putting the children's tiny tables together and pinning out a pattern on the fabric - much to the amusement of colleagues.
I can't tell you how many times over the past week or more I've taken those pieces of tissue out of the packet and put them back!! I was almost afraid to start. Anyway, I did!!! I tried to follow the instructions but soon went back to my old ways of 'instinct' and the little dress has worked up a treat. I found some thread that exactly matched the flowers to finish it off with three tiny tatted motifs.
Tomorrow I will post it to my daughter as it's for my six month old granddaughter. After three grandsons it's good to have a little girl to make for. She received her first (pink) tatting shuttle on the day I met her for the first time!!


13 comments:

Bonnie said...

Jane, that is so cute! I hope we get to see a picture of your granddaughter with it on. I smiled when I read about you giving her a pink shuttle the first time you met her.

Lace-lovin' Librarian ~ Diane said...

I love making clothes for little girls too! I made my granddaughter Lily's christening gown the night before the christening. Come to think of it, I made Eva's the night before the christening too. I'm beginning to think I might be a procrastinator!

Tattycat said...

How lovely and sweet Jane. I'm sure your daughter will be thrilled. I'm glad you had this little venture back into sewing for the "girls". See, you really needed the new machine!

Unknown said...

Oh, Jane, that dress is just precious. What a sweet little family heirloom, too. The flower match so nicely. What a beautiful job you did. And a little pink tatting shuttle, too. Oh, how sweet. Lucky you to have a little granddaughter to make such beautiful things for...and lucky her, too. Thank you for sharing that.

Sandra E said...

Jane - you did great. The dress is darling! I know your daughter will be delighted to dress the little one in this.

Marty said...

Awww, it's so cute! The way you matched the tatted flowers on the yoke to the pattern flowers is just perfect. Lucky little grandaughter!

Susanne said...

What a lovely dress for a lucky little lady.

Carol Schockling Lawecki said...

What a lovely dress for your granddaughter and the perfect touch with tatted flowers. I'm sure she will look precious in the dress.

Anonymous said...

I've got a nephew and going to be 3-nieces. Need to get the sewing machine fixed and get my master's project out of the way first.

Gina said...

Isn't it lovely to have a girl to make things for? I know what you mean. I came from a largely female family and wanted sons so much...was granted my wish with 3 sons and 1 daughter. Now I have 4 grandsons and 1 granddaughter. I'm ready for another granddaughter myself. Boys are soooo much fun, but you can make girls such pretty stuff. My granddaughter is 15 now. Dances and driving and parties and marching band and school functions...and she did learn to tat very briefly. LOL!
:-) Gina

The Daughter! said...

Your granddaughter thinks its lovely! She has tried it on and gave a big smile to her Nanny! She even loves the "tat" on it ;-)

The Daughter! said...

Your granddaughter loves it! I will email on a photo of her modeling it (should I get an agent?!). Thanks Mum!

Jane Eborall said...

I'm SO pleased that she likes it. Does it mean that I get to make more? Does it fit her OK?
The Grandmother!!!!!

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