When I was 14 my mom and dad told me I had to sew a dress before I could get my driving permit. I really wanted to drive because my stepsisters (Okay, they were my real sisters but at the time I thought they were very mean - not ugly unfortunately because then I really would have been Cinderella-esque.) because they wouldn't take me anywhere! Mom took me to a fabric store and I picked out a pattern and some tube-top type dress material to make a sundress. I only had to do two seams, make four straps and hem it, how hard could it be? It took me over a month to get it done and I HATED it by the time it was over. And I hated sewing. To make it worse I had to wear the stupid thing. UGH!

Time warp forward to last year. My nine year old tells me she wants to take a week long sewing class. I'm thinking, "WHY?". Then, "Don't project your fears or failures on your daughter!". I signed her up. Lauren loved every minute of it. She learned so much that she ended up taking another week long class plus 4 other single day classes last year. Since then she has taken on her Halloween costume - a difficult gypsy pattern - and helped me with the 4th grade play costumes. The kid is good and getting better all the time.

The above pic is from her class two weeks ago. She made the blouse and the block tote bag. I'm so proud and happy she can create things she loves to wear.

My Little Seamstress or Introducing Designs by Lauren

Little Miss Lauren has been sewing her heart out this summer. She has made; 2 pillowcases (see above), 3 skirts (see one below), 2 beach sized tote bags (one below but hard to see), a pillow (she made her own pattern!?), a headband and several fabric flowers. She loves sewing!

She has the pattern for her Halloween costume already, a gypsy outfit. She already has the fabric picked out and is gathering notions. What cracks me up is that she knows what a french seam is. Can anyone tell ME what a french seam is?

I remember when Mom tried to teach me to sew. Dad said I had to learn before I could get my license. Marcy sewed, Debbie sewed, so, really, how hard could it be? I picked out an elastic topped material that we were going to do one seam up the side, hem and add spaghetti straps. I knew Mom was bent on torture. Against the Geneva Convention torture! I was willing to go with the Chinese water torture rather than submit to this. It was awful, took weeks to finish and then, AND THEN, I had to wear it to church. Ugh. I was mortified when Jennifer Condi (Suzie homemaker even at 15.) said in her sweetest voice, "Nice dress.". At the time I thought she was the devil himself and was in with my mother on the total teenage mortification plan. (Now I know she was just being sympathetic and nice - drat her.) I put it away and never wore it again. I think I passed it down to someone - no idea who wore it next but at least it wasn't me.

I am really happy Lauren loves to sew and I have, thanks to patient and understanding friends and family, come to enjoy it sometimes. Projects still scare me but I think with Lauren learning I may have the courage to try again.