Man Oh Man, is that pile of wanna-do’s getting precariously and dangerously high! I can’t see over the top, and I even forget some things that are on the bottom. Would you all pretty please stop making so many incredible articles of clothing?!!
Enough about you now, and back to me! (You know that I’m not quite that narcissistic in real life don’t you?) It’s just that I have a really special project set that is bursting to be sewn! After the wedding. After some “me” sewing. You know what I mean!
A hint…
I have been sorting through my ridiculously large collection of vintage patterns, and came up with a few that will will give you an idea of what I am talking about.
Here is the first one. Cute no?!
and the second…
And a couple more…
Still baffled? Then let me tell you a story.
About a month ago, our daughter Katelyn and her husband of a year and a half, had us over for brunch. During the course of the meal, I asked Kate about the status of her sewing machine, one she had “inherited” from my mom who finally broke down and bought a new one. (Kate knows me VERY well, and knew that I would ask about the machine) She said that she hadn’t much time to use it, but did I want to see the patterns that she bought. Of course I said yes, at the same time reminding her that she didn’t have to ever buy patterns, as I have over 500 of them! She responded with “I know, but I wanted my own“. Well, you can’t fault a girl for that! She learns from the best you know!
When she handed me the patterns, I was confused. Where I was expecting to see a couple of cute dress patterns, I was seeing patterns for babies!
“Um, Kate- are you going to sew for Laura?” I asked, as their good friends Matt and Laura had just announced their pregnancy the week before.
“No, I’m going to sew for ME!” was the reply.
Knock me over with a feather- we’re going to be grandparents! What thought went into how to tell me the wonderful, awesome news! That makes it even so much more special. It is so great as well that they will be sharing this part of their life adventure with such dear friends.
An interesting side note. Kate’s friend Laura’s family and ours are good friends. Camping together when the kids were little, going on ski vacations together, ski patrolling , racing and intructing together kind of friends. What makes this “sharing a pregnancy ” thing so interesting is that Laura’s parents and MyMike and I were also pregnant at the same time – FIVE TIMES!! That’s right, we each have 5 children and every time that I was pregnant, so was Norma! We didn’t know each other aback then, but would see each other as we lived – and still live- in the same community. We would giggle inwardly in amusement and amazement, not realizing at the time how our lives would intertwine. The kids all became very good friends, as are we “parents” and we find it so great that the pregnancy sharing tradition is continuing!! Now if only Lauren and Owen would get together…(kidding, I’m just kidding!)
So tell me- what is your favourite baby related sewing project? What is a must-sew? What can’t I forget to do? What should I not bother making at all? How can I talk them into letting the baby call me “Connie” and NOT Grandma or Oma!
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
Congratulations! I love your daughter. What a great way to find out that you are going to be a grandmother.
Congratulations! This must be very exciting for you. I am sure you will be a great Grandmother/Oma/Connie/Nana whatever you end up being called!
I have to add that it makes me feel a bit weird. Last time I was on I looked at your engagement photo, thinking how we are so very close in age yet you have grown up children and I have a toddler. Then this time I see that you are going to be a grandmother! That is my goal in life!
I have actually just told my son to have his kids young so I can meet them.
ps- footed pants are hard to find and so necessary in this climate. I made and used a LOT of them.
Most challenging but rewarding baby sewing project I ever did was a snowsuit (Kwiksew pattern at that, too)with zippers from neck to foot on both sides. That baby went through three kids and then got passed on to my sister for her daughter to use as well.
What a sweet way to break the news! Congrats!!
Congrats! I’m sure Kate was so excited about breaking the news that way!
When did Kwik Sew stop producing interesting pattern illustrations in favor of the boring illustrations they have now!?
Congratulations to the whole family!! You at least have time to plan for this project.
Congratulations! How exciting.
aw those patterns look so cute Connie! Jane (my mother in law of course) just showed me all the fabric and patterns she’s using to make me some maternity clothes. I just love that she is wanting to do that for me. People who can sew are really the best people to know
Congratulations! We are going to be first time grandparents too and it’s so exciting! When is your dd due?
“wanna do”… I LIKE that!! You don’t like Oma ‘cos?? Sounds old??
Soft hug,
Rhonda in Montreal (PR)
Whoa! This is so exciting! Congratulations to you and Mike. When you come up with a good name to be called let me know. I’m not sure either, but I guess you can’t go wrong with Grandma. It will be fun to have them so close together like ours are.
My sewing projects were always the same. i’d buy cute fabric cut it out and then they grew before I finished. It used to be a long standing joke around here. See you at the stag & doe to give you the congrats in person.
What fabulous news!
Ditto what Norma says: Any time I’d try to make a baby outfit they’d grow before I’d finish. I prefer to wait until they hit two years old when they can actually wear an outfit for a few months before they’re out of it again.
Congratulations! Being a grandmother is an entirely different experience than being a mother and I sooooo enjoy the gm part much better than the mother part!!!
BTW, I’m called grammy…it’s kinda kewl. Heads turn and I always get the nooooo, I thought that was your son not your grandson…it’s a great picker-upper for the self-esteem! *LOL*
OMG!! How wonderful!! I made a zillion Kwik-Sew sleepers (with the zipper that goes all the way down one leg), and I also made (and still make for baby showers) bibs that have a ribbed neck opening (instead of ties) that allows you to slip it over the baby’s head very easily. BTW on a very wierd note, the only thing that was ever ‘pregnant’ at the same time as me was my spider plant. I kid you not! Every time I was pregnant (and the only time) it sprouted babies. I was relieved when after my third came along, that damn plant died.
Congratulations!!!
I always loved monogrammed things for my kids. Our teacher’s union sent a monogrammed bear for DS#1 after he was born. It’s still on his bed and he’s almost 13. And I just made a monogrammed quilt for my great nephew with his baby “stats”. It just makes for a very personalized item for a specific child.