Little Women Sew Need to Sew Their Own Clothes

April's Lesson:  The Skill of Sewing and Dressing Modestly

How wonderful it is to be able to see a need and fulfill it.  St. Anne and Mary knew that they would need clothes for the new baby, Jesus.  How lovingly they must have worked to prepare with detail and diligence the garments that would become Our Lord's first clothes!  How exciting it is for our young daughter's to have a skill that will not only make it possible for them to do homemade gifts, but it will be practical when the time comes that they need something they can't seem to find in a store.  (These days, try finding a teenager an Easter dress that isn't exposing her chest or her undergarments when she leans over--sick, I know)

In addition to the practicality of this skill, the sheer enjoyment that they all received from picking out fabric and ribbon, as well as working in a group, and having an adorable finished product was so impressive that they all decided to meet in a few months, with the supplies needed to work on their Christmas gifts!

First, in the lesson was measuring and marking the dimensions of the pattern.

Cutting the pieces.

Measuring the ribbon.

Cutting....

Pinning the pieces....

right sides together with the ribbon pinned in place as well.....

And with conventional wisdom, the girls did some practice straight stitching.

Finally, it was time to sew the apron.

Press those seams!

Break a needle!  Wait a minute, that was not supposed to happen.

Fix the needle; thank you Ms. Susie.

Add a pretty custom stitch on the top with the fancy electronic machine that one particular lucky girl so generously shared. :)  Thanks, Rachel.

Of course, we had to make sure it fit.

Then model it.

And cook in it.  Just kidding, I didn't make them cook anything--this time.

Oh, that's right, I forgot to mention be goofy in it.

Awesome stuff, right?

Beautiful selection and craftsmanship!

After a relaxing lunch and a candid discussion on what is modest and appropriate attire for different situations we headed to the pool.

The weather has been so inviting lately and I wasn't sure if we could finish all of our sewing in just the morning hours, so I didn't plan a service part of the day as in all meetings.

The girls seemed to be eager to relax and swim....

That was until they got in the FREEZING water.  :)  

One last photo that for some reason is very heartwarming to me.  The "Bring Your Stuff to Make for Christmas Party" will be a wonderful time for this bunch of chatty girls. :)