Last month my mother-in-law passed away after a long battle with cancer. We had known the moment would come for over a year and knew that it was imminent for the past three months. But still, it's hard to fully imagine what that means to us all as we begin to return to our normal daily routine and lives. Even as the moment grew nearer it was hard to for us to imagine life without her and instead we busied ourselves with routine and logistics. That is not to say that we didn't make time for special moments, memories and visits. That is not to say that we all weren't thinking about her and my father-in-law daily. It is simply to say that routine is sometimes the easiest way to manage grief.
Routine and what I know is why I found myself reaching out to my friend Rachael days before the funeral and asking how soon she thought she could send me some fabric. Routine and the ease of sewing is why I found myself sewing a dress for myself, a dress for Violet and a pair of pants for Henry all the night before the viewing.
And, routine and what I know is why I found myself once again reaching for two classic patterns that I know well...Rae's Geranium dress and Parsley pants ...
It might seem silly to some, the idea of sewing new clothes for a funeral, but for me it was a way for me to show my respect and honor my mother-in-law. I so often sew up new outfits for "special occasions" and simply going out to buy something somehow didn't seem quite right.
The other side of it is also, that my mother-in-law and I had made a plan last Spring to make this dress for Violet together, she do the crochet and I the sewing. She crocheted a few pieces for it, but none worked quite right and then planning my in-laws 50th wedding anniversary became our primary summer goal so the dress was pushed aside. Until recently when I was tidying up my sewing room and came across the pieces again and thought that using some of the crochet in a dress would be perfect!
The little bit of crochet was a small but sweet and sentimental touch to the Swiss Dot Chambray dress.
Such a nice way to keep someone you love close to your heart.
For Henry, while his didn't have the sentimentality it did have functionality...
Amazingly light weight Pin Dot Chambray pants, perfect for a child who needs to wear dress clothes on a hot day!
With pockets to store "what nots" in, because there is always something to pick up! I really couldn't bring myself to buy a pair of pants that Henry would only wear once especially knowing that I could sew him something that would work equally as well and that he would actually wear over and over again.
These pictures, in fact, were taken weeks after the services thus the tank top and sandals...
This fabric is so fluid and soft and and lightweight and lovely! And the little dots...I love!
These are the moments where I truly appreciate the fact that I've taught myself to sew. Those moments where you find that you are able to make something special and well suited for something specific, but also, that those clothes are well suited to the person who will be wearing them as well...
Because being able to do cartwheels in dress clothes is important to kids...
And dresses are meant for swings...
And where there are kids, there is also silliness...
no matter what the situation...
My mother-in-law was a creative, kind and caring person, and an amazing baker (with a major award!)! She is missed and loved and I know she would have appreciated and completely understood my desire and "need" to make these mama mades.
