>> Susie Bright is an amateur dressmaker and a professional writer. She blogs at susiebright.com.
A movie fan once asked the comic and bow alternatives.
W.C. Fields, “How do you like children?” Jill told me that the key to getting through your
to which he answered, “Parboiled, with first sewing project is to be highly motivated to see
a little salt.” your creation come to light, on your body. This is
I have to admit that, as much as I’m guilty of why picking out something you’re crazy about is so
motherhood myself, I sympathize with the great important, to inspire you through the tough parts.
man’s comments. The learning curve will be bearable if vanity and the
I’m impatient with kids; I suspect them of being artist’s prerogative lead the way!
spoiled and tyrannical, insensitive to my needs for Sure enough, when their moms and dads left the
peace and quiet. They always need something just room, the kids pulled down dozens of bolts and
when I want to lie down. scrutinized them like they were assessing a capital
Therefore, it came as a great surprise to my crime case. They all revealed their personalities
adult friends that I volunteered to be the teacher’s in their choices, from the demure English Garden
assistant at a children’s holiday sewing camp. Five Flower Girl to the Hot Pink Tropical Hot Dog Delight.
kids, ages 7–10 — four girls and a boy — were set I showed them my trick of unraveling a scarf-
to make their very first outfit, to cast their debut length of yardage from the bolt and holding it up
stitch. I was going to help them make their sartorial to your face in the mirror. If it doesn’t look good
dreams come true. Project Runway Romper Room! draped around your neck, it’s not the one. Then we
Would the police be called within the first hour? measured everyone. For vests and dresses, the most
This was my challenge. important measurement is the chest, the widest
My lead teacher, Jill Sanders, had no such qualms. circumference. I told them how important it is to
She’s done this for years; she met me in a children’s ignore the “size numbers” on the pattern envelopes
sewing class that my daughter attended many and to only pay attention to their measuring tape.
years ago. She loves introducing kids to the sewing The tape gives the one set of numbers that never lie.
habit. “They’re the best students ever; you’ll see.” This is something that older sewers, warped by
The most important thing, Jill told me, is to get the ready-to-wear propaganda, have a hard time inter-
parents out of the room as soon as possible, and let nalizing, but the youngsters took me at my word.
the kids make their pattern and fabric decisions on It was touching to see how un-self-conscious they
their own. were about their bodies, although you could see the
This was not a pillowcase class — everyone got beginnings of the doubts that puberty will bring.
to choose from a wide selection of dresses, skirts, The oldest girl was wishing that she had bosomy
vests, shorts, and trouser patterns. The 10-year-old curves, a worry exclusive to 10-year-old females that
boy in class shocked his mother by announcing they’ll be overlooked by nature and that woman-
that he wanted a reversible vest to wear to “formal hood will never arrive.
events.” His mom says he’s never been to a “formal I whispered to her that having breasts is a giant
event,” but this sewing exercise opened her eyes to pain to sew around, and that she should live it up in
his ambitions! The four girls wanted dresses, the the meantime and make as many fabulous dresses
same pattern, in fact, but with various print, ribbon, as possible.
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