Priviledged Sewing

This morning My husband and I said good bye to our son. I didn't think I would be in this position a few years ago. I knew I would say good bye, as in leaving the "nest". I just never dreamed in his growing up years that he would join the Marines. I wasn't anti-military, it had never been discussed, although my husband is a former Marine. Our son joined two years ago. I've had to rethink my views and how I would support our son. Today in the early morning hours I took this picture, our last for awhile, son and father. We said good bye, knowing he is on a long journey, serving with the Marines, for the next 16 months in Afghanistan.

While my son was home, I had the privilege of sewing on patches. You know all the "stuff" you see on uniforms. I had an education. So many pieces to wear under what you see. Garments for warm weather, garments for cold. Flame retardant clothing, covers for your head, and gloves. A variety of patches for each item, and inside each item, his name. It was a privilege to sew them on. Being able to do this small thing for him was important to me, and in a way, this is a small piece of me going along with him.

While my son was home, one of my daughters had a birthday. Last week we had seen a skirt made from a sweater. It was sooo cute. I went home looking through some old sweaters.......This is what I did:

I cut the sweater off, straight across, under the arm. The ribbing at the bottom of the sweater became the bottom of the skirt. (The skirt I saw turned the sweater up-side-down and had the ribbing hug the hip) I accented a pocket with embroidery. I cut a thin strip of wool and attached it to the bottom of the skirt for a vine with whip stitching.

Then I cut out leaves from another washed and shrunk sweater. I attached them with pearled cotton, using stitches for veins on the leaves. Next I cut out small pieces of dark red washed sweater wool. Pinching them together, as I sewed them on to create flowers.

I made a waist band using wool from the sleeves. I cut the band a little smaller than the skirt, so there would be some stretch to hold the skirt to the hip. I sewed it on with a Herringbone stitch, described for stretch construction in Alabama Studio Style.

It was a fun, creative project. I'm pleased with the outcome. I need to find some more sweaters..........so many ideas! Privileged sew for may family.

Thanks for visiting,

Debbie