A friend lost her mother last year and has had a hard time dealing with her death. They were obviously very, very close. She had two of her mother's night gowns to give her comfort. She asked me if I could turn the night gowns into pillowcases. She wanted two for her sons, one for her and one for her father.
At first I thought this would be an easy project. But then I realized this was someone's memories that I was dealing with. I just couldn't cut it up and "whilly nilly" come up with something. It took me a little longer to work on this. Partly because I was sick and partly because it was a little harder to wrap my head around it than I thought. Do I keep the upper part of the nightgown and if so what do I do with the armholes, the neck opening, how do I make it wide enough for a pillow, etc. etc.
As always if I give it enough thought and really put myself into the project, something comes up:
I cut the night gown into two pieces and I kept the upper part of the nightgown using fabric to cover up the neck opening. I left the sleeves in tact on one side, just sewing the armholes shut. For the pillow opening, I opened up the side seams and turned them under creating a narrow hem. I then made a band from fabric that I thought would match and then attached the nightgown to the top of the band, sewing it in place.
For the other half of the night gown, I sewed the longer sides shut (hem of night gown and bodice where it was cut). I then added a band and also some matching trim.
I was nervous to see if this is what she wanted or if she had visions of something else. Her post on Facebook says it all:
I hope the pillowcases ease the pain of their loss and gives them many wonderful memories of their mother/grandmother.
At first I thought this would be an easy project. But then I realized this was someone's memories that I was dealing with. I just couldn't cut it up and "whilly nilly" come up with something. It took me a little longer to work on this. Partly because I was sick and partly because it was a little harder to wrap my head around it than I thought. Do I keep the upper part of the nightgown and if so what do I do with the armholes, the neck opening, how do I make it wide enough for a pillow, etc. etc.
As always if I give it enough thought and really put myself into the project, something comes up:
I cut the night gown into two pieces and I kept the upper part of the nightgown using fabric to cover up the neck opening. I left the sleeves in tact on one side, just sewing the armholes shut. For the pillow opening, I opened up the side seams and turned them under creating a narrow hem. I then made a band from fabric that I thought would match and then attached the nightgown to the top of the band, sewing it in place.
For the other half of the night gown, I sewed the longer sides shut (hem of night gown and bodice where it was cut). I then added a band and also some matching trim.
I was nervous to see if this is what she wanted or if she had visions of something else. Her post on Facebook says it all:
I hope the pillowcases ease the pain of their loss and gives them many wonderful memories of their mother/grandmother.
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