Celebrating Grandma's 70th Birthday with a One-of-a-Kind Dress

in NeedleWorkMonday17 days ago

Greetings dear creative friends on Hive, I hope you are all going great wherever you are, wishing you all the very best in all of your endeavors.

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I feel excited today, as I will be sharing another interesting sewing project that had me busy all day, a unique birthday dress I made for an elderly woman in my neighborhood, who we all just refer to as grandma since she is the oldest amongst us, a kind-hearted, brave and wise woman, we feel blessed to have her among our midst as she never fails to share from her deep well of wisdom with us

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So grandma turns 70 next week Monday, and I knew I had to be early with a birthday dress from me to her, this is not the first time making a dress for her, so I already know her kind of taste in fashion, you think grandma is too old to know her preference in style, you think wrong, it was challenging at first though trying to understand her unique sense of fashion, for instance, grandma has a thing to pockets, there is no how you would see her wearing a custom made dress without one, even ready-made dresses, also her choice fabric is usually Kampala or Adire, a traditional fabric mostly made an adorned by the Yoruba's (an ethnic group in Nigeria) also known a tie and dye fabric. On other occasions, it might be ankara and scarcely lace fabric.

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Based on my experience so far making different dresses for her, I decided to add all of the choices she usually prefers in her outfit into a dress, which include, a collar, pockets, free fitted(bou bou), etc. I won't lie about having a mixed feeling if it would turn out beautiful or a total disaster, but what that common saying, "there is no error in fashion" instead a new style is borne, with that thought, I summoned the confidence needed and started working on the dress, and it even turned out looking unique and elegant, even more than I anticipated, and guessed what, someone else saw the dress and requested I make one for her as well.

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Without further ado, let's get right into the making process,

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  • The adire fabric has different patterns on it, so it is important I combine them beautifully together
  • I started by drafting the front and back pattern, using a free-fitted long gown pattern

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  • Then cut out the four pocket patterns, which measured 7 inches as a square

  • I sewed each pocket on the marked area and made pocket covers as well using a plain contrasting coloured fabric, from the same fabric

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  • Next, I made a button placard on the middle front pattern

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  • Next, I joined the shoulders

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  • Continuing, I drafted the collar patterns, which I sewed around the neckline of the dress.

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Finally, I cut out a free-fitted three-quarter sleeve pattern, which I sewed around both armholes, joined the sides of the gown, and also hemmed it neatly.

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And here is the beautifully finished look of Grandma's dress, I hope she will love all the details I paid attention to in this dress, looking forward to seeing her reaction, above all, it is a comfy dress, and I'm sure she would love it.

All images used in this post are mine

Thank you for reading.❤❤

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It is a very useful gift, beautiful and full of love, what a nice description you make of that lady she will be very grateful with this very nice dress.

I didn't know that fabric had a specific name, I thought it was colorful because of her taste, I like the colors and she could live comfortably with her style of clothes in Nigeria.

My grandmother also has a fixation for pockets, she finds them very useful to put her keys and other things in.

Keep on creating and giving and the universe will give you back three times as much in blessings. @glorydee

Oh thank you so much for this comment,

The fabric dates back traditionally, I guess the pocket is a functional and very important details in grandma's clothing.

Thank you!

It truly is a one of a kimd dress. Nice design with the -type pocket. Good work

Thank you very much

Happy birthday to Grandma, she will have a great time surrounded by people who hold her in high esteem.
She will look very elegant in her dress.

Indeed she will, thank you very much.

This is a very unique dress. I'm sure grandma will love it. Happy birthday in advance to her

Thank You Oluchi

Wish her "Happy Birthday" on the behalf of mine when birthday will come in the next week.
!LUV

I will, thank you.

The dress is so pretty. The details and the neck. Wow, that’s so cool.
Grandma will surely love the details in the dress.