My granddaughter is making her First Holy Communion tomorrow, and Deirdre and I collaborated on her dress — I thought you would like to see it! I actually ordered the fabric in between taking Habou her broths and drinks and was able to start sewing two weeks ago.
It's really hard to take good pictures of such a thing, but bear with me!
I made the bodice first so that Deirdre could embroider it.**
Isn't the embroidery sweet? She echoed the lace on the veil and added a few little white beads (it's the same veil I wore for my wedding and my daughters wore for their First Holy Communions, and they and Natasha wore it for their weddings).
**A few sewing notes in case you are interested: The fabric is dotted swiss and I ordered it on Amazon. (affiliate link) The pattern is McCalls 4948 (affiliate link) — I had made Bridget an Alice in Wonderland costume many years ago that has gotten a lot of mileage in the dress-ups chest; we knew it would fit and thought that this style is special but still little-girlish.
We decided on the square neck, so I sort of merged the neck of the pinafore with the bodice as I was cutting it out. It's lined so you just cut both pieces the same and you're good.
Since the fabric is so sheer, the front of the bodice actually has two linings, one to back it for embroidering stability (and to hide knots and so on) and then another to be assembled with the back linings. I also added a lining for the skirt; it's gathered but isn't quite as full as the skirt, and I attached it at the waistband after assembling the dress. I just used pieces of muslin I had in my stash for the lining.
And finally, I added a little shoulder pad, basically a scrunchy made from the dress fabric of which I had so little left over that you would be horrified — WHAT was I thinking when I ordered the yardage, and WHY am I this way — so that the pouffy sleeves would pouf. The fabric is so soft that it threatens to just subside.
bits & pieces
- I know that it now seems to many people that it's impossible to raise children without screens/computers/zooms/phones — but consider: every generation before this one has done it! Once you make the decision, the rest falls into place. Anyway, this article revisiting Neil Postman's observations is worth a read.
- The education industry in all its forms (including homeschooling) gets its fuel from the anxiety that we have to do it all — that children have to be given all the knowledge or we've failed. Not so. You cannot teach every great book, but so what?
- A composer who is new to me, Jan Josef Ignác Brentner (1689-1742), and a wonderful ensemble performing his Vesperae cum ordinariis psalmis. A few minutes of delight.
from the archives
- Martinmas! (I have linked before, but do listen to Michael Ward's speech at Hillsdale — I think that the older children would really benefit from it in preparation for this feast! If you listen you will understand why I say this in relation to St. Martin!). His speech begins at the 36 minute mark.
liturgical living
If you go here, you will see Catholic Culture's liturgical calendar for November, and you will be able to access the many resources they have in their archives for liturgical living.
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Shyla says
Wow!! The dress is absolutely beautiful! I love the embroidery! Fabulous.
Emily says
The dress is SUPERB! Wow! I love that! So special and lovely!
We had a first communion dress that got passed don through myself and many of my cousins….while not handmade like this, it was special that several of us wore it on our First Communion Day.
Heather says
This is a beautiful and age appropriate dress. So hard to find simple designs in store. Lovely embroidery and I love that the veil has been worn for so many sacraments.
Abby says
That dress is superb! So lovely! Wish I had thought of the wedding veil tradition!
A comment on screens: my husband and I have found ourselves retreating ever backwards from the screens for the whole family. We actually bought a desktop computer this summer to direct all of us away from the ubiquitous smart screen that is so addictive for adults and kids should alike, and the kids are getting a cd player for Christmas for audio books for the same reason. It is only when you begin to try to mostly eliminate the devices, or at least curtail their reach into your life, that you realize how hard (and I think intentionally do) it has become to do so (try, just try, to find a dumb phone w/out internet – it is very difficult, and more expensive, for less capability!). Yet I find myself believing strongly that there will come a time when Christians, like the Amish, will find themselves living a parallel but separate life from the rest of society- we will live in the real world, and will need to (at least mostly) eschew the internet and social media, for the health of our souls, and our children.
Leila says
Well, Abby, I didn’t exactly think of it but my daughters were determined haha — and I was very blessed that my mother-in-law gave me what is really a glorious mantilla for my wedding veil. I am sure I would never have thought of it or come across it myself.
As to screens, what you are saying is the thinking behind our very large TV. We can enjoy watching movies together in comfort and so there is no huddling over computer screens. And certainly it’s a no-brainer that their education does not have to take place on the computer! Only high-school students would need to do classes online, but even that should be rather limited.
In my post about Giving Your Children the Gift of Purity I go over these things more in terms of strategy. But yes, we need to just decide!
Nicole Raez says
What a beautiful First Communion dress for your granddaughter! I’d love to know how you began sewing clothing. Please share any advise you may have, thank you!
Katie says
Dear Leila, As a Hillsdale alum/employee, I am thinking this is actually the Michael Ward lecture you are looking for, on Martinmas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMgprdm9ujE 🙂
Leila says
Ah, thank you Katie, I thought it was a clip of just his speech and was thrown off by the fact that he is wearing exactly the same thing! I fixed it!
Rosie says
I’ve been waiting for these pictures! Beautiful. I love it.
Leila says
Ha! I forgot I talked to you about this (or maybe it was D!). I’m daft.
Lisa G. says
What a wonderful thing! It’s beautiful, and so simple. Wonderful embroidery.
Amy says
What a gorgeous work of art that dress is!
Lisa G. says
Leila, you may be interested in this: Soul cakes! For November. I got the link through Aleteia. https://www.thesimplethings.com/blog/soulcakesrecipe They’re a shortbread, and very nice!
Laura S. says
Well done, Auntie Leila and Deirdre! That is a stunning dress. I love the classic look of the dress pattern, and the embroidery is truly gorgeous and special.
Jessica says
I didn’t care much for the Circe article. I think a case can be made that no one can teach all of the Great Books. On the other hand, they value lies in something far more objective than the love of the teacher. Augustine is true. Aquinas is true. And the turth should be loved for its own sake, not for the sake of one’s teacher. Certainly, teachers can make things more or less attractive. But ultimately, Truth needs no intermediary. Or to put it otherwise: Christ still has infinite value even without the midwifery of Socrates.
Victoria says
The author of that article seems like a really good person with a great perspective on education, but I wonder if he really meant that “the teacher is the curriculum” or if what he was trying to get at is that the WAY something is presented matters tremendously the the student’s uptake of the ideas in the work studied? A presentation without a sympathetic teacher/guide can potentially be harmful.
Ann says
Happy Martinmas! I enjoyed listening to Michael Ward’s speech and listened to it again with my homeschooling high schoolers and middle schooler. We especially enjoyed learning about the etymology of “chapel”. So much richness here in learning about liturgical traditions and lives of saints.Especially enjoyed his comment that to each of us our Martinmas will come. Thank you for sharing this. The First Communion dress is lovely, such a treasure!
Victoria says
What a beautiful dress! What a blessing for you and your family.
Courtney says
I think you should sell beautiful dresses like that!