this is a page for
Category: First Communion
When I was approached by my dear friend and godmother to my middle little, T, to make a First Holy Communion dress for her daughter, B, I was excited and honored. And then, when I realized it would be made from her wedding gown, I was very, very nervous.
B and her family chose the pattern (Vogue 7681), and we made a shopping trip to pick up some basics that I’d need to construct the dress. When I noticed how similar the pattern B chose was to her mother’s wedding gown, a few ideas started percolating.
A handmade veil adds such a special touch to momentous occasions such weddings and first communions. In addition to creating a special memento of the day, making a veil can also be much more cost-effective while allowing the lucky lady to have exactly what she envisioned.
For this project, I created a wrist length veil for a petite bride who wanted to wear it more towards the back of her head, as opposed to on top. We started with a 29″ length of tulle to achieve the right length for her hairstyle and stature. Before actually making the real veil, I made up a quick veil, minus the comb, with a very visible rolled hem edge so she could see the exact cut of the tulle, for her to try on and play around with. When working with brides, especially from a distance, this added step can be well worth it. Tulle is relatively cheap so it is easy to play around with, but making the actual veil is a bit more time consuming. Keep in mind that a bulky wedding up-do can make a veil appear a lot shorter.
Today was such a special day for my oldest. Today along with many of his classmates, he celebrated his First Holy Communion. Our parish celebrates First Communion during the normal weekend masses, so some of his classmates celebrated last weekend as well. If you’ve been following our blog, you already know that I made his tie from my wedding dress shawl. I documented that process here.
It was a beautiful mass with 19 First Communicants. My oldest helped carry up the gifts, and it was wonderful to see the joy and reverence on his face as he participated in this wonderful gift.
Eleri here today and I’m participating in Seaside Notion’s Web Wednesday! Today I’m going to talk about the awesome Everything Bag.
I learn about most of the independent designers I try either from other friends who sew, or through sewing groups on Facebook. I have been actively trying to branch out and try some new-to-me designers. The Pensacola Beach Petal Top caught my eye because I have recently acquired several beautiful 1/2 yard-1 yard cuts of woven prints from a local friend destashing. However, as my girls are getting bigger, I needed a top pattern to showcase these prints and the Pensacola had interesting details that I know will look fabulous on my girls, big and small, as we head into summer.
I am a Roman Catholic mother. The sacraments are where I experience some of my deepest moments as a mother. I have stood at the baptismal font with all of my children and have had them baptized into our Catholic faith as newborns. I have waited nervously outside of the confessional while my two oldest children complete the Sacrament of Penance for the first time and celebrated with a gift of candy since God’s mercy is so sweet!
I’m sure many of you have seen Eleri’s beautiful series on making her daughter’s First Communion dress from her mother’s wedding gown. If you haven’t, make sure to go check out the series here, here, and here.
My oldest son makes his First Communion in a few short weeks, and I wanted to make him something that he could have as a keepsake of this special sacrament. After thinking through my options (because it’s much harder for me to think of things to make for boys!) I chose to make him a tie from the shawl of my wedding dress. I am so thankful I had my wedding dress preserved after our wedding 10 years ago. I removed my shawl and was able to steam the wrinkles from it before I cut out the tie.
Welcome to the third and final part of my series on transforming my mother’s wedding gown (which was made by her mother) into a keepsake First Communion gown for my daughters. If you are just joining us, check this post out for details on the original gown and this post out for the pattern inspiration and process I used to update the gown.
To refresh your memory, I started here. My grandmother made my mother’s gown out of crepe chine and polyester lace.
Welcome back!
Today, I am going to talk about the pattern I chose to make my daughter’s First Holy Communion and Confirmation gown.
Last summer, I decided that I would make my daughter’s First Communion gown out of my mother’s wedding gown that was handmade by my grandmother.
I am going to be honest. I was tempted to purchase one. I could not figure out what I was going to do with the particular style of my mother’s dress.
In a few days, it will be 14 years since my maternal grandmother passed away. I have wanted to share what I am creating but I have honestly had an incredibly emotional time working on this.
“Those whom we love and lose are no longer where they were before.
They are now wherever we are.” – St. John Chrysostom
This is the woman who taught me to love to create and I visited her almost every day as a child. I remember sitting next to her on her recliner while she taught me to crochet at the age of 7. I remember sitting at her little kitchen table while she would sketch out birds and flowers (she was a talented china painter) for me to paint over with watercolors. She also taught me to embroider and tried to teach me to knit which became my true love in crafting for several years until I fell in love with sewing.