The first time I met Jessica from Me Sew Crazy was at last year’s Sewing Summit, and seriously folks, she is such a warm and kind person. She makes you feel so good you want to just follow her around all day to soak up all her niceness. When she asked me about participating in her Kid Inspiration & Design Series aka K.I.D.S. (part 1 and 2), I was so jazzed (hands included), because I LOVE this series. It’s such a great concept, and so full of love. I love how it approaches sewing for your kid’s with such thoughtfulness and collaboration.
I always do consult my kid’s a ton when sewing for them, but this challenge really stretched both she and I as she had never had full design rights. It really strengthened her creativity muscle (she is usually a very literal artist–loves drawing from life), so coming up with something from just her head was a little hard for her. As you can see, her sketch was a bit nondescript, and so I kept pushing her to be more detailed and even color it, but she just wasn’t having it. In the end I would sketch a variety of design options to choose from, and in that way we fleshed out her design. 
One thing that we knew would be a part of her design from the beginning were these unicorn and rainbow stamps that she drew and designed/I made using this technique. She was all over the idea of designing her own pattern/print, and is particularly proud that the pattern is her artwork. I created a two-directional print by carving a double-sided, reversible stamp. I began by having her draw her designs directly onto the eraser, and then I would carve that (using your trusty linoleum cutter set), stamp it, and then trace the design again with a pen onto tracing paper. To reverse it, you flip the paper around and then again trace it using a soft lead charcoal pencil. Then doing your best to align the image with front side, you rub off the penciled design onto the opposite side and carve. Boom! A two-directional stamp!
For the pattern I modified Simplicity 3510; I added fullness and length to the body of the dress and butterfly sleeves. The fabric is a heavier cotton gauze dyed Amethyst pink. For the printing I used discharge paste again (this method), and really love how soft and solid the printing turned out, I love that smelly stuff!!
We both are pleased as punch with the final result, I’m excited to do more of these types of collaborations with my kiddos in the future. How much do your kids contribute to the design process when you sew for sew for them?
15 Comments
She is cute as a button in her new frock!!! Great job and love all your input that goes into all your projects. I mean you started with white gauze and look how you’ve transformed it?! So much more than a seamstress you are clearly an artist. Love your work
Wow, thank you Sarah, that is the nicest thing to say, I’m so flattered!
This is beyond awesome. The unicorn stamp is the best part!
Thanks! I think so too!
I adore the idea of having your kiddo design her own dress and draw a stamp design. Completely inspired to have my daughter get more involved in my sewing.
I’m having so much doing so! And having them design a stamp is so fun, because there’s so many different ways that they’ll love using it like on Birthday cards or notes to their friends. So fun!
LOVE! So beautiful and that stamp is fantastic!
Thank you, Andrea! I love that little unicorn too, it’s been great for making like Birthday cards for her friends too…
What a fun way ti include kids in design work! After I saw your last post about discharge paste I’ve been scheming op a project to use it for. I ordered the paste and linoleum cutter kit and supplies yesterday and can’t wait till they arrive! Thanks for the inspiration!
Eek- sorry for all the typos! My kindle spell check is bad- I think it actually changes normal words like up to op. So weird.
I love this so hard – it looks fantastic and I love that you used HER art on it too. If I showed this to my little gal I’m sure she’d demand one immediately. Very cute.
Oh my cuteness! And doesn’t she just look chock-full of joy–from the top of her cute little bun, right down to her ruby slippers! This is just amazing. From plain white gauze to feminine frock of love. The stamps are stupendous, and so great that you nurtured that creativity in her. I also love how you pose your kids for their photos–ie. being kids! Not imitations of grown-up models. Such a delight.
Yes, I’ve actually had a pretty great experience photographing the kids, they usually really enjoy it, especially Go Go. Thanks Mom!!
This is SO darling I adore how it turned out
It’s amazing how great her design seems to fit her personality (based on the photos). I love the extent to which you’ve manipulated your materials, too. I’ve been wanting to go in that direction but it often seems overwhelming. I’ll have to explore those links about dyeing and stamping. Thanks for sharing!