waiting for the heat
i say that we are waiting for the heat now, as we search for socks to warm our chilly toes just after peeling off three sets of wet, cold clothes from our morning walk to school, and i mean it. but really, when the heavy heat of new york summer hits i will hardly be welcoming it. for now, though, on this shivery morning, we are waiting anxiously for some warmth and we are preparing.
ruth wears her skirted swimsuit and practices "swimming" in the bathtub daily. eve discusses our upcoming summer stay in oregon and prepares for the risk of tsunamis (she asked for an example of a word that started with "ts" and out came "tsunami". we're now going on week five of tsunami-related conversations... if only i had thought to say "tsar"..). little charlie remains blissfully unaware of plans beyond his daily task of finding the colored pencils and distributing them as far and wide throughout the house as possible, but his little legs are practicing standing on their own so he can be ready for the summer playing. and me, i am sewing. sewing for the day when we no longer need layers or socks or something warm to drink.
summer sewing is my favorite. skirts, easy dresses, uncomplicated shirts, jumpers and shorts. done.
these shirts will be repeated in several different fabrics for the upcoming season. maybe with different details, or maybe the same. i'm a sucker for rolled sleeves and ribbon loops..
there will be more shorts, too. i always forget how easy pants and shorts are. in fact, i'm almost tempted to say they are easier than skirts.. they come together so quickly. testing my pattern by making three pair in one day was easy and totally do-able, not torture, for me or the kids. and even if only the final pair fit the way i wanted (flowered denim wins), i can tell myself that the other two pair are great too. after all, they are shorts, and shorts don't need to be perfect. shorts just need to allow little legs to run and play and dance in the sprinklers. and that is the glory of summer sewing.
someday little charlie will be included in the sewing. i have no choice, really. soon all he has will be too heavy and too short for his skinny legs. and soon i will not be crouching in front of this computer, rubbing my feet together for warmth, i will be on the playground watching as all three red-faced kids run and jump and scream in the heat while i tap my toes in the spray of bursting water balloons, wishing for cooler days.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009 at 02:38PM
Reader Comments (54)
Both your girls are adorable even when impatient with Mom and the camera. You are absolutely amazing................I am in awe of the clothes you make for your girls and the fabrics you chose.. You have a real gift. These outfits are incredibly cute.
Cheryl
Where did you get the flowered jean material for those shorts? They do remind me of my childhood. My children share a handmade stuffed dog that was mine as a little girl that looks like it could be made from the same fabric. I would love to get my hands on some to make something for my little girl.
where do you buy your fabric??
Where did you get the patterns for those shirts? They are darling! And I want to make a striped one for myself--do they come in big-girl sizes?