A White Garment

4 years ago I wore this huge, lovely ballgown as I vowed to give myself faithfully, totally, freely and fruitfully to my husband. I'd heard of women who made their children's baptismal garment from their wedding dresses and I thought it was a brilliant idea. But when my first child's birth drew near I was too nervous to take a scissors to my lovely gown.

As our last anniversary drew near I really wanted to wear my gown again and began to consider altering it into a cocktail dress strictly for that purpose - wearing on our anniversaries and Valentine's dates. When our anniversary passed I was a bit sad that I hadn't altered it. With that desire to be able to wear my dress again and our second child's approaching birth I finally built up the courage to take a scissors to this beautiful gown.

I ended up making a pattern based off the baptismal garment that our first son used and the entirety of the fabric needed for it was able to be cut from just the train of my gown. Just the train. I was shocked, I don't know why, but I was. 

While not perfect, I think it turned out pretty good for a first ever attempt at making baby clothes, especially out of satin. 

I continued cutting fabric.

I cut out roughly 20 YARDS of stiff netting, simply to cut down the bulk and be able to seam rip out the netting where it'd been attached to the under skirt. I then proceeded to cut off some of the length so that now it should be just below my knee and I'll have plenty of fabric to comfortably hem it when I've lost all this baby weight. I cut out the zipper (I know, so wrong, but I didn't know what all those stitches were hold together!) and installed a corset back which I bought from this Etsy vender. I know it will make the dress less casual even though my overall goal is to make it definitely more casual, but I figured since I will never be a size 8 again and we're only at the beginning of starting our family, a corset back would be more forgiving than a zipper. Besides, I plan to wear cardigans over it anyways.

Since I can't fit it on to hem it accurately now, this project is going to have to sit for a while. I've kept all the fabric I've cut off it in the hopes of someday using it to make beautiful garments and projects for our children. Until that day, the excess will be safely stored in an airtight bag. For now this ballgown now only consists of 2 tulle layers, a soft netting layer, satin layer, and an underskirt. Once this whole project is done I will be sure to update you.

What was the point of having such a beautiful, meaningful work of art sit in a box in the closet when I want to wear it again and again? I'm also excited to offer to God the fruit of our union, dressed in the same garment I made that Fruitful Vow in.

DIY Quiet Mass Kit

Hello all! This week's craft is one that I've made 4 times now so I think I have most (hopefully all) the kinks worked out. Looking around online I wanted an affordable plush Mass Set but what I found was a paper/cardboard one for about $20, a plush WeeBelievers My Mass Kit for $77, and then various wooden ones between $40-$80 on Etsy. While the Wee Believers kit was close to what I wanted it was more than I wanted to spend and for some odd reason, not all the golden articles of the Mass were golden.... some of them were blue or various random colors. Eeehh... not quiet what I wanted.

So I made my own, and trust me the first set did not look like the one in the picture. Unfortunately I could not made the cruets I wanted, but I figured this set would do for a toddler. Here is the pattern and directions. Enjoy!