My friend Sanni is really good at sewing. Super good. Amazing. She is like a wizard of sewing. She can sew anything, and she knows (I believe) everything about sewing. She is amazingly talented but super modest about her skills.
One day last spring, I asked her if she would be willing to make a christening gown for Matilda for this summer's christening that we were going to have in Finland. She agreed to it without hesitation. The dress needed to be a "big" girl dress and not a traditional christening gown that 2-month-old would be wearing. Olivia was 8 months old when we had her christening in Finland, and she wore a beautiful dress with tulle and lace. Matilda was going to be 14 months old, and I saw her in a similar dress in her christening.
One Saturday, Sanni and I drove to a local Joann Super store to look for fabrics for the dress. We found pretty white fabrics and were happy with the combinations when we walked around the corner to another aisle, and I saw this beautiful "old" pink lace fabric. I fell in love. I wanted the dress to be from that fabric, but we had just spent a lot of time looking for the perfect combination for a white christening gown. While I was going back and forth, Sanni said, "That's no problem. I will make two dresses." "Well. That is just silly for a one-year-old to have two fancy dresses like these," I said. Sanni disagreed and was firm that she would make two dresses. And, that is what happened. The pink lace dress was first one to be done, and it is beautiful. I love this dress, and it is so pretty on Matilda who has blondish red hair. She wore the dress at her 1st birthday party.
The white dress was for Matilda's christening. It also is a beautiful dress, and it is made flawlessly. It's unique and especially made for Matilda. I am so happy Sanni was willing and happy to make the dresses for us.
While we were shopping for the fabric for Matilda's dress(es), we came across a fun retro flower fabric. I liked it instantly and kept talking about it during our visit to Joanns. Sanni said right away that I should make a dress for myself with it for the christening. I laughed. Me? In a dress? In a white lace dress? Noooooo. That's just totally absurd. We left the fabric behind, but I kept thinking about it. Maybe I could make a dress for myself using the fabric. It was super cute. Would I know how to make one that would be nice enough for me to wear for the christening? With bunch of questions on my mind, I decided to approach the one person whom I knew would know the answers - my super talented friend Sanni. And, she basically said, "Of course you can do it. I'll help you." And, that she did.
We chose and got the pattern from a Finnish sewing book for women called
Mekkotehdas Aikuisille. (
Kiitos Mari lainasta!) We bought the fabric together. I also got knit fabric for the inside dress (
Yes. I was making not just one dress but TWO!!), and an invisible zipper (
OK. Zippers are scary as it is, but an invisible zipper!! Yikes!!). I was SURE this project was going to be a disaster. I have sewn a lot during the last two years, but I have never tried a project this big. I had never before sewn a dress with lining or a zipper let alone invisible zipper. I was going to fail for sure. I knew it. I am not sure what Sanni thought I was able to do, but if she doubted me, she did not show it once. (
What a brave woman!). Me; however, I gave up multiple times during the process. The next couple of weeks, we met at night after our kids had gone to bed. Sanni told me every single step that I needed to do, and I followed her instructions and sewed and sewed and sewed. Finally, the dress was done. I had made a lace dress all on my own. And, it fit me!!! I was amazed and so proud of myself.
(I still am.)
Here is the dress.
Check that out. I actually made it. The dress has french seams as well. Yep. I sewed a dress with an invisible zipper, french seams and a jersey knit lining.
Matilda's christening was on a Friday afternoon on a sunny warm July day in Finland. It was a family event, and we were excited to be sharing this special day with family and friends. Matilda was beautiful wearing her lace dress, and I got many wonderful complements about my lace dress. (
Which I followed with super enthusiastic, "I made it!!")
Olivia chose her lace dress from H&M.
I have many talented women in my life, but one of the most important ones is my best friend Mari. We have known each other about 25 years (
which is weird because we are only 24), and she is absolutely the bestest, smartest, kindest, funniest, most beautiful (
inside and out) friend I have in my life. And, since that is not enough, she is also SUPER talented. Not only did she make the cakes for Matilda's christening, but she also (
with the help from her super awesome dad and super awesome kids) drove three hours to attend the party and took care of the kitchen while we were busy with our guests. She is awesome! Thank you SO much, Mari, for everything!! Our theme was blueberries, so the colors came from that. Mari made the yummy cake for the christening and, of course, decorated it also with little Matilda sitting next to (real) blueberries.
Please check out her blog at
Marin Kakkuloita and be amazed by everything she creates. Absolutely wonderful!
