Carter wanted me to make Pink Bear a tutu. Actually, he was quite specific about it being pink, and sparkly, and how it would stick out. To Carter, a simple request. After all, I made his favorite teddy bear red pants.
I told him: Wait until Grandma gets here. My mom sewed costumes for all my dance concerts, from grade school through high school. I’ve sewn PJ pants. My mom sewed my sister’s wedding dress (and all the bridesmaids’ dresses and my dad’s tuxedo). Thank goodness, I knew she was coming for Thanksgiving when Carter started dreaming up Pink Bear’s ballerina outfit.
My mom and I spent hours at Joann Fabrics, finally finding pink netting in the bridal department, and chiffon ribbon with sparkly hearts to piece together for a bodice overlay. (We also each got a purse handle and purse pattern; now we just have to get the fabric and make the purses to match.)
My mom designed, cut, and directed. I pinned and sewed. And sewed. And ripped seams. And sewed. Took my sewing machine apart, and sewed and ripped some more. Small does not mean fast with sewing.
Carter says Pink Bear looks beautiful in her ballerina outfit.
Sewing with my mom is like baking with Carter. We get to do something we like to do together. There’s teaching; there’s learning. We’re proud of each other and what we make together. Bonus: we get to enjoy the end result—eat it, share it, or just admire Pink Bear wearing it and see how happy that makes Carter.
