Thursday, February 5, 2015

Grandgirl's First

This post should have been written 3 years ago, because that's when this tale began. I remember clearly, because it was the day I was babysitting grandgirl and wrote this post about our trip to the grocery store. And after that little episode, we went on to the fabric shop, with little one sitting in the front of a shopping cart once again. She was 15 months old, and happily entertained as I wheeled her up and down the rows of fabric. At one point I stopped to glance at some yardage, and when I turned back to her, I saw she had reached out and grabbed a bright and soft flannel fat quarter covered with doggies. When I tried to put it back, her little fist just clung tighter. So of course I bought it, and ever since I've considered it her 'first fat quarter', and fully intended to make her something with it. But what?
Fast forward those 3 years and that fat quarter was still hanging around, pulled out of the stash now and then, and eventually put away again. It happened to be on my cutting table last weekend when grandgirl was over, pulling scraps from my basket and creating on the design wall as her mother and I sewed. I mentioned the fat quarter, showing it to her, and telling her that I really wanted to make something for her with it but I didn't know what. Well she lit up and got all excited! "Grammy! Make my dolly a quilt!" Well who would have thought to wait until the child was old enough to choose for herself?
So that night, I got to it, fussy-cutting those doggies as best I could. I didn't follow a pattern, pulled scraps for the framing, and just sewed. It's nothing extraordinary, but when I gave it to grandgirl tonight, she hugged it tight, yelling, "you made it!" Indeed I did.
Now this is a little girl, barely 4, who is watching closely, and by some strange yet wonderful power, soaking it all in. She calls fabric, fabric, and corrects you if you call a quilt a blankie. She already knows the joy of creating and that something made with your own 2 hands is something pretty special. I like to think that one of these days she'll be sewing right alongside her mom and I. Time will tell, of course, but for now at least, I'm just glad she appreciates creating for the gift it is.

Linking up with Finish It Up Friday.

34 comments:

  1. So sweet; such a lovely story! I know she will start to create with fabric sooner than you think!

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  2. Hi Debbie! This was a sweet and lovely story! That fabric was ment to wait until the little girl WHO picked it, was big enough to choose what she wants it to be. Cute, Special doll quilt! x Teje

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  3. Your story has made me smile Debbie! Before long your sweet grand daughter will be sewing beside you, learning all the tips from an expert! (BTW Do you really have shopping carts in fabric shops? They must be BIG shops!!!)

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  4. The grandgirl's dolly is happy and warm under her quilt made by Grammy. Such happy memories you've made with your darling. Thanks for sharing them.

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  5. Dolly must be very pleased! I've got a unicorn quilt cut out right now. NEVER saw that one coming until I had my granddaughter with me in the quilt shop!

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  6. Oh - I just loved your story. Something like this always touches my heart. Who would have thought that at 15 months she already had an 'eye' for fabric that she would still love when she was 3 :)! Just LOVE the doll quilt you sewed for her. Now she has a story to pass down in years to come!!

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  7. That is the cutest family quilt story! LOVE the doggy print on that cute little quilt, too!

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  8. Great story! Sounds like it won't be long before she's sewing with you!

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  9. Ahhhh, this post if so sweet. They are never too young either.
    My grand daughter who is nine now, made her first large quilt with a horse panel used and gave it to a boy in Nicaragua. She started her quilting/sewing adventure by playing with my scraps. FOund some she loved and then sewed her first doll quilt. She still plays with it today too!

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  10. What a great story. I bet she will be making her own doll quilts soon.

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  11. Oh, I love your story! I've had these wonderful experiences with my two granddaughters too, and the oldest one chose quilt fabrics with me at age 3. She's now 11 and loves to sew and is very creative. Both girls love fabric and love to create....who could ask for more?

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  12. What a sweet story! Grandma's little protegee... has awfully cute eyes peeking over the edge of her quilt! :)

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  13. Adorable! She will treasure her doll quilt and the story forever!

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  14. adorable!!! What a sweet little girl, I'm sure she'll be making her own dolly quilts in no time at all :)

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  15. I love this post!! It is filled with sweetness and simplicity. What a special grammy you are.

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  16. That is darling and such a sweet and smart little girl! She is lucky to have you and visa versa!

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  17. Just the sort of post I love! I can see her smile even behind that quilt!! :)

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  18. Debbie this is such a wonderful story! I think about how for generations this is exactly how these traditions were passed on: lovingly, from one hand to another. I hope that I have the chance to share the joy of creating with my nieces, and my own kids someday. :)

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  19. So precious, sometimes it is the simplest things that mean the most....she obviously is thrilled and the little quilt is adorable! The best kind of finish :)

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  20. Wonderful story, and a super cute quilt!! Love it!!

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  21. Beautiful story! And an illustration of how a quilt doesn't need to have 1,139 HST to be appreciayed for the love and thoughtfulness that went into it.

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  22. Aww that is such a sweet story!

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  23. oh so sweet---lovely quilt for Lucy's baby doll. Blessings!

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  24. Adorable! The story, the girl and the little doll quilt! Thanks for sharing!

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  25. You made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. I hope I can be inspirational to my grandchildren one day, as you have been to yours. Cute!

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  26. Wonderful! I too have a 4 y.o. granddaughter, but everything for her is still in WIP status. Time to move those projects up on the priority list!

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  27. Always good to have a satisfied customer!

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  28. What a lovely, wonderful memory you've created for you and your grand daughter. Thank you for sharing it with us.

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  29. What a sweet story...thanks for giving us the sequel!

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  30. just reading now -- absolutely apropos for Valentine's Day: what a love!! Your heart must be bursting!

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  31. what fun to share your sewing talents with your granddaughter

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