I bought the fabric for these on Saturday, cut them out on Sunday night, and sewed them up on Monday.
for Kate
for Jane
Both are from my Japanese craft book. I think they turned out cute, but I wish I would have added a bit of length to the top part of Jane’s. It doesn’t really matter, though. She refuses to wear it. And she picked the fabric and the pattern. I swear I am about to give up sewing for her – every single thing that I have made this spring sits on a hanger and is never worn. I am talking about this outfit, this skirt, this top and the new one, too. She tries them on once, wears it for awhile and never puts it on again. I feel I need to repeat: I let her choose the fabrics and I show her the patterns. I always get an enthusiastic response. What’s a mom to do?
Kate’s an entirely different story. She loves it all.
At least I have one kid to sew for! Good thing that my girls wear the same size. Kate can wear Jane’s clothes. That is, if Jane will let her. I am taking advice…help!
Oh goodness! I have spent all this time thinking that if I had girls I would get to do so much more fun clothes sewing. I never even considered this dilema! I wonder what would happen if you let her make something with you? Do you think the pride of having done it would inspire her to wear it?
awww…maybe she is trying to assert her independence in some way? i don’t know what to tell you– except to start sewing for yourself (hehe) and kate and see if she wants to join in again later. it obviously has nothing to do with the clothes (they’re gorgeous!!) but still, that must be really frustrating!!
Oh you poor thing! It’s no fun when you make something and they won’t wear it. The shirt is adorable. I have a new Japanese craft book on the way and I can’t wait for it to get here. I hope my things turn out half as cute as yours.
Cute, cute! I love both tops. Little stinker- she’s missing out. I’m sure she looks gorgeous in that one! Maybe she’ll change her mind soon.
Oh Erin! These are fantastic!!! I don’t have any advice, but I thought what Linda P said sounded worth trying… and I used to be a child therapist!!! I swear, now that I have my own kids I spend many a moment grinding my teeth.
Hmmm…perhaps when things come easy i.e. when we don’t lack the supply, we don’t appreciate as much. So maybe that’s what’s happening here?
Just a thot, Clara 🙂
Very cute! I did the same thing to my mom when she made stuff for me. I still do it actually. I think now its more of a “if I wear it, I might mess it up” I like it more in my closet than on me. Maybe Jane will out grow it. I hope for your sake she does. Good luck!
no advice for you, just to let you know the same thing happens to me! so, you’re definitely not alone.
All of the clothing you make is gorgeous. I suggest that you don’t make her anything for awhile and let her ask you to make stuff. Maybe if it were her idea she would wear it. That’s a tough one….but at least you have Kate to sew for…xoxo
I’ve had the same thing happen in our happy home too. I involve Miss L. every step of the way but in the end -rejected! I agree that it has something to do with asserting independence. No advice, but a hug of support – beautiful work as always!
Wait! Those are the cutest!!!!
Well….don’t know what to tell you….but if you stop sewing for her and only sew for Kate, then she may want to start to wear the things so that you will sew for her again. ?
i can’t believe she won’t wear that bird top + skirt?!
crazy kid…
that happened with my girls. morgan started wearing all of the things i made and abby was just too picky. i stopeed making things for her and lo and behold she started trotting out the old homemade stuff. now making twirly skirts for two again!
You’re kidding! She won’t wear the twirly skirt???
I’m with Leslie – stop sewing for her and see what she does.
Not much in the way of advice other than letting her know that you won’t be making her things anymore since she doesn’t seem interested in wearing them. Much like Kirsten above, she’ll probably get jealous and decide she will wear them after all. If not, then Kate can wear the stuff you’ve made and get new stuff too… my kids are the same way with the stuff I knit. No sooner than I completed a vest for my son (that he specifically requested), than he decides he only wears it on special occasions and now he wants a poncho! Ugh.Right now I’m knitting something for me 🙂
My Ian is like that…wont wear a darned thing I make him if Zane wants to wear his. Like he’s protesting that I sew for both of them. Now Wyatt, he still wears anything I put him in. At least for now. Love the summer shirts though. So great!
love that first top. i think kate and i have the same taste. look at that smile!!
Girls can be stubborn, my daughter was born like that! I think the things you make are gorgeous.
so cute!
those are some cute tops! love them. I would say give Jane’s tops to Kate if Jane doesn’t want to wear them. That would be a sure fix in my household. good luck!
I don’t know how old the girls are, but I think that a lot of girls around 7-8 start to get picky about clothing.
I know my kid is only 2, but, honestly, I don’t really think there *is* very much you can do about it. There are already plenty of things that Jack steadfastly refuses to wear, so I just go with it. (However, if I had been making them myself, I think I would just stop making them and then it would be less frustrating.)
i am not as small or as cute as jane but you could sew for me and i promise i would wear every piece proudly!
Wow! Both of those tops look amazing. Both of your girls are so lucky–whether they know it or not. 😉
I wonder if your daughter’s going through a phase. When I was younger I really hated it when my mom made stuff for me and now I’m really sad she doesn’t for me now b/c she’s too busy!
Love the green shirt that Kate designed…what a beautiful picture of her!
I have dreamed of being as crafty and creative as you are and sewing for my daughter! It never even dawned on me that there could possibly be a chance she wouldn’t want to wear them!
What a cutie…the shirts too!
Okay, here’s what I would do: Have Kate wear Jane’s stuff when you are out and about. When Jane see’s all the compliments Kate is getting for HER clothes, she might have a change of heart! (I know this is appealing to her vanity but this would work with my girls).
Darling creations!!
My daughter does the same thing a lot of the time. These are the techniques I use to get her to wear stuff:
Let her pick the fabric and pattern;
Offer her two options of clothing each day always including at least one thing I want her to wear;
Telling her that if she doesn’t want to wear the dress/shirt/pants I’ll give it to her cousin (who is just a little smaller).
Usually one of these methods gets her to wear it. Then I take her somewhere she is sure to get lots of compliments. Then she tends to be willing to wear whatever it is again.
Aw, all those great clothes aren’t being worn? Not even the birdie tee? I have no advice for you — this is one of my fears about sewing clothes for my kids. 🙂
I love these tops, and the fabrics are just wonderful!
I wish I had a suggestion, but I’ve just scrolled through all of the comments hoping I would see an answer for myself! My daughter always says she loves the things I’ve sewn for her, but they usually don’t ever see any “wear time.” (She has worn her twirly skirt, though!) Sometimes I think that even though I let her pick out her own fabrics and choose the pattern, ultimately it is still “my” project and “my” idea to sew something for her. Maybe if you let Jane come to you when she’s ready for a new outfit with no hints from Mama? (I know, easier said than done for someone who loves to sew!)
I guess you just have to simply enjoy the creative process. And if it gets worn, that’s even better!
No advise to give about the girls – but the shirts are gorgeous, almost as gorgeous as the girls.
Smile and be proud, even if the shirt sits in the closet, You have done well.
Oops. I mispelled advice.
LOLOLOL Just for the record my girls are 25 and 26. One loves the stuff I make,one hates it and they STILL will not share!!! Hugs to you,keep up the stunning work.
Geri
Hmm…I can’t imagine why she wont wear what you made for her it’s all so lovely. Let it go for a bit and I bet she will come around. I find the more I suggest or encourage my daughter to do something the less inclined she is too do it! Girls! BTW…if you need someone else to sew for I’d be more then willing to be the recipient! :o)
I LOVE those tops but alas, I have enough problems reading pattern instructions in English, I’d really screw things up in Japanese! If you get a chance, swing by my blog…I’m having some sewing issues.
I wonder if there was a Hello Kitty sewing machine in the house if she might try out her own ideas.
There is a great tutorial for kids 6-9 which starts out using felt squares for fabric as it can be controlled.
you seriously have the cutest, hippest kids ever. i love those tops. you’re such a good mom–some day jane will appreciate it!
ahhh….., I’ll wear them! 🙂
Adorable! She looks like she could model in one of those Japanese craft books.
I wish they were my size, so I could wear them:) Maybe she will change her mind?
oh, this is so familiar…if they’re anything like my girls, seeing her sister wear it, might make Jane want to start wearing it! that’s how things seem to work in my house.
hope you’re having a lovely weekend with your friends!
I say that the next time Jane asks for a sewn article of clothing from you, you go to her closet and let her choose one of the several like-new ones she’s already got – that is, if Kate hasn’t taken them all already. It would break my heart to see something that I put so much love and energy into making go unworn or unused. I hope Jane lets Kate wear ’em, and if I were you, I’d stick to store-bought things for Jane for a while.
Oh, I love Kate’s smile on the picture! She looks so happy!
Kate looks fabulous! I would stop making things for Jane in the nicest possible way. Maybe you could make her dolls clothes just to satisfy the urge to create something for her or maybe she could help you and get involved with the making.
I’m afraid I was like your Jane. When I was little my mom made me cute little dresses with matching purses from fabric and patterns that I chose. Yet, I didn’t really like wearing the dresses. I have no idea why I didn’t wear them. But I do know that I’ve always felt it was a very special thing for my mom to do.
Can I just say how cute she is?? Honestly, she’s so photogenic.
I bet the quickest way to get Jane to want to wear those clothes is to let kate wear/have them. Sibling rivalry 🙂
Those are some cute tops!
Oh she’s soooooo cute in that shirt! You’re nicer than me by far. When I don’t get what I want I immediately resort to bribery and threatening. i.e., if you wear this shirt I made for you today I’ll let you have some kitty snacks or watch Little Bear. Bad ulterior motive having mommy!
I know you’ve moved on, but I have to throw my two cents into the ring. I was that little girl who didn’t wear the things my mom made for me, and I remember two of the reasons why. First, even though I chose the fabric, it never made up the way I thought it would. The problem was in my mind. I couldn’t successfully envision the finished project, so I was always disappointed. Secondly, having homemade clothes made me different. And, there was a time when I didn’t want to be different. I wanted to blend. It didn’t matter how lovely the top or skirt was, I just want to be “like everyone else”.
I hope that helps a little. I didn’t see any other comments exactly along that theme. The clothes are gorgeous. It’s not you, it’s her.
ahhh… she is so adorable!! When I did children’s portrait photography I loved when I got an adorable ham like her! And that shirt is adorable! It looks easy too.