Smocking Green–Recycling

Laurel fortifying herself before her expedition to pick flowers in the garden.

It seemed to me that an article on green would be appropriate for St.Patrick’s Day.  But this has nothing to do with Luck o’ the Irish, Leprechauns or cabbage and corned beef.   However, in some ways the topic is like the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

Those of us who sew and smock classic children’s clothing were green long before it was the color of a movement. I remember Kermit the Frog singing “It’s Not Easy being Green.”   But for us, it’s the easiest thing we can do.

This bishop dress was made 25 years ago for my daughter and worn long enough that the hem had to be let down for her. It still looks pretty good now that Laurel wears it. The pattern is timeless, the microcheck fabric and the Swiss edging are very good quality and the smocking looks like it will hold up for yet another generation.  The environmentalist mantra “Reduce~Re-use~Recycle” could have been composed by women of our ilk.

Milliner in smocked dress~Laurel showing off the hat she decorated with the flowers she picked

I would challenge a doubter to show me a commercially made child’s garment that can be worn regularly for 6-7 years and still be in good shape.

To my regret, I have already missed the window for several of the dresses I put away. Children grow so fast that it is easy to forget that it’s time to pull out the next bag of outgrown smocked or heirloom sewn garments. Recently, in an effort to get ahead of the game, I tried several on Laurel and then hung them in the nursery closet to await the moment of readiness. 

She tried to convince me that a size 7 yoke dress, smocked at the waist, really did fit her. The hip hugging waist proved otherwise, but she won’t let me forget about that one.  As soon as I re-hem it, Rebecca’s old Children’s Corner Anne will be ready for her to wear, as well as a pretty little smocked pinafore. 

You see, I have, regrettably, reduced the number of garments I would like to have made for her, re-used several dresses and recycled other bits and pieces of needlework. 

Kermit was wrong.  It is easy to be green.  Happy St.Patrick’s Day to all!