Creative Needle, June, 2005
Hurrah, football season is here! Like families around the country, we look forward to kickoff. As huge Florida Gator fans, every Saturday in the fall we hunker down for a full day of football, in front of the tv or at the stadium.
Tradition dictates that everyone wear their “colors” on Game Day. The grandchildren keep outgrowing their team gear, so, like many of you, I’m trying to get them suited up for kickoff.
Laurel was just 3 weeks old when we attended the annual Gator Nation gathering at the Daytona Speedway. She wore this cool, Swiss cotton pique top with pima check bloomers.
The June 2005 issue of Creative Needle is chock full of inspiration. If you have this back issue, pull it out for a fresh look. Now that I have 4 little Gator fans to dress, I have found new ideas, far more than I noticed when there was just one baby girl to dress in orange and blue.
The next year at the Gator Gathering, Baby Gator Girl, was soon to be Big Sister to Baby Gator Boy.
In the feature pictorial article BE TRUE TO YOUR SCHOOL, every single photo shows beautiful children, beautifully dressed, wearing team loyalty on their chests. I especially like the careful listing of details, including pattern, smocking plate, and machine embroidery designs.
6 month old Alastair was suited up for Game Day in a cool cotton Ralph Lauren romper. The Fighting Gator embroidery was stitched in place of the pocket that was removed. The buttons were restitched with orange thread.
The Creative Needle issue also includes a Quick Stitch silverware holder, perfect for tailgating. All directions are included for this tailgate-friendly project. Customizing it for your team is just a matter of a little machine embroidery and/or color selection. With all the fun, new designs for fans, it’s easy to be creative.
TailGator Laurel wears an applique’d girlie Gator. Robert is dressed for the occasion with an applique’d Gator tie. They were ready to eat and head to the stadium.
Since I’m so far behind this year, I will share some team gear projects from previous seasons, including garments made (but not by me!) for Georgia Bulldog and Clemson Tiger fans.
Kennedy’s all-Dawg outfit is smocked with bulldogs. Don’t you love her hairbow and sandals?
Fan gear is not just for Game Day. Kennedy wore this to graduation when her mama was awarded her Ph.D. diploma from the University of Georgia. She is the same Dr. Mama who stitched this Clemson dress for a friend.
The pillowcase dress style is great for team gear.
In the South, football weather can be scorching. It’s important to be comfortable as well as stylish.
For away games, we gather around the tv to cheer our team. Then the dress code is more casual. Laurel wears a simple tee and a Gator cap as she steps out to our front porch at half time.
She is a little more grown up now and prefers more trendy outfits.
Paired with blue shorts, this cotton vest was cool for hot daytime games.
And of course, now she needs a purse–a Gator purse.
It’s not just children who deserve special Game Day gear. This sweet hometown Gator Girl always joined us for tailgating.
Our tail-Gator aprons were a big hit.
She asked for an apron, so I made one for each of our 5 tail-Gator cooks.
I love this design from Embroidery Library.
This F on the apron and the colors were modified to make it more Florida specific.
It’s time to get new team gear stitched for the grands. Have you stitched anything that shows your team allegiance? ~~~
I like these commandments. Go Gators!
10 Commandments of College Football Fandom
- 1. Thou shalt wear team colors. But think twice before adorning yourself with body paint–you don’t want to be the Internet photo that goes viral.
- 2. Thou shalt know—and sing–your team’s fight song from beginning to end. Sure, you can “watermelon watermelon†your way through the alma mater, but not memorizing the fight song is a fan failure.
- 3. Thou shalt keep your language clean (unless of course, the quarterback fumbles on 4th and goal).
- 4. Thou shalt support the coach. Even when his calls are questionable.
- 5. Thou shalt be respectful to visiting teams. Remember: Southern ladies and gentlemen never boo. JSF NOTE: Sadly, this commandment seems to be disregarded at most SEC games.
- 6. Thou shalt set up a tailgate no fewer than three hours before kickoff (six if it’s a night game). JSF NOTE: WHAT!?$%!??? We must arrive at Norman Field in Gainesville no later than 8 a.m. for a 3:00 game, no later than 10 a.m. for a 7:00 kickoff. Otherwise, we have to set up on the outskirts of town along the curb. Table linens and matching cozies are encouraged but not required.
- 7. Thou shalt theme your tailgate food around the visiting rival. Gator bites, anyone? JSF NOTE: We serve jambalaya before LSU games, ribs before Arkansas, hot dogs for Georgia, Rock Cornish game hens for South Carolina, etc.
- 8. Thou shalt stay through the 4th quarter–rain or shine. That’s what ponchos are for, y’all.
- 9. Thou shalt respect the solemnity of Game Day by planning weddings, births, and other life events around the football schedule.
- 10. Thou shalt not covet other teams bowl games, national championships, or Heisman Trophy wins. There’s always next year.
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