I've been doing a bit more sewing for pay recently. Mostly just repairs, but a couple of months ago I was asked to make a blessing dress for a baby. A blessing dress is for an LDS baby. LDS baptize children at eight, but we still have a small tradition of introducing our child to our fellow church members by having the father give the child a blessing during our church service. It's usually the baby's first blessing from the father. A blessing is when the father places his hands on the child's head and prays for them. The prayer gives the baby's full name, and then asks for the blessings the parents want for the child in their future life, things like having God's spirit with them, finding a good person to marry, blessing the child to make good choices and have happiness in their life. It's very special and sweet. Traditionally in the US, babies are blessed in a special white outfit purchased or made for the occasion.
This little dress was made from her mother's wedding dress. I took apart the skirt and had plenty of fabric and lining to make this lovely little number. The rhinestone accent is straight off the wedding dress. Luckily they were originally sewn to a small piece of sheer fabric, so I was able to reuse them in the exact same design. They are even in the same place they were on Mommy's dress.
I'm very happy with the final outcome and it's even prettier in person. The mom is thrilled and honestly, that's the best you can hope for when sewing for someone else.
