Dress a Girl Around the World

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Threads of Hope Sewing Workshop

Posted by Cecelia Smith on February 7, 2012 at 11:05 AM

Check out our Smilebox slideshow on the Dress a Girl Around the World Facebook page.  We have received donations of fabric and use a revised pattern that do not use bias tape for the straps but rather grosgrain ribbon or straight grain strips of the matching or contrast fabric.  We received a large donation of panties that we will tuck into each pocket.  

20 of our dresses are going to the Philippines where we have a new church plant.  Our missionaries are here and will take them back when they return.

It has been a delightful journey and we are finding more women each week who want to participate by taking a kit and pouring their prayers and blessings as they sew.  We're grateful God has brought us all together.  Our group also crochets & knits beanies to send with missions teams--so far to Mongolia, Thailand, Nepal & our own neonatal unit for preemies at the hospital.

We're Blessed to Bless,

chiyo

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6 Comments

Reply Carol
01:21 AM on February 15, 2012 
I love these pictures and the slideshow! Could you explain a bit more how you made the armholes/ties? Did you just cut a 6" wide piece of fabric (the width of your fabric), then cut off 12" for pocket (a 6x12" piece) , then cut rest in half lengthwise so the straps are made out of a non-bias fabric piece that is about 3" wide x 33" (assuming you have 45" wide fabric?). Then the armhole is cut at a diagonal and turned under instead of using bias, casing is made the same, and then straps are threaded through? As you can tell, I am a visual person and I am trying to write out what I thin you mean! The bias tape is so expensive, so this would be great! Thanks, and hope you understand my ramblings!
Reply Cecelia Smith
11:14 AM on February 15, 2012 
Hi Carol,

The 6" strip is just as you said--12 inches for the pocket (folded in half right sides together and stitched on the remaining 3 sides leaving a two inch opening for turning). Trim the corners and turn right side out. I cut a diagonal wedge instead of the J armhole. After I cut the 6" strip, I cut a 1.5 inch strip from the 44" width to finish the wedge. It is enough to face all four edges (used like bias) and then turned under and topstitched about .5 inch. Because bias is so expensive and hard to match, during the workshop, I just cut strips of white for anyone who didn't have a matching strip in their kit. Everyone used white thread in the top and bobbin. Send me an e-mail at chiyos4@yahoo.com and I will send you a copy of my cutting and sewing instructions.
Sew Grateful,
chiyo (Cecelia Smith)
Reply jrlaris
02:53 PM on February 17, 2012 
How many in your group? Looks like a full house. I'm sure ours will be also on Apr. 1. Going to show my club only on Mar. 7, so they can be helpers. Family and Community Education is an international non-profit organization and we're praying all FCE members join DAG, through out the world Some could already be doing it. I just know that my Hoi'ke club, one of 12 in our Coucil, decided to present it to our Hilo Council, in Dec., and it was approved for 2012. As i was the one who had made and donated dresses in 2011, through my church, I was made chairperson. This site has truly inspired me! God has led me to All of you, and especially Destiny's child in Kona!, She came to Hilo Wed. To talk and inspire my club, like she inspired me. Jen in Hilo, Hi.
Reply Cecelia Smith
12:27 PM on February 18, 2012 
Hi Jen,

We had about 25-30 women there for the four hours that we met. Two weeks prior, our church had held a second annual ladies conference that included nearly 900 women. We had a table which showed finished dresses, publicized our event, had sign ups to bring their sewing machines, donate fabric etc. Explained the mission of Dress a Girl and so many were moved by compassion. Started passing out our kits that we had prepared with the donated fabric & sewing instructions. Those that couldn't make it to the workshop finished their kits at home and brought the dresses to church. We tried to work it out with any one who wanted to participate. I've finished four dresses this week and will be cutting many kits this weekend. Would you like a copy of our instructions? Please e-mail me at chiyos4@yahoo.com.

It's all worth the effort when you see someone become engaged into action, as they share in the mission with their circle of family and friends. Home schooling moms are making it a project with the children, and I may teach my granddaughters how to sew to make their first dress. I'm so amazed at how God opens up opportunities when I ask. The people He has brought into my life through this project has been awesome.

God is Good.
Sew Blessed,
chiyo
Reply jrlaris
10:50 AM on February 20, 2012 
Would love to have copies of instructions, as well as what you put in a kit. That's a great way to get people motivated. Have a couple of New Hope friends . Send me more on how that got started as one of our members helps with the gardening projects there and is helping me with DAG. Wouldn't it be great if New Hope got involved here too? My e-mail is
jrlinhi@hawaii.rr.com
Reply tllollar
02:12 PM on March 06, 2012 
I would also like a copy of the instructions and how you put your kits together. Our church is just now starting this. We are so excited. My email is btlollar@charter.net

Thanks!

Teresa Lollar

Hi Jen,

We had about 25-30 women there for the four hours that we met. Two weeks prior, our church had held a second annual ladies conference that included nearly 900 women. We had a table which showed finished dresses, publicized our event, had sign ups to bring their sewing machines, donate fabric etc. Explained the mission of Dress a Girl and so many were moved by compassion. Started passing out our kits that we had prepared with the donated fabric & sewing instructions. Those that couldn't make it to the workshop finished their kits at home and brought the dresses to church. We tried to work it out with any one who wanted to participate. I've finished four dresses this week and will be cutting many kits this weekend. Would you like a copy of our instructions? Please e-mail me at chiyos4@yahoo.com.

It's all worth the effort when you see someone become engaged into action, as they share in the mission with their circle of family and friends. Home schooling moms are making it a project with the children, and I may teach my granddaughters how to sew to make their first dress. I'm so amazed at how God opens up opportunities when I ask. The people He has brought into my life through this project has been awesome.

God is Good.
Sew Blessed,
chiyo
[/Cecelia Smith]