sewing for children: what, exactly, is the point again?

I woke up Saturday morning with a strong desire to cut and serge this vintage Simplicity pattern. Having had great success with my last foray into jersey, I was sure I could be done within an hour. And, as we were seeing friends this weekend, of course I needed something new to wear. Really, I had NOTHING. 

Many of our friends happen to be blessed with children of various ages, one of which would be present. It has been called into question that I do not babysit them. It's true. I don't. I'm afraid of killing the children (accidentally, of course). Ruggy babysits often. But that's okay, because I sew, and I make handmade things for the children! Or at least I thought I would, until I realized it would A) cut into my sewing time and B) become useless within a week's worth of growing spurt. But, I am also realizing now that C) it's sew, or sit.

Ruggy makes us caffeine, the best espresso in town to be exact, as we ponder our Saturday morning goals.

oona: Maybe I can whip up a little apron for The Child. 

ruggy: Oh, babe you should, that'd be nice.

oona: Yeah, I can just make a little half apron from my Sew Weekly challenge, I already have the pattern and it's super easy.

ruggy: No, you should make a top half for it too, and a pocket would be great. I mean wouldn't her parents love it if she wore it at the dinner table and it was really cute and covered up her clothing so she wouldn't get messy but she'd still look pretty and hey make it ADJUSTABLE so she can grow into it you know just make the neck part longer and as she gets bigger you can let the waist out and add fabric to the bottom, YOU KNOW?

(oona blinks at ruggy. He has had too much espresso.)

So yeah, I didn't make my dress. I stomped away from the table to make a HALF apron, goddammit, but of course, ruggy's idea was stuck in my brain, and every step of the way I added another unbearably cute and totally time consuming detail. I mean, a child's apron must have pleats, bien sur. And cute trim. This is half apron stage, which took, appropriately, half an hour. Then the madness began.

I'd been saving this trim for 5 years now, I found it for a dollar a yard when I met Russell Crowe in lalaland's garment district. It's a good thing I saved it to bestow on a child whose age meant she could give a rat's ass about such details. Oh yeah, and every time I didn't get the topstitching perfectly straight, I had to rip it out. Because, you know, she would definitely notice.

Oh, wouldja look at that. A top half. And an adjustable strap. With buttons. And a nice little pleated pocket. AND ALL OF MY TRIM. I was left with like two inches when all was said and done. Yeah, you bet your ass I saved it. Maybe I'll put a ridiculously tiny bow on something adult sized.

Several hours later, I wrapped it up in some red tissue paper and presented it to The Child. 

She was quite enamored of the tissue paper.

oona: Here, Child, an apron for you! 

parents: Oh, look what auntie oona made for you!

(The Child grabs the tissue paper, holding it across her shoulders as if it were a garment.) 

child: Red.

I mean, seriously.

She did love the pocket, though.

(PS: Parents, I ADORE The Child.)