sewing night.

Today was a long day in the middle of a long week and a long month.  A couple kids came over asking to play, and I agreed. I sat in the community space and pulled out a onesie I am embroidering for a friend’s baby, and started to work.

A couple kids held their interest with Angry Birds, but a couple of twelve-year-old girls looked on as I threaded my needle. It was one of those “Why not?” moments I have quite often in our lives here, and I asked if they wanted to sew, too. I got an enthusiastic yes, so I brought out a couple pieces of spare fabric I had, some embroidery thread, needles, and scissors.

At first I thought they’d embroider, so I suggested they cut out a square of fabric. Instead, they cut out shirts, holding the fabric up to them and measuring with their fingers.  And so we had a sewing night.

But two twelve-year-old girls come with little siblings, so we got louder. And with noise comes more curious children, so we grew. There were nine of us in all. It wasn’t really what I had planned while Stephen had his Burmese lesson in the other room, but they were very, very quiet for nine very loud children.

Not all the little siblings are potty trained, so disinfectants became a part of our evening.

Chit Ne Oo finished her shirt first. Though she had measured it against herself, I think she discovered as she went along that it probably wasn’t going to fit her twelve-year-old self. She called for Yuh Meh Oo, the smallest eight-year-old I’ve seen, to try it on.

That didn’t work either.

So they moved on to Awh Awh Lay, a three year old, who was obviously thrilled to be the chosen model.

It still took some combined effort to get the shirt on him, but turned out pretty adorable in the end! And pretty impressive for a quick project.

The seamstress & model.

The second shirt didn’t fit its seamstress either, but it did work for the eight-year-old! I really love the pocket she added on this one.

Again, seamstress & model.

Our sewing party expanded, and one of the boys decided to make some shorts.

He was about half way when we sent them home with a needle & thread to finish at 9pm, but I’m pretty certain these won’t be fitting him either.

Chit Ne Oo made a second shirt for her little brother, and I think this one might fit him!

A creative little purse with double buttons.

And this is probably my favorite set of photos of the night. Mwei Mwei made a shirt for herself, and was pretty determined it was going to fit. She just kept trying–

So I embroidered one small design on a baby onesie, and they managed to make four shirts, a pair of shorts, and a bag, while providing a fun night for all of us!