Have you ever given a child a present only to see them ignore the gift and play with the wrapping?
It has happened to me and as a Mum I have seen it happen to others.
So I know that rule number one about sewing for babies or children is don’t expect them to like it. The joy is in the making.
With this in mind I set out to make my friend Imari a toy cat.
My sewing buddy Lisa cut out a paper pattern for me to work from. The pattern was by Shawna Waters.
I sewed together a collection of bright quilting blocks I had left over from various projects.
This formed my base fabric. Next I cut out front and back and two arms and legs.
As Imari is only four months old I decided to applique felt eyes instead of using buttons that might be chewed off.
I bought three enamel bells that I put in with the stuffing. I liked the idea that this cat made a bell sound.
I have to say the finished cat is very bright and unusual. The quilting fabrics come together and bounce off each other. Dingle is certainly one of a kind.
There were minor technical hitches along the way. Eventually he was finished and I couldn’t wait to hand him over.
The timing was less than ideal.
Imari was very tired, hungry and having a big yell. Her Mum told me to hand Dingle over anyway.
The two of us stared in amazement as in an instant Imari stopped crying and held out for hands for the toy.
She smiled at it with real affection then looked up at us as if to ask, “Is this mine?”
I am not making this up. It was an incredible moment of love at first sight.
I cannot tell you how amazed we all were. She just loves him.
To me this is not just a sewing story but also a sewing miracle.
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