Menu
Children's / Inspiration

handmade hand-me-downs

Handmade Hand-me-downs // Megan Nielsen Mini Briar crop top with heart applique + Mini Tania culottes in linen // read full post on Design Diary

As you may recall, when i was developing my line of sewing patterns for girls I used some of my dear friends little ones as my fit models. I made them all a little something as a small thank you, and as my friend Mel was learning to sew I gave her the patterns too incase she’d like to try them.

Handmade Hand-me-downs // Megan Nielsen Mini Briar crop top with heart applique + Mini Tania culottes in linen // read full post on Design Diary
Handmade Hand-me-downs // Megan Nielsen Mini Briar crop top with heart applique + Mini Tania culottes in linen // read full post on Design Diary

Well, that dear friend has probably sewn more Mini Tania culottes than I have, it’s been a joy to see the pattern so well loved. It makes me so happy every time I’ve bumped into her at school and seen her youngest in a pair of culottes that she made with her own hands.

Handmade Hand-me-downs // Megan Nielsen Mini Briar crop top with heart applique + Mini Tania culottes in linen // read full post on Design Diary

Isn’t making things just the best?!

I’m a huge advocate of hand-me-downs and this lovely friend often passes on pieces her girls have grown out of for Birdie – we have similar taste, and I totally love it! Well the last time she sent a little bag home with me I found a gorgeous pair of linen Mini Tania culottes that she had made, as well as the gold heart Mini Briar I had made for her daughter. I swear to you, I damn near cried, it was one of the most beautiful hand-me-down moments ever.

Such a huge heart swell to see both of our handmade items, side by side, well loved and well worn and ready to be used by another little darling, my Birdie.

I often hoard the things I have made my kids, as if somehow because I made them it would be a crime to let go of them. But this whole experience has reminded me that we make things to enjoy them, to share them and to wear them. They shouldn’t be packed up. They should be passed on to be loved and used again and again and again.

Handmade Hand-me-downs // Megan Nielsen Mini Briar crop top with heart applique + Mini Tania culottes in linen // read full post on Design Diary
About Author

Meg is the Founder and Creative Director of Megan Nielsen Patterns, and is constantly dreaming up ideas for new sewing patterns and ways to make your sewing journey more enjoyable! She gets really excited about design details and is always trying to add way too many variations to our patterns.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

4 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Hélène Martin
6 years ago

What a beautiful story. You’re so right that the best way to show appreciation for a handmade item (or any, really) is to make sure it gets worn and seen!

Lynsey Welch
Lynsey Welch
6 years ago

Such a gorgeous girl, we do hand-me downs too, they are only in them for a short space of time, it’s a way of recycling.

Shawna Buckley Glover
6 years ago

It is really makes my heart sing when I see pictures of friends’ kids in the clothes that I made and had passed down!

indigotiger
6 years ago

what a sweet story! It reminded me of how many years ago I made a little woolen hooded cape for the daughter of my best friend. The cape was passed on to many different children, and eventually someone brought it back to me because they thought I had made it originally, and it needed some repairs… shortly after I refurbished it, I was able to pass it along to the all-grown-up original girl I made it for, for her own little girl to wear.