When love overflows you get this kind of story! A reader emailed me with a project she and her sister made for her mother during an illness.
Julie writes-
Our mother, ever stylish, is fully aware but unable to move much yet. Since we can't stand to see her in another hospital issued gown that looks like men's underwear, we decided to make our own. We've made zebra print with pink trim, purple and green batik, Lilly-Pulitzer inspired prints, cowboy print, etc.
My little sister wanted to learn how to sew and I am a home-ec major so we customized the gowns and have really gotten a kick out of how well our project has turned out.
The nurses get a real kick out of dressing my mother up and we love to see her in some color. Even better, you can widen the pattern for a maternity patient by using two right-sides in the back, instead of a right and a left. What a great shower gift for an expecting friend!
Some recommendations we would make for this pattern are:
-use double fold bias tape for the trim (easy and fast)
-lengthen the pattern at least 6 inches, not 3 as offered on the pattern, as it is very short for some reason.
-cut two right-sides of the pattern and skip the button in the back, using 4 pieces of grosgrain ribbon for the ties
-Use hammered in snaps, instead of Velcro on the sleeves (no sewing).
We really should send some pictures, but she's wearing all of the finished ones! We've found if you use 2 right sides, you only need about 2 1/2 yards or 2 3/4 yards for each gown. We also skipped the pocket and cardiac monitor slash in the front, because we have yet to see a nurse thread them through the front of the gown and use it.
For bedridden family members, expecting friends, or even surgery or cancer treatment (for which this pattern was designed), it is a treat to give someone something special and practical to wear while they are sick. -Julie May
I could see these fabulous gowns adorned with a flower pin like on this apron! The flower pins would also make cute gifts for the female nurses. I also thought a pocket on the inside front would be perfect for holding any monitors or drainage bags. I think Julie and her sister went the extra mile to provide their mom extra comfort. Such a caring and thoughtful idea. I am sure their mom is so proud to have such kind and loving daughters!
I LOVE this idea! Will definitely have to share it with others.
I love this! What wonderful daughters! Child sized ones would be great to make too!
What a great idea! Love these gowns as a wonderful alternative to the standard issue hospital gown.
wish i had this when i had my surgery. what they had was too small & i was too fat. but of course they were SO UGLY!! i needed pretty to make me feel better!
What a wonderful idea! I may make one for myself to wear when I give birth to the baby I’m currently expecting!
I want to see some pictures! This is way too much fun!!
I would love to have one of these for when I have to go to the hospital. Maybe I can get my grandmother to teach me how to sew better so I can make one before the baby arrives in Sept.
WOW! Talk about coincidence! Yesterday, I saw a vehicle sign for designer gowns from a local business owner (http://www.designerdeliverygowns.com). I just perused their website before I opened my email from you with this!
Perfect timing; thank you.
And, kudos for Julie for not only being creative and supportive of her mother, but making it a special family experience for the three of them to share.
That is awesome! I am pregnant and plan to have the baby at the hospital. Pictures after my last delivery were so horrible with those hospital gowns. I’m definitely going to have to get at least one of these together to roam the hospital in!! Thanks for sharing!!
How sweet would these be for donating to patients who require extended stays in the hospital? Get the girlfriends together and sew away!
What a terrific idea. Thank you so much for sharing this with your readers. Kudos to such beautiful daughters for showing their mother true love and compassion while she is recuperating. Blessings to you.
Aw, what a darling idea. This brought tears to my eyes. What a sweet, thoughtful and heartfelt gesture. Thanks for sharing.
I sure wish I would have had a couple of these when I was on bedrest with my quadruplets! What an AWESOME idea!!!!
This is so timely! Thanks for the link for both the adult size and child size.
Peace.
my story is somewhat similar. but i make hospital gowns for children. i started a little group called “project giggle gowns”. i add ruffles or appliques to the gowns and use fun fabrics to give them some spunk. it’s sad enough for a child to be a hospital, so hopefully the gowns bring many “giggles” to them. it’s VERY rewarding to be part of such a great thing!
I have a friend, currently hodspitalized with luekemia. This would be just the thing to brighten his day! I am going to make at least one of these, Maybe more. We’ll see how it goes.
I would love to see a picture of a finished gown.
That is so sweet!
So sweet. I hope my craftiness rubs off on my daughters so they’ll bond and make me pretty hospital gowns some day : )
Wonderful ~ Thank you sew much for the tips on the pattern. I’m going to jot done your note, download the pattern and sew up a blessing or two for some special people. May even get a group of young girls together and make these as community service gifts. ~ Totally inspired !!!!!
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE post pics of the final product! Especially if someone were wearing it.
This is such an AWESOME idea! Thank you so much.
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This is such a cool idea! I included it on my weekly link roundup – link to the post is under my name. Thanks so much for sharing!
I’ve been making hospital gowns for myself as well! I go to the hospital every 4 weeks for treatment and the ugly ones are just…well, ugly. I think I even have one in the same paisley blue/green material as one of your pics! ha ha!!!
And the nurses and hospital staff totally love to see all the fun, bright colors. It definitely cheers up the day for everyone, not just me. If anyone is interested in seeing a finished product, you can look at my slideshow on my AVM website.
http://sites.google.com/site/shalonsavm/pictures/glamour-gowns
Thanks so much for sharing. I am currently on bed rest (have been in and out of the hospital) and have had way too much time to think about my upcoming stay in the hospital. This would be such a fun addition to my stay! How great would those first pictures look with the baby if I had on a way cool gown : ) Thanks again!
PLEASE,
Where to find the photos of the ‘finished product’??? I’m a terribly ‘visually oriented’ person and would LOVE to see what you’ve described.
Please?
grateful for His gifts, HveHope