When we were young - Week 4: groovybaby...and mama

July 03, 2013

I am excited to have Danish blogger, Trine, from groovybaby...and mama along for When we were young today. The first creation of Trine's I found was this gorgeous dress that I pinned when I signed up with Pinterest last year. I thought the photo was advertising a pattern - so professionally photographed and well done.

Trine consistently sews great clothes for her four children (two boys and two girls) and herself. She as an edgy style and her creations are becoming widely known. I think her blog is very aptly named, as all her creations are uber groovy!! Her blog is written mostly in Danish, but can be easily translated. If you love sewing children's clothing, you are sure to be inspired by Trine!

Over to Trine....

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Where were you born/where did you spend your childhood?

I was born in a small town called Mariager in Denmark.

Who did you grow up with?

I grew up with my parents and my 2 year younger sisters.

Did you have a childhood ambition?

Many. First I wanted to be an archaeologist, then a pilot and later on a fashion designer...or simply just a billionaire.

What did you like doing when you were little?

I loved to draw - especially portraits and beautiful dresses. I also loved to read. And to play with my little sister. We've always been best friends.

Do you see any similarities between yourself and your child/children?

Oh boy oh boy oh boy - sure do!! Mostly good :-)

Where do you live now and who with?

I live with my husband and our 4 children in Denmark.

Hi there fellow sewpony readers. This is Trine from Groovybabyandmama. I've been looking forward to this post for quite some time now.

When Suz from sewpony asked me if I would be interested in participating in her little blog series When We Were Young I immediately accepted. I knew right away that I wanted to make a dress for my youngest - 6 year old Wilma. And then the best part - browsing through old photos and memories. Actually this has been a very moving experience for me. My mother passed away 4 years ago and since then I haven't really been able to look very much at my childhood photos without breaking down. But, this time I did. I've spent hours looking, remembering, crying a little and laughing a lot. My mother was very, very creative. She would knit, paint, draw and sew. She's made several matching outfits for me and my little sister (as you can see below). And later for my kids and my nieces. She was the best - and absolutely the main reason why I'm sewing today.

(Isn't my little sister just the cutest? Is it just me who wants to bite those cheeks?!)

It wasn't easy to choose which dress to make, but finally I settled for the brown flowery dress with flutter sleeves which instantly reminded of a very popular and beautiful pattern that I've used a couple of times before - the Geranium Dress.

It's the first time I've made the flutter sleeve version of the dress. Can't believe how cute these sleeves are. And Wilma thinks they are adorable and princess-ish. The fabric used for her dress is vintage linen. The original Geranium pattern looks a lot like the dress from the old photo of me and my sister - empire waist and all, but I've changed it a bit for Wilma's dress. I've made the bodice longer, added elastic to the waist and a little zipper at the back. But it still has the 70s vibe, don't you think? (Yes, the photo of me and my sister wearing the brown dresses is from 1978!)

And here she is - my blonde baby girl wearing a new dress that her 'Mommer' just as well could have sewn for me in the late 70's.