One of my readers Maggie suggested making Sonya something out of Daddy’s old clothes to help her feel connected to him while he’s away. That was a wonderful and well-timed suggestion! After weeks of waiting for a part to arrive, I just picked up my sewing machine from the repair shop! It works just like new!

Sonya has been really happy about wearing this Imke shirt all day! It’s made from two of Daddy’s repurposed T-shirts. [He's seen wearing one of them here].

Sonya sat next to me while I was sewing, bouncing up and down in her chair, intermittently clapping her hands as I did the shoulder seams, attached the neck band, put in the sleeves, and closed up the sides. She wanted to put it on immediately! Finishing the hems was absolutely out of the question.

It was a really easy and quick pattern to make, even though I had to rip a few seams because I kept forgetting one of the fundamental rules of sewing— RIGHT SIDES TOGETHER! Nonetheless, the end result looks pretty professional— except I need a serger to finish the edges with a polished overlock stitch.

“I want to make another one Mom! With Daddy’s Iron Man!” Sonya said. She was referring to Daddy’s favorite t-shirt, with a silver foil-printed Iron Man on it.

Don’t worry, Big D. I told her no. But then she threw this curveball—

“Maybe Leena need a Daddy Iron Man shirt?”

True. Leena does need an Imke shirt so she can be wrapped in Daddy’s love, too. We’ll do more cutting and sewing tonight. We’ll try to stick with worn-out old athletic shirts, though. They’re really soft, and despite many washes, they have the added bonus of retaining traces of Daddy’s scent.

“I smell him, Mom!” Sonya said, pulling the fabric to her face and taking in a deep breath.

This is our first project out of the colorful book Sewing Clothes Kids Love. It certainly delivered on the title’s promise!