La Bella Donna goes to the Hospital

Pattern - Girls La Bella Donna Top & Tunic 2T - 16

Skill Level - Beginner

Fabric - l'oiseau fabrics

Skills - working with panels, snap tape

A friend whose granddaughter is undergoing cancer treatment asked me to make a special gown for the little girl to wear – something that would help lift her spirits.  I had exactly the right knit panel from l’oiseau fabrics on hand – flowers, cherubs, fawns – all things that Nana and granddaughter found special. 

Nana said that it must be easy to put on and take off.  It must be accessible for IV.  It must be loose enough for comfort, but not fall off her shoulders.  After some consultation with fellow sewist, Eleri Kieran, we decided that La Bella Donna was the perfect pattern.

I cut two fronts from the pattern (so that the gown could be worn with the open side wherever it was needed) and serged one shoulder and side seam.  Snap tape would secure the other shoulder and side seam.  I didn’t bother with the sleeve band as the idea was to keep the gown as simple as possible.

To prepare the open side for the tape, I folded back the sleeve and bottom hems and stitched them in place with my sewing machine. 

I applied the snap tape with the holes first.  I lined it up with the edge of the fabric and stitched it in place using a zipper foot stitching both sides of the tape.

I pinned the matching tape in place and stitched it just on the edge, then folded it under and stitched it down.  This hides the tape away.

A little tidying away of stray threads and trimming of raw edges and it was done.  This encourages me to think that whatever the obstacles, comfortable and beautiful clothing can be made for any situation.  And perhaps Nana’s sweet panel choice will provide a tiny bit more help for a little girl to beat back cancer.

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Love Notions Girls La Bella Donna Top and Tunic 2T - 16