What to do with Mother’s Dresses?
April 7, 2009 by Mary Emma Allen
Filed under Home & Living
I have saved a number of my mother’s dresses, some dating back to her early marriage days (she and Father were married in 1934). I recall her wearing two of them when I was a youngster. Others are more recent, dresses worn before she was struck with Alzheimer’s.
The dresses carry memories of her and the occasions when she wore them. I even have photos of Mother in several of them.
What should I do with them? I don’t have a place to display them, so have them stored away.
- Have some preserved? I did have this done with her wedding dress, but it’s quite costly.
- Cut them and include in quilts, and hangings for family members?
- Remake them to wear myself? Or for other family members?
- Save for dressing up at family gatherings when we share family stories?
- Take photos or them and display in an album with photos of Mother wearing them? Include a swatch of the dress with the photos.
- Write about Mother and the occasions when she wore the dresses. If there are photos, include them in the book or album.
- Research the dress fabric and styles and write about these?
- Take a photo of the dress fabric, print it from my computer onto fabric and make something with it?
What would you do? Preserve the dresses in some manner? Or incorporate them into fabric art projects?
I would use them in craft projects. If you stuff them in a box somewhere, no one will ever get any use or joy from them. If you turn them into quilts or new clothes your mom will be able to bring a smile to you face every time you use, see, or wear the new item.
I think you should definitely find some practical uses for them. I mean, putting them away wouldn’t be doing them justice, but if you make…I don’t know…purses, pillows, or quilts out of the fabric, they’ll become something you can use, enjoy, and remember your mother by. Then whens someone says, “Oh my gosh where did you get that purse/pillow/whatever?” you can smile and say that you made it from one of your mother’s dresses.
And you could remake a few of them for yourself or others, if you really wanted to.
I think the most important thing is that…you keep it alive. Make it more than just another memory in a book or a box; make it something that lives on with you.