Dorcas Sewing Event

Acts 9:36-42 NIV
 
In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good and helping the poor. [37] About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. 

[38] Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, “Please come at once!” [39] Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them. 

[40] Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. [41] He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive. [42] This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord. 

 Our preacher’s wife (Azle Church of Christ)  took on a project to make pillowcase dresses for girls in Zambia.  I suggested we have a group of ladies come to the church for a sewing session, with some ladies sewing, some ironing, some marking fabrics. That way all could participate even if they did not sew.

It was a very well attended event with 19 ladies coming and most with sewing machines. We completed 36 dresses and already had made at total of 17. We had hoped to make 50 total and have already exceeded that number. There are many more in the works that ladies took home to finish. These will be sent off in May to California for our preacher's brother to deliver on a mission trip over there.

 

 

It was a fun fellowship time and enjoyed by all, with such a great feeling of accomplishment.

My DH took lots of great pictures of our event to show our brethren and for us to remember what we accomplished.

 

Some dresses were made to be cut out with a pattern and others using the pattern from the internet. There were a few of us who had already made one or the other type of dress so we could instruct others and answer any questions they had.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Even some of the youngsters took part. The little man with the iron did a great job!
 

 

 

I wish I had pictures of all of the beautiful dresses made – perhaps I can get some later but here are the ones I made and pictures of our Dorcas ladies event.

All the ones I made.

Made 2 of this one.

Made 2 different sizes of this one.

Made 2 of this one.

I had never made a pillowcase dress before but my DD  http://momsbaggage.wordpress.com/, told me about a pattern online from Nancy's Notions, with four different sizes. It is very easy to make and takes very little fabric or supplies.  One pattern uses elastic in the top but I like the one with the ties better.