Making a fashion comeback

by Women of the ELCA

Making a fashion comeback

It seems pillowcase dresses are making a fashion comeback. And Women of the ELCA in Waterloo, Iowa, are the initiators. An article in the Feb. 23 issue of Huffington Post lifts up the fashion design of the congregations of Our Savior’s, Redeemer and Zion Lutheran churches who aim “to make a difference in the lives of girls half way around the world.”

The dresses will be shipped to Our Savior’s Lutheran Synod’s partner church in Namibia, Africa. The goal was to complete 300 dresses, according to Jeanette Alton, one of the coordinators.

A Facebook posting about the article brought comments from other Women of the ELCA groups that are also making pillowcase dresses.

“This was our group service project last year for the Virginia Synod Women’s Organization,” wrote Helen Weaver. “Our president, Risse Snelgrove, challenged the women to make and bring 1,000 dresses to the 2014 convention. We far exceeded that number with 2,600 dresses! This year we are making duffle bags and tote bags for foster children in Virginia.”

Before pillowcase dresses were all the rage, feed sacks were hot.

“My grandmother made my clothes for me when I was a little girl out of feed sacks,” Beverly Williams wrote on Facebook. “She also made us pillowcases. This is such a great idea! Amazing the gifts we can make and give away.”

Do you have a pillowcase pattern? Share it here.