Charity, DIY, Pinterest, Sewing, Sewing for a Cause

Whatcha Craftin’ ~ Pillowcase Dresses & Project Yesu

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Hello!! I have a lot in store for you today! I have been BUSY cutting, measuring, sewing and gathering the past few days and I have enjoyed every minute of it!! I tell you, give me a deadline and I can get ANYTHING done! Haha 🙂

Have you heard of Project Yesu? If you have, you know that it’s a great cause. I learned about it from a good bloggy friend, Amy at One Artsy Mama. You can view her post that inspired me to look more into the project and want to participate in it. I’ve been in contact with Mallory, the girl who founded Project Yesu, and she is so great! Also, get this, she’s 13! I thought that was amazing that she is SO young and thinking about kids in Africa! I don’t know about you, but when I was 13 I was thinking about me and only me! (Not to make myself sound like a horrible kid, but that’s how kids are, right? You would tell me if I was wrong, wouldn’t you?:) hehe)

Anyway, I’ve been in contact with Mallory and she is such a sweetheart! I asked her to write up a little blurb for this post and she was so willing to do it. Her and her mom have been so kind and helpful in this process when I have questions. So, without further ado on my part, here is Mallory:

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In 2011 I made a decision that changed my life and my family’s lives. I decided that I wanted to help Africa, and I started Project Yesu to help children in Uganda. My goals at first were simple, I had no idea how Project Yesu would grow, and how many lives would be changed. I wanted to make a difference in the lives of the children in Uganda. In 8 weeks I raised over $2,000 – I sponsored seven children, providing food, education and medical care. I also sent over 400 Christmas cards to the children. 18 months later, I have raised over $13,000. I am now sponsoring 10 children, and working with 3 organizations on the ground in Uganda. Last October I traveled to Uganda, and that just made me want to help more, to do more. I want to reach areas that are unreached, and help children that people have forgotten about. I will be traveling to Uganda again in June, and I will be in country for almost a month. To get ready for my trip I am collecting supplies for our teams on the ground, I am collecting pillowcase dresses and I also have a 100 day challenge to raise $1,000 in 100 days. My future goals for Project Yesu is to continue helping as many children as I can in Uganda. But I also want to effect children here in the United States, I want to show kids that you can make a difference, it doesn’t matter how young you are. It doesn’t have to be around the world, it can be in your neighborhood or in your school. I based Project Yesu on Mahatma Ghandi’s quote “Be the chance you want to see in the world” and that is what I am doing.

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Thanks so much Mallory for sharing your story with us! I think all that you are doing is so wonderful! And I’m so glad that I can be a part of it, if even just a small part! 🙂

You can visit her website, facebook page and twitter feed, to keep up with everything Project Yesu. You can also follow Project Yesu on instagram. Also, if you are on instagram you can post the dresses you make and a caption saying #projectyesu and anyone who is looking for project yesu stuff will find your photos! I’m new to instagram so if this is old news to you, just ignore it. I’m still learning the ins and outs of it all!

So, this week I have been working on my pillowcase dresses and even some shorts for the boys in Uganda. I have boys, so naturally, I don’t want to leave them out! 🙂

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This was the first one I made and it went a little south. LOL I was using knit and I am learning that knit is HARD to work with. I learn something new everytime I sew with it though, so that’s good. I cut the fabric too long and so instead of cutting it again to make it right, I just decided to make bigger hems. I think I over estimated because this one is really short! BUT I’m hoping it will still fit a baby (it’s supposed to be size 6 months) because they’re smaller in Uganda.

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And dress number 2. This one went A LOT smoother! 🙂 These dresses are SO easy to make! It only takes about half an hour, if that. I went to Walmart today and bought a bunch of fat quarters, which are the perfect size to make dresses for 2 and 3 year olds. I’m excited to make more of them the rest of this week!

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This is my first pair of shorts I made for the boys. I had some cotton beige fabric on hand so I decided to make 3 pairs of shorts out of the yard I had. I’ll have Tinian model them for me and post pictures later. They’re size 2T. I bought some more fabric to make shorts with while at Walmart too, so I’ll be making more of them this week also.

It makes me so happy to be sewing for these kids in Uganda!! I love sewing anyway, but this just makes it even more special! I really hope you’ll take a look at Mallory’s website and consider helping out in anyway you can! Don’t know how to sew, or don’t have the time? You can make a donation on the website or you can buy T-shirts or necklaces and braces to support the cause in the store.

If you do have time to sew and want to make a dress or two, there is a great tutorial on Sew Like My Mom. She even updated the post this year to include armhole sizes, which is SO helpful! Mallory is going to take the dresses to Uganda herself and she leaves in June so she needs to have all of the dresses and shorts by May 28th.

Well, thanks so much for stopping by! If you’re participating in this cause too, I’d love for you to leave a link to a post if you’ve done one! Have a wonderful Wednesday! 🙂

6 thoughts on “Whatcha Craftin’ ~ Pillowcase Dresses & Project Yesu

  1. I love this Meg! I think I am going to make some dresses! I will try anyways… I’m definitely going to share this post! What an awesome young woman!

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