Once again, one of Mama Kat’s workshop prompts struck a chord with me this week:
1.) What comes to mind when you think of the word ‘plaid’?
The word “plaid” immediately takes me back to the dresses I wore in elementary school. (Just a note to all you young folks: girls weren’t allowed to wear slacks to school back then.) This is my third grade school picture.
All my dresses were made by my Mama on her old Singer treadle sewing machine.
But something else comes to mind when I think of “plaid”: doll dresses that Mama also made on that old Singer. This is my Chatty Cathy, sporting a dress that Mama made. Cathy isn’t too chatty these days.
When I first began writing this post, I thought Cathy’s dress was made of the same plaid fabric as mine. We definitely have the same little white Peter Pan collar going on. After a closer look, though, I believe these are two different fabrics.
But I’m guessing that I probably had a dress made out of that plaid, too.
Linking up to Mama’s Kat’s
these days of mine 
Good morning! The sewing machine took me back to the days of sitting on the floor at my nana’s pushing the foot and making it go up and down. And then watching my own son do the same on visits. Thanks for the memory.
I have some similar photos somewhere…me in plaid dresses. Must be why I don’t wear anything plaid these days! This sure brought back memories! My mom made all my clothes too…
Ah yes….plaid….whatever happened to it? The Scots keep up the plaid thing but you just don’t see plaids the way we USED to see them “way back when”…..love the photos Dianna – AND the memories!
Pam (and Sam)
Seems like plaid was the favorite at that time. And when you were really small, little rosebud patterns showed up in a lot of your dresses!
My sister had a “Chatty Cathy” doll and my cousin had one called “Saucy” who made faces .. winks, scowls, you name it. I gasped when I saw her dress b/c I thought it was the same fabric, too.
Cute picture of you “back in the day”
MJ
Love this! Your photo is just too cute. And I love the look of that old sewing machine…simply gorgeous. They just don’t make things that look as charming as that anymore, huh? Thanks for sharing your plaid story!
Third grade was a pivotal plaid year for me too. Scary what they let us out of the house in, isn’t it?
My sister has Chatty Cathy now. I took CC to our doll hospital to spruce her up a bit, and then sent her to her for her birthday a few years ago.
I remember our neighbors went to catholic school and were always seen in plaid.
I would have absolutely been over the moon to have a doll with the same clothes as me. I LOVED my dolls and my clothes so that would have been heaven on earth for little girl self.
Chatty Cathy may not be chatty anymore but she sure does look like she’s still in great shape still!
My mother didn’t sew but my Grandma (my Polish Babci) did. Babci liked very feminine dresses, so I was happy. She had the same treadle machine your mother had. When my mother bought me something – it was usually plaid. I hated plaid. Give me Babci’s pink lace-trimmed ruffles anyday.
I have a school picture with me wearing a plaid dress with a white collar that Mother probably made. So many things in common! And what a beautiful photo in the Daily Press today. Congratulations!
Your post today brought back memories, Dianna! I also wore a lot of plaid to school while growing up. But my mother never made us clothes. My father was the one who was a whiz at the sewing machine!
i went to catholic grade school – red plaid jumpers with white blouses only. 🙂
I remember those school days when we could only wear dresses or skirts. My mother made most of my clothes, too. Mine were mostly floral prints and a few plaids. I don’t wear too much of either patterns these days, it must be because of those early years of wearing it all the time. 🙂 I have a quilt my grandmother made out of a lot of the scraps from the material she used.
I like plaid … and I can see the resemblance in clothing with you and ‘CC’ !!
Ok. I had a chatty cathy. And word plaid. But I was the one doing the sewing in my house…from about the 5th grade on I made most of my own clothes. Which did NOT gain me entrance into the cool kids club. Alas. That is an amazing sewing machine ~ just beautiful. It mesmerizes me!
Plaid dresses were a staple for school in our day. And you know what? I still like plaid fabric. Your 3rd grade picture was so cute and I found myself thinking that if you and I had gone to the same school, we would have been friends then too. Maybe I would have been allowed to play with your Chatty Cathy doll since I was never fortunate enough to have one.
The word plaid sends me to Scotland and the coat of arms of the clans. Kilts had a distinct plaid color and pattern that represented each clan.
I would imagine so, Dianna. That’s how things were at our house, too. Nothing was wasted. Dad had to buy enough matching feed bags so Mom could make something out if them.
My mother had a base very much the same as that one though her machine was not nearly as beautiful. She made many items on it including our braiding material (mane rolls) for the show horses and some of the stall decorations. This post brought back many memories, thank you!
~d.
Hey, I had a few dresses of this vintage too! My mom and my grandmother were both handy with sewing and most of my clothes growing up (dresses, like you!) were sewn by one of them. I didn’t get that talent, don’t sew, and I don’t often wear dresses these days. As I think about it, I don’t have much plaid in my life either! Fun post! ~ Sheila
You were the original ‘American Girl’ – matching your doll clothes and your own. How adorable.
I had to wear a uniform to school and skirt, blouse and blazer was the rule(Catholic school). I remember my Chatty Cathy, I made her chat till she was broke.. 🙂 I don’t own one plaid thing right now and haven’t for awhile. I do remember wearing a plaid wool skirt to football games.
I to have a school picture in a plaid dress somewhere, taken at Surry Elem.
I had forgot all about that.