To me, the butterfly dresses represent a legacy spanning four generations—and hopefully many more. Both dresses began their journey as small scraps of silk fabric gifted to my mom by my grandma (my dad’s mother). At first glance, these pieces seemed too insignificant to amount to much, but my mom saw beauty in their patterns. With patience and creativity, she pieced them together to create two miniature dresses for my younger sister and me when we were three and five years old. Unfortunately, the studio photographs capturing those moments haven’t held up well over time—perhaps due to non-acid-free paper—but here we are, proudly sporting our matching outfits. I imagine these pictures were snapped shortly after our first proper haircuts!
![Image description](srcset="(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px")
After finishing the dresses, my mom decided to add a personal touch by hand-embroidering a single butterfly onto each bodice. Recently, while sharing these photos with me, she admitted that if she’d planned the design ahead, she might have placed the butterflies more symmetrically. Yet, I cherish this imperfection—it reflects how she crafted the dresses spontaneously, adapting as she went. For instance, no individual fabric scrap was large enough for the skirts, so she stitched smaller bits together before cutting them out. These aren’t flawless garments, but their quirks make them all the more special to me. (I happen to adore the off-center butterflies too!)
Clearly, these butterfly dresses were a labor of maternal devotion. The fabric originated from my grandma, eventually finding its way onto my sister and me, and later into the wardrobes of our daughters. My mom once mentioned that embroidering the butterflies marked one of her earliest attempts at needlework. Now, decades later, her skill has grown significantly. Still, perfection wasn’t the goal here. What mattered most was her pride in creating something meaningful and our joy in wearing it.
Fast forward to today, and these dresses hold even deeper significance for me. Dressing my own child in the same outfit I once wore at her age allowed me to share their story. I recounted to my daughter, S., how these dresses connected four generations, hoping she'll pass the tradition down to her own children someday. Given that there are two dresses and five sisters who’ve worn them across multiple generations, I trust this cycle will continue.
These dresses embody more than just fashion—they encapsulate family love transcending time. As a mother myself, I understand the care and affection poured into every stitch. It's this sentiment that drives my passion for sewing.
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Would you like to contribute your own Sewn Story to our series? Email your ideas to askme[@]oliverands.com.
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