Christening Gown Season!

Once again it is that time of year when we seem to be either Christening or dedicating those new babies! When I did custom sewing years ago, Christening gowns were always my favorite project. They can either be plain or fancy and on occasion I even reproduced a gown that had been in the family for generations and was to fragile to wear again! Maybe you have been working and planning that special gown for months or maybe it has just occurred to you that you better get busy now! Pattern #112 might be just what you are looking for. The gown is a simple design and is not overloaded with lace or complicated techniques. The pattern has clear instructions for those new to heirloom sewing and the Shadow Embroidered cross and Feather Stitching are both quick and easy. This gown can easily be completed in a weekend! I always recommend that the gowns be made from the best 100% cotton, linen, or silk fabric that you can afford. Also be sure to use 100% cotton lace and thread. You want your gown to last for generations and we are discovering that only natural fibers pass the test of time.

Spring Flowers

I'm ready for it to be warm enough to plant spring flowers! While I wait, this little dress filled the need to play with flowers. The dress was made by pattern #130, using white pique and green cotton for the border. I eliminated the hem of the dress when cutting it out, then cut a border out of the green fabric the depth that I though looked good. The border was then sewn to the bottom of the dress using a basic Madeira technique. I pulled out colorful cotton prints for the neck bindings, yo-yo flowers, and covered buttons for the centers. Then I discovered that it was going the take a trip to the local quilting store to refresh my memory for making the flowers! I never mind a trip anywhere when there is fabric involved! Once I decided where to place the flowers on the dress it was just a matter of attaching the rickrack by hand with DMC floss. It was such a fun and simple little dress to make and I loved getting to pick out the different fabrics!

Bullion Stitched Bunny

This little boy's bubble, featured in Sew Beautiful magazine several years ago, will always be one of my favorites! Because of the classic style and simplicity of the pattern, #102 Pleated Bubble has remained one of my most popular patterns. The outfit is made from pale blue Imperial Broadcloth and the collar is trimmed with purchased white tatting which was stitched on by hand. The instructions for the bullion stitched bunny and the feather stitching are in the Heirloom Embroidery Book. The bunny is stitched with three strands of DMC floss and for the feather stitch I used one strand of floss. Always use a millner's needle for the bullion stitch for the best results. It is a fun stitch to master and is suitable for all types of garments.

First Day of Spring!

Today is the first day of Spring and it is time to begin thinking of Easter baskets and bunnies! This classic little boy's outfit can be made from pattern #113 Toddler Romper or #133 Baby Romper, and is a style that I enjoyed making for my own boys when they were small. For the fabric I chose yellow pique and white imperial batiste to give it a fresh spring look. The Easter basket and bunny designs are included in pattern #113 and in the Heirloom Embroidery Book, along with the Shadow Embroidery instructions. If you have not tried shadow embroidery, it is a fun and easy stitch and is perfect when you need a soft look. After the collar was completed I attached the white rickrack to the edge using yellow embroidery floss and a whip stitch. Rickrack has become extremely popular again and is a great edging for the boy garments. Can't you just see this outfit on your little guy on Easter morning?

First Easter Dress

This elegant little dress is perfect for baby's first Easter. The dress is made from pattern #104 Bubble/Dress using white Swiss Nelona with an overlay made from a purchased Swiss embroidery. The simplicity of the dress makes it an easy project for the new seamstress or for those who need a quick project. The dress could be lengthened for a dedication gown and embellished with you own embroidery.

Planning for Easter

Although it still feels like winter outside, it is time to start planning your Easter sewing! The planning can be as much fun as the actual sewing and can almost take as much time, so don't delay. Only one year did I get into a big time crunch as a new mother and was putting on the buttons the night before. I vowed that would not happen again. Experience also teaches us that life can suddenly get very busy, so after that I tried to have all outfits finished several weeks ahead of time! I will update the blog for the next few weeks with ideas for Easter outfits to help you get your imaginations going. Lets start thinking bunnies, Easter egg hunts, warmer weather and flowers!

This first outfit is one that I just completed this week. It is pattern #102 Pleated Bubble and is one of my most popular patterns. Because it is such a simple pattern and goes together quickly, I often use it while teaching classes. The outfit is made from blue and white linen and is embellished with a silk ribbon bunny. The bunny was stitched with 7mm white silk ribbon and literally took about 10 minutes to complete! The bunny's body was made with five straight stitches and his head with three. His ears are made with a lazy dasy stitch and his tail is a twice wrapped French knot. I think of bunnies as simple and sweet and so is this outfit!

Sewing Classes

Once again I have just completed teaching preday classes at Martha Pullen School of Art and Fashion in Huntsville, AL. I am always excited about meeting up with old friends and making new ones, and the sewing is fun too! I love teaching beginning classes where the ladies are either new to sewing or picking an old hobby back up. Many of the ladies are about to be grandmothers or are needing a baby gift for a Spring baby, so that is why I chose this sweet bubble for one of the classes. For the Shadow Embroidery Bubble class we used pattern #126 Dedication Bubble and the duck embroidery pattern and instructions in the Heirloom Embroidery Book. The bubble was made with a plain front and the collar pattern was rounded for a Peter Pan style collar. Shadow Embroidery is an easy and fast stitch and the blanket stitch is an old standard that adds a touch of color to the collar and sleeves. One of the things that the class liked about this project was that the bubble can be totally constructed first and then the embroidery done last. For many seamstresses, this guarantees a finished garment! Several in the class made the bubble suitable for a baby girl by using the girl sleeve pattern and change the blue embroidery to pink. This may become my favorite baby gift to have on hand!