When a new baby comes home from the hospital, special clothing is in order. In this day and age, knowing the baby’s gender well in advance of birth gives plenty of time to sew this outfit.
Because our first grandchild was a baby girl, the impending arrival of a grandson was very exciting. My mother had sewn very little in the years before his birth, but did have a lovely, perfectly plain white outfit she had made for a porcelain doll some years earlier. She had always meant to embellish it with hand embroidery, but dolls are patient and she just never got around to it. Would this be appropriate, she asked, for bringing her first great-grandson home? If so, would I complete the outfit with some embroidery?
So even though there was  ample time to complete a special suit for Robert’s arrival at his new home, it took very little time.
Together, we chose a machine embroidered teddy bear from Suzanne Hinshaw’s Teddies and Toys shadow work collection. It is surrounded by a featherstitch oval from Kathy Harrison’s Heirloom Collection.
The suit is a Jane Soffos pattern, Christopher’s Christening Suit. Optionally, the shirt can be smocked in the open area between the straps. It is made of white Imperial batiste. I added machine featherstitching around the cuff, collar and top of the pants.
Robert looked precious is this suit, but he wore it only one other time. Weighing exactly 10 lbs. at birth, and having a rather long body, it was too small too soon. I wish we had a picture of him wearing it.
