Coming Home Cap

…a little child, born yesterday,
A thing on mother’s milk and kisses fed…
~”Hymn to Mercury”  (one of the Homeric Hymns), translated from Greek by Percy Bysshe Shelley

Swiss flannel cap with antique silk grosgrain ribbon and it’s-gotta-get-better featherstitching.

This little guy was not born yesterday, but he certainly has thrived on mother’s milk and kisses.  In fact, if the amount of  milk and kisses he has received were accurately reflected in his size, he would be bigger than a four year-old.  But he is a good sized boy at 10 months and has already worn his last heirloom daygown and bonnet.

Alastair, 2 1/2 months old

I think few things are sweeter than a baby wearing a bonnet.  This cap is part of my grandson’s coming home outfit and coordinates with the blanket and daygown shown in earlier posts. 

Like those items, the cap fabric is Swiss flannel.  Made from The Old Fashioned Baby’s Baby Bonnets pattern, it is self-lined and bound with blue “fairy” Swiss batiste.

Please don’t laugh at my feather stitch. I am reeally trying hard to get better at this.

Embellishments include my diligent efforts to work a decent feather stitch, tiny pearl buttons and some luscious vintage silk grosgrain ribbon that has been hoarded and used for only the most special projects.

I’ve spent almost 30 years accumulating sewing treasures–lace,  fabrics,  handlooms and this ribbon, all deemed too precious to use for anything but the grandchildren for whom I hoped.   Now, for my three little blessings I cut into these with reckless abandon.  It’s a joy to see my treasures put to the use for which they were intended.