Category Archives: girls

Liberty Tana Lawn Sundress

Posted on June 29, 2011 | 11 comments

 

This is my handwork project for our “vacation” time here in the mountains.  I have two antique, crocheted child sized yokes, one of which will be joined to the smocked Liberty of London skirt.  When Laurel arrives in a few days, she will try them on to see which fits best.

I’m considering adding two little smocked pouch pockets and edging them with bits of crochet I have at home.  Many, many years ago, in the SAGA newsletters, Florence Roberson’s pattern for such a pocket was published.  I will pull that out if I decide to include the pockets. Continue reading →

11 Comments

Posted in antique textiles, girls, smocking

Brother Bishop & ME Design

Posted on June 26, 2011 | 64 comments

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Do you have a favorite project with which you are completely satisfied?  This  size 3 bishop dress is one of only a  few that fall in that category for me.    It was a pleasure to make and if I were to do it again, I wouldn’t change a thing.

 

 

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Made of cotton batiste, the dress and shoulder ruffle are blue while the neck binding, sleeves and Madeira applique’ hem are champagne colored. The smocked sleeves and shoulder ruffle are trimmed with champagne French  lace.

 

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Pin stitch, feather stitch, and machine embroidered flowerettes further embellish the sleeves, shoulder ruffle and hem.

 

Continue reading →

64 Comments

Posted in girls, heirloom sewing, machine embroidery, Madeira applique, smocking, techniques

Independence Celebration Duds

Posted on June 20, 2011 | 2 comments

 

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Making holiday outfits for the grandchildren is always fun.  They look forward to having special clothes and I look forward to seeing them wearing the things I have made.  Some holidays, such as Christmas and Easter,  require an investment of far more time and materials than this summer celebration of independence and Americana.  Right now, quick and easy is what I like.

Robert and Laurel are all set for this year’s festivities in  their matching shirts.  Alastair’s shirt has the same design.  If all three are  together for the Fourth, they will enjoy being part of a set.

 

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Continue reading →

2 Comments

Posted in boys, brother-sister, girls, hairbows, Holiday Projects, machine embroidery

Ladybug~Fill in the Blank

Posted on May 31, 2011 | 1 comment

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This is the photo on www.allaboutblanks.com website.

This is the photo on www.allaboutblanks.com website.

 

It comes in pink or white in sizes 12 months to 6. Continue reading →

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Posted in girls, linen blanks, machine embroidery, White Wednesday

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Courtney’s First Communion Dress

Posted on May 27, 2011 | 8 comments

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Sewing for children and grandchildren is a true labor of love.  But like birthing a baby, some labors are longer and harder than others.  Always though, the resulting product is worth the effort.

 

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First communion dresses rank right up there with christening gowns in the expenditure  of labor and love. With the able assistance of her mother, Wanda Stewart, the ensemble that Judy Day created  for her granddaughter Courtney is the result of months of stitching as well as proof positive of  immeasurable grandmotherly love.

The set grew to include so many items—dress, slip, purse, garment bag, hanger, headpiece and Bible cover.  The many interesting and intricate details will require more than one post, so please come back for the final installment.  Each piece is exquisite, so you won’t want to miss any of it.  Continue reading →

8 Comments

Posted in antique textiles, girls, heirloom sewing, Judy Day's creations, machine embroidery, smocking, uncategorized

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Bishop Neckline Treatment

Posted on May 12, 2011 | 4 comments

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Often when talking with students, I find the discussion turns to frustration with applying bias binding to a bishop neckline.  I think the secret to success is practice, but I have experimented with an alternate finish that might be helpful to some.

I’ve always been partial to nightgowns for girls’ sleepwear and the bishop is my personal style of choice. Rebecca wore smocked bishop nighties until she went to college, so I had already come up with some time saving techniques.  By employing  them occasionally, I was able to keep Rebecca’s nightgown drawer well stocked.   Of course, some of the classic styling is lost, but still, a smocked nightgown is a smocked nightgown.  Continue reading →

4 Comments

Posted in girls, heirloom sewing, smocking

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Compromises

Posted on May 9, 2011 | 6 comments

I’ve read that it’s so dry in Texas that the Baptists are starting to baptize by sprinkling, the Methodists are using wet-wipes, the Presbyterians are giving out rain-checks and the Catholics are praying for the wine to turn back into water.   

 

jammie set

 

So often, life is about compromises and lately, as I sit in my sewing room, my sewing has been all about that.

As mentioned in the previous post, my first grandchild, Laurel,  just celebrated her 7th birthday.  I made a black and hot pink cake that was “out of my comfort zone.”  Rightly so, I denied my personal preference for pastels and flowers in deference to the birthday girl’s choice.   Because I wanted to make her cake I compromised–and revelled in her delight when I delivered it.

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Easing back into my comfort zone, I made these pajamas for the slumber party portion of the festivities.  The basic pattern is from Martha Pullen’s Sleepwear Especially for You.  Continue reading →

6 Comments

Posted in doll clothing and accessories, girls, machine embroidery

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Out of My Comfort Zone

Posted on May 7, 2011 | Leave a comment

Tonight was Laurel’s 7th birthday party.  It was a big girl affair, not the American Girl party she talked about a few months ago.  Instead, she wanted it to be a “dance” party. Sigh…..

The ham bone in the purple leggings is Laurel, now 7.

In September, she added jazz to her ballet and tap dance classes.  Her cautious mother, Shelly,  made certain that this program would be done in good taste and age appropriate and it was.  Now, her favorite colors are red and black (NO!!!!  Those are Georgia Bulldog colors and she is a Gator Girl!!!!). She tells me that those are “jazz” colors.   She suddenly seems to be very grown up.

Continue reading →

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Posted in girls, Nana fun

Smocked Sister Easter Dresses

Posted on May 4, 2011 | 21 comments

 

What a tender pose!

What a tender pose!

 

A few weeks ago as I worked feverishly on Laurel’s Tea Dress, I asked readers to share pictures of their Easter creations.  Jenny Jo, who lives on the prairies of Nebraska, graciously shared these photos.  I was enchanted. 

Her daughters look like Celtic lasses just returned from strolling in the highland heather and the dresses perpetuate the image.  As a matter of fact, I think I heard bagpipe music as I viewed the photos!

I’ve been reading a lot of Scottish historical novels and these little darlings, with their porcelain skin and tumbling auburn curls, look just like the well loved “bairns” (babies or children) described in these books.  Continue reading →

21 Comments

Posted in girls, hairbows, Holiday Projects, smocking

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Fish Dress

Posted on April 30, 2011 | 2 comments

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Two year old Alastair has been with us for 3 days now and was joined yesterday by Robert and Laurel.  Our home has been like a combination circus/amusement park.  There are happenings in all three rings and someone always waiting in line for fun or food.  It all ends tomorrow afternoon when Alastair’s parents return from their trip to New England.

Bob and I will be wistfully sorry to see the children go, but at the same time welcome the standard quiet and serenity of our home.  One of the first things I will do is sew, which is like my reset button.

Often, the quickest way to reset is to embroider a “blank.”  I like to keep some on hand for times like this when I need a quick sewing fix.  Tee shirts are handy, useful and always appreciated by my sweet grandsons, but girlie projects suit me best.  Amid last week’s hustle and bustle I stole a few moments to customize this little knit popover frock.  It was  just enough for me to get over my hump and back on track for other things I needed to do, but really didn’t want to do.  Continue reading →

2 Comments

Posted in embroidery blanks, girls, machine embroidery