Florida weather has finally reached temperatures cool enough for Alastair to wear his pumpkin pullin’ shirt. This was made early in October, with hopes that it would be worn for the annual family outing to the pumpkin patch. But our hot blooded 2 year-old wouldn’t be comfortable in long sleeves when it is 90 degrees in the shade. Especially when he had a heavy gourd to haul.
Choosing just one was hard. So many pumpkins!
Posted in boys, Holiday Projects, machine embroidery
antique baby butterfly sacque–hand embroidered
Winter is just around the corner and it is expected to be a cold one. Wool is classic fabric for brrrrrrr season. For sewing, smocking, and hemstitching, it is divine.  For jackets, skirts, blouses, shawls, baby blankets or any winter wear, quality wool is just luscious. The possibilities are endless.
When I first learned smocking and heirloom sewing, more than 30 years ago, hemstitched, lace edged, woolen baby blankets were very popular. That was when I learned about hemstitching and attaching tatting or lace to it, and decided to learn embroidery. So long ago, so much joy and beauty to behold since then….. Continue reading
Posted in baby accessories, hand embroidery, infant clothing
UPDATE: Picture of Alastair in his Halloween bat shirt added.
There are so many darling Halloween designs for machine embroidery that I had a hard time picking out just a few for my grandchildren. Since these shirts can be worn for such a short time, I didn’t put a lot of work into them. But the embroidery is so well designed that are plenty cute for this short season of tackiness. Continue reading
Posted in boys, embroidery blanks, girls, Holiday Projects, machine embroidery
This sweet little dress has been more trouble than I ever expected.   Have you ever had a good idea, visualizing an easy re-make on an item with potential, and then been sorry you ever started? Well, that’s exactly what happened with this ivory linen size 1 frock.
Purchased on a shopping trip in Puerto Rico with June Mellinger, I thought with a simple modifications, I would love it.  WRONG!!!!
We had finished teaching at an event there and were scouring old San Juan for treasures. In that absolutely enchanting enclave, we strolled into a shop filled with linens and baby things, both machine and hand embroidered.
June went for the linen housewares and scrutinized much of the machine embroidery. She was tickled to find several items embroidered with designs featured on Brother embroidery machines. Obviously, at least one cottage industry was alive in well on this tropical island. Continue reading
Posted in infant clothing, White Wednesday
The red gingham bias binding for the armholes adds a perfect contrasting balance to the top of the dress.
Ever since learning about the Little Dresses for Africa, I’ve been intrigued by the pillowcase dresses. A ” blank canvas” sort of pattern has always appealed to me, but very few styles offer as many opportunities for creativity as does the simple pillowcase dress. The pattern is a free download.
Made by my Puerto Rican friend and former student Haydee, this sweet little ladybug delight is probably destined for a granddaughter rather than for Africa. But it certainly shows the pattern’s potential, as well as just how much punch my Puerto Rican friend Haydee can add. She is especially gifted when combining fabric and color, particularly in applique’.
Posted in girls, machine embroidery
Well loved daygowns and roses are two of my favorite things. This Bright Future climber had a 5th rose in this cluster.
At first glance, this antique daygown is sweet but offers nothing noteworthy. Upon closer examination, however, there are techniques and features that make me wish I knew more about it. I bought it on eBay for reasons I don’t remember.
One of the first things that caught my attention is the pale, pale pink smocking (probably faded with time) which appears to have been stitched without the benefit of a pleater. It seems unlikely that iron on dots were used, as the gossamer sheer fabric likely would have refused to surrender this intrusion, even after multiple launderings. Continue reading
Posted in antique textiles, antique/vintage textiles, infant clothing, smocking
Tagged antique daygown, smocked daygown
At The Swamp--my handsome son with his children Laurel and Robert, settling in before kickoff. Shelly, their mother, took the picture.
Another September Saturday, another college football game. Yeah!!! Some teams are celebrating, some looking forward to redemption next week.
After Florida’s very disappointing last season, we are celebrating the win in the first SEC game of the season:Â Florida Gators 33–Tennessee Volunteers 23.
I love the ability to combine my love of college football with my love of sewing. In an earlier post, I mentioned that I was embroidering new game day shirts for my three grandchildren. I don’t have a photo of Alastair, who lives on the other side of the state, but here are the other two.
Robert’s shirt is a repeat of last year’s model, a simple Gator Boy design.
Laurel was up for something new so I followed a new trend in college sports wear for girls and women. This style identifies the team only by name or mascot, not by team colors. Instead, pink and gray is used, usually the heather gray you see on sweatshirts or athletic tees.
This frame is built into my Brother Duetta, one of many that can be sized to fill each from from 4 x 4" to 7 x 12".
Posted in boys, girls, machine embroidery, sporting gear
back cover of book, Applique Martha’s Favorites
A request has been made to see a picture of the pattern Laurel is using for her jumper. The scan of the back cover clearly shows that this is a simple A-line dress with buttons at the shoulders.
Because it is completely lined, there are no facings or hem to turn up. It is an ideal starter project.
What concentration! She almost bit her tongue off.
The book’s availability and prices make me laugh. From Amazon new copies of the above book start at $79.95. At Amazon used books start at $23.99. Brand new from Martha Pullen Company—$14.00.
 It seems that Amazon shopperss would be wise to do a little more market research.
Posted in girls, Kids Sew, machine embroidery
With a goofy grin, Robert, 6, stands next to his birthday tree.
By now, the new school year has started for just about every child in the country. With Labor Day as the traditional opening day, our nation’s children have loaded up new book bags, sharpened new pencils and cracked open spanking new boxes of Crayolas.
It’s a big day, that first day of school. To commemorate the occasion, my three grandchildren each wore an embroidered shirt as they began the next year in their education journey.
We snapped this picture of Robert next to his birthday tree, as his birthday almost coincides with the start of school. He was so pleased to have a “cool” shirt, a real upgrade from his Backyardigans and Max and Ruby shirts of days gone by. Continue reading
three cousins at the beach
Once again I share with you an upclose and personal view of Judy Day’s delightful creations for her granddaughters. She never makes “a dress.” It’s always a complete ensemble for each of the two girls and their dolls, usually including matching hairbows for all and often coordinating flip flops.
Though the idea for rickrack smocking is not Judy’s original idea, her execution is always original and fabulous. Enjoy Judy’s chronicle of the dresses.~~~~
