Category Archives: clothing

Out of Retirement Pinafore

Posted on May 2, 2010 by | 1 comment

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After a fabulous weekend with both of our son and daughter and their families, I started pulling out some of Rebecca’s dresses that have been packed away for Laurel. Sadly, many are already outgrown, as I missed the small window of opportunity to pull  them out for a second generation.  But this one is out of retirement.

 

It hurts to see the rippled yoke. I do a better job now.

It hurts to see the rippled yoke. I do a better job now.

 

The Little Sunday Dresses pinafore is just the right size for Laurel now.  Smocked with Ellen McCarn’s monogram, the skirt and shoulder ruffles are Swiss embroideries from Capitol Imports.  The bodice is Swiss batiste.

I had planned to pick out the monogram and re-smock it with Laurel’s initials. But the stitches are  just old enough (25 years) and the blue floss just dark enough that I’m afraid the color may have marked the fabric permanently. So I’m just going to leave it.

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Posted in clothing, girls, heirloom sewing, Second Time Around, smocking

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Babylock Christening Gown

Posted on May 2, 2010 by | 3 comments

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This christening gown was the main project for the Babylock school I taught at Martha Pullen’s school in Huntsville, AL, a few years ago.

The ecru and white combination has always seemed the height of elegance to me. Also, since photos had to be posted on the school web site, the ecru embroidery showed up much better than if the embroidery had been white on white.

 

bodice center

 

It seems to me that anytime Swiss batiste, imported trims and heirloom sewing techniques are combined, the result is likely to be something beautiful. In this case, the classic christening gown is a melange of Swiss batiste, French lace and entredeux.

 

full bodice

Elaborately embellished, it includes classic details such as point de Paris, Madeira appliqué, shaped French Val lace, feather stitching, pin tucks, twin needle shadow work, and delicate embroidery. Also incorporated into the gown’s design is Lace Tape, a recently rediscovered heirloom trim, applied as a shadow appliqué on the wrong side of the batiste.

 

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Posted in clothing, heirloom sewing, infant clothing, lace tape, machine embroidery, Madeira applique, techniques

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Treehouse Cafe

Posted on April 30, 2010 by | Leave a comment
If becoming a grandmother was only a matter of choice, I should advise every one of you straight away to become one. There is no fun for old people like it!~Hannah Whithall Smith
NOTE: It’s all this old English major can do to scratch out “was” and insert “were.” What ever happened to the subjunctive mood in English? But I must respect the quotation marks. See end of post…….

Today, as planned, my little homeschoolers had lunch in the treehouse. Laurel was appropriately dressed in her ladybug knit outfit (see earlier post Frog Ballet), made from an inexpensive blank set from WalMart.

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Posted in clothing, embroidery blanks, girls, machine embroidery, Nana fun

Amy’s Sundresses

Posted on April 28, 2010 by | Leave a comment

 

They say the acorn does not fall far from the tree,  and for Judy Day’s little acorn Amy, it certainly is  true.  We all hope our daughters will learn to sew and share our passion for for the art.  Amy has the passion and the talent to sew beautiful, creative things.

She took to sewing like the proverbial duck takes to water. While teaching school full time, working on her master’s degree at night and tending to her pre-school daughter, house and husband,  Amy took up sewing.  And then she ran with it.

She began with traditional sewing on a Babylock Decorators Choice, a Christmas gift from her parents and never looked back.  Now that she has an embroidery machine, she is sewing more than ever, while continuing with all her responsibilities, as well as finishing up her Ph.D. 

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Posted in clothing, girls, heirloom sewing

Sunshine on My Shoulders

Posted on April 23, 2010 by | 5 comments

 

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This spectacular sundress was made by my friend Judy for her granddaughter. The pattern, Sunshine on my Shoulders, is from Kari Mecca’s very popular book, Sewing with Whimsy. Judy, of course, varied the embellishments somewhat to suit her personal taste.

The little ladybug button, the pearls and beads she nestled into the rick rack flowers on the bodice as well as on those that hang from the rick rack bow, add to the charm of the rick rack flowers.

 

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The pattern is unfamiliar to me, but whether or not it included an embellished back yoke, Judy’s trim and cluster of flowers make the dress almost as lovely from the rear as it is from the front.

 

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Posted in clothing, girls, Judy Day's creations, machine embroidery, techniques

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Frog Ballet

Posted on April 20, 2010 by | Leave a comment

Laurel, comparing sizes with her birthday

It’s nice to have a quick and easy little project in answer to the regularly scheduled question, “Will you make me something, Nana?”

This comfortable two-piece knit outfit is just the sort of thing that Laurel likes to wear in the summer.  The skirt features three froggy ballerinas from Sew Many Designs’ (www.sewmanydesigns.com) Feelin’ Froggy applique’ collection.  The shirt is embroidered with a pair of ballet slippers hanging from a floral swag.

Machine embroidered applique’  is especially suitable for knits because the designs are usually not as stitch intensive a filled motif.  Sew Many Designs is one of my favorite sites.   Their collections cover every subject,  are cute as can be and are reasonably priced.  And  they always stitch out beautifully.

 

It is so hard to find children’s wear like this, with no embroidery or screen printing.  I bought a set in blue and red, but wish I had bought one of each color available.  Then the next time she asks me to make her something, I can whip something up in a heartbeat.

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Posted in clothing, embroidery blanks, girls, machine embroidery

Antique Pink Bullion Baby Dress

Posted on April 17, 2010 by | Leave a comment

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It seems that everyone who sews finds special joy in creating dainty baby things. I’ve made my fair share and yet I look forward to making more as I hope for yet another grandchild. Given my enthusiasm for sewing what my friend Janice Kay calls “bitty baby things,” I still cannot resist buying antique dresses when I come across a sweet one.

 

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Posted in antique textiles, hand embroidery, heirloom sewing, infant clothing

Strawberry Sundress

Posted on April 11, 2010 by | Leave a comment

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With the sweet spring weather we have had these past few weeks, I have had sundresses on my mind.  I came across pictures of this little sundress that I made for Laurel the summer that she was two.

Many such sundresses had been made for my daughter Rebecca from that age on, from a pattern that my friend Mary Hale Hoffmann and I made up.  Smocking this garment brought back sweet memories of those days.

Our daughters were the same age and we smocked around the clock for them.  This pattern was so easy and economical that our girls wore them like school uniforms.

We used the armhole curve from Katina, a Children’s Corner sundress pattern with a narrow yoke.  We added the width of the yoke to the armhole curve and voila’ we were in business!

 

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Posted in clothing, girls, machine embroidery, smocking, techniques

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Even-Steven

Posted on April 9, 2010 by | Leave a comment

Now this is a terrific modern project for an old fashioned Nana. Finding something to make for older boys is a real challenge, but these quick and easy, low maintenance pajamas are just the thing for any guys who no longer wear sleepers.  And that includes men.

Judy Day made this sleep set for her 8 year old grandson. His name is not Steven, but this was made to keep things even.  She loves heirloom sewing and smocking for his prissy little sister, but she always includes something special for Jackson. These were in his Easter package.

 

She simply purchased a pair of knit shorts and a tee shirt in colors to match the alma mater of Jackson’s maternal grandfather.  Since the boy already has more University of Tennessee Volunteers gear than most of the football team, he requested some Georgia Tech attire. I guess Judy didn’t want him going out in public in anything but UT duds.  Jackson loves them.

With our Robert now almost 5, I know it’s time for me to be looking ahead for masculine things to make. He, too, has a prissy sister and I don’t want him to feel slighted.  Of course, to his way of thinking, he’s got the better deal when he gets an embroidered Spiderman tee shirt and Laurel gets an heirloom sewn Swiss batiste dress. But the next time I make her a garment, I think he will get some Florida Gator pajamas, just to keep things even-steven.

Thanks for the inspiration, Judy!

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Posted in boys, embroidery blanks, machine embroidery, sporting gear

Cherries Jubilee

Posted on April 7, 2010 by | 1 comment

We are still enjoying a little spring weather here in Central Florida. But with temperatures in the mid 80’s, summer clothes are now standard attire.

Laurel loves her new swing dress which twirls nicely to the great satisfaction of this almost 6 year old. Lydia from Bonnie Blue Designs is a delightful pattern, quick and easy, and even includes a view with smocking. This small area for the center front is suitable for a single picture smocking motif or a simple geometric pattern, all in keeping with the ease of construction.

It can be lined and turned, leaving no more than 3″ of handwork. However, given our sub-tropical climate, I prefer to line only the bodice and put in a shirttail hem. Continue reading →

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Posted in girls, machine embroidery, techniques