Category Archives: smocking

Easter Outfits from my Past

Posted on February 20, 2015 | 13 comments

Is there any more joyous occasion for sewing than Easter? It’s time to get started but instead of pulling out the lace and batiste, I find myself looking back at those confections from the past. For me, it’s not about seeking inspiration so much as it is about enjoying the memories all over again, like re-reading a very good book.

Among these outfits, there might be some inspiration for those of you who have not yet jumped into this special sewing season.

Who doesn’t love babies in daygowns?  And with a sweet big brother they are even more precious.

 

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If daygowns interest you, details are posted here Happy Easter ’13.  This post details the daygown with fagotted lace and a hand embroidered front placket

 

The next year Big Brother Alastair wore this little suit.

Another hurry-up outfit, made for my grandson Alastair.

This hurry-up Easter suit  was made for my grandson Alastair.

 

It seems like I am always in a rush to get Easter outfits finished.  This one for Alastair was no exception.

Making this dress was pure joy.  I love the Swiss handloom and laces.

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Baby’s Easter Dress, made for Vivian Rose last year. It was a modification of a dress I made for her mother 31 years ago.

 

And I love this picture of her strolling through the grass.

 

Vivian Rose, 15 months old, Easter 2014

Vivian Rose, 15 months old, Easter 2014

Continue reading →

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Posted in boys, brother-sister, girls, heirloom sewing, Holiday Projects, infant clothing, shadow work by machine, smocking

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Christmas Outfits Past Part 2

Posted on December 23, 2014 | 2 comments

I hope you have all finished your Christmas sewing.  I’ve moved on to baking and gift wrapping and hope to finish up in time for our big family celebrations.

Here are a few more Christmas outfits from the past.  These gingerbread outfits for my  two older grandchildren were favorites of mine.   A few years later, new grandson Alastair wore Robert’s suit.

 

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Ready-to-smock gingerbread outfits were paired up with a Creative Needle smocking plate.

 

One year I planned to make matching Thanksgiving outfits for the children.  The Viyella brown plaid garments were made but before I began the bibs, plans changed and the older two would not be with us that day. So I decided to use the garments for Christmas.  But that was a stretch—brown plaid for Christmas.  I made it work.

 

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Alastair’s Christmas outfit, Children’s Corner Glenn with linen bib embroidery from OESD’s Current Critters Continued.

 

Laurel’s basic yoke dress was trimmed with tatting, as was her linen bib.

 

 

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Laurel also had a tie-on bib with a Current Critters Continued design.

 

These Current Critters embroidery designs are so charming. Continue reading →

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Posted in boys, clothing, doll clothing and accessories, girls, Holiday Projects, machine embroidery, ready-to-smock finished projects, smocking

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Christmas Outfits from the Past

Posted on December 19, 2014 | Leave a comment
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Hand embroidered Sarah Howard Stone collar and velveteen dress for my daughter, 1983. It was worn a few years ago by my older granddaughter, Laurel.

 

They say time flies when you are having fun and, let me tell you, I have had a good bit of fun making holiday outfits for my children and grandchildren.  Like many of you, Christmas and Easter clothes are my favorite and most memorable projects.

 

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This collar reminds me just how hard I  tried to get the stitches just right as we drove to my brother’s house for Thanksgiving.   It was a two hour drive along bumpy back roads and I poked my fingers more than once.  But I couldn’t waste the time. As the family sat and visited after the pumpkin pie, I continued to embroider.

Who knew that 15 years later it could be done on an embroidery machine?  Who knew there would be home embroidery machines? Certainly not me.

 

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Robert and Laurel all ready for the Stetson Christmas concert. She is wearing recycled heirloom from her Aunt Rebecca’s closet.

 

A few years after the shadow work collar was made, my daughter wore a burgundy velveteen dress (just like this one) with this very puffing collar.  Then Laurel wore the collar on a new burgundy velveteen dress. Continue reading →

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Posted in boys, brother-sister, doll clothing and accessories, girls, hand embroidery, heirloom sewing, Holiday Projects, machine embroidery, ready-to-smock finished projects, smocking

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Christmas Finery for Sister and Brother

Posted on December 9, 2014 | 14 comments

2 outfits

Hurrah!  Christmas clothes for our two younger grandchildren were finished, shipped and received late last week.  Toddler Vivian Rose’s white Swiss flannel bishop has the neck and sleeve bound with in red gingham pima cotton.  Heirloom lace is hand whipped to the bias binding.

 

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The smocking design is just a simple diamond pattern that I made up as I stitched. Continue reading →

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

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Irresistible

Posted on November 20, 2014 | 4 comments

 

V store bought smocked close

Available from CiaoBebeBoutique    Now I see that it is offered in pink and with sleeves.

 

I did not make this dress.  It was ordered from CiaoBebeBoutique and I love it. When I saw it posted on Pinterest, I found it to be irresistible.

c9785395487876a52079168a280d37f4 Continue reading →

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Posted in girls, hand embroidery, Nana fun, smocking

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Novelty Bishop~A Novel Technique

Posted on October 17, 2014 | 2 comments

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This little novelty bishop and two others were loaned to a friend many years ago. I had forgotten all about them until they were returned last week. Of course, they will end up in the closet of our toddler granddaughter, Vivian Rose, though most of them will have a bit of a wait until she grows into them.

Vivi will probably be 4 or 5 before she wears this classic plaid school dress.

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Excuse the ugly section of my potting shed shown in the background. It really is nicer than that. See here.

I don’t know what happened to the Liberty bishop shown below. Continue reading →

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Posted in Basic no-embroidery Machine Projects, girls, Second Time Around, smocking, techniques

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Frilly Kindergarten Shorts Set

Posted on July 25, 2014 | 5 comments

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This is another outfit in the kindergarten wardrobe Suzanne Sawko is making for her granddaughter.   It seems to meet all the requirements of primary school wear in Florida–the outfit is cool, comfortable and allows for active play.

At the same time it satisfies a little girl’s desire for feminine clothing, as well as her Mamaw’s own desire for a pretty back-to-school wardrobe for this 5 year-old.  And what teacher wouldn’t love to see a new student in a smocked garment?  Clearly, this is a winning 2-piece set. Continue reading →

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Posted in Basic no-embroidery Machine Projects, girls, hairbows, heirloom sewing, smocking, Suzanne Sawko creations

Jo’s Summertime Temily

Posted on June 25, 2014 | 4 comments

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Is this not the ultimate summertime outfit?  Comfortable, loose fitting and colorful as the tropical fruit smocked on the front.   It goes so well with  the  Noel’s gorgeous red mane.

With Kathy Dykstra’s Temily pattern from Australian Smocking and Embroidery, Jo created an outfit as refreshing as a glass of cold orange juice on a hot July day.  The child just looks cool.  I love the contrast of the orange gingham against the pure white shirt. Continue reading →

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Posted in clothing, girls, smocking

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Classy Casual

Posted on June 22, 2014 | 17 comments
short set

made by Suzanne Sawko

Having a good sewing friend is a huge blessing.  Having one close enough for frequent lunch dates is an even greater blessing. Suzanne, my nearby sewing buddy, feeds me inspiration with every Panera bite I take.

I’d like to tell you how much I absolutely love her projects, how much I learn from her, how I am so inspired by her creativity and skill, but I won’t. Suzanne said I could only use her photos if I wouldn’t gush about them. Humph!

So, while looking over the things she has made for her 4 yo granddaughter’s fall kindergarten wardrobe feel free to gush if you must because I cannot.  Also, remember that we live in central Florida, so the styles are all appropriate for our subtropical climate.

Several other garments will be posted for your enjoyment with as little comment as possible. Can I say that I would like to copy every one of them? No, she wouldn’t want me to say that.

For the top, Suzanne began with this vintage pattern from her stash. Continue reading →

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Posted in Basic no-embroidery Machine Projects, girls, smocking

Timeless but Expendable Heirlooms

Posted on May 21, 2014 | 14 comments
Vivian Rose at nursery school

Blue bishop, 2014–Last week at nursery school, Vivian Rose was cute and comfortable.  She is wearing a bishop dress made 32 years ago for her mother, Rebecca.  True to the adage that any bishop is good for 3 sizes, this size 3 dress fits our 16 month old just fine after the hem was taken up.  And it will fit for a long time.

 

Recently, I’ve changed my thoughts and opinions about the use of heirloom/smocked garments. From this post title, it’s likely you can tell  where I now stand on the issue of packing away my lovingly stitched heirlooms.

With their almost timeless appeal and classic style, they can be worn in any fashion era.  Until recently, my plan for their future was that they be carefully packed away in acid free tissue and then be passed  down to the next baby in the family–whenever that might be.  I felt certain that the style and stitchery would still be appropriate.   Often,  that is exactly what happened, i.e. the Imperial batiste bishop dress shown above and below.

But I hadn’t expected that they would be put in service for everyday use, like at Vivian Rose’s pre-school.  There, painting, bib-free eating, and rough and tumble playground time are daily events.  And no child tumbles more roughly this little dynamo.

 

Vivian Rose's mother, Rebecca, wearing the same dress 32 years ago

Blue bishop 1982–Rebecca, Vivian Rose’s mother,  wearing the same blue bishop dress.

Continue reading →

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Posted in heirloom sewing, Opinion, Second Time Around, smocking