After a lot of trial and error, mistakes and re-do’s, I think I finally have the sequence and details worked out.  So here is a step-by-step spa wrap tutorial from sizing to finish that I hope will be helpful.

Materials you will need to make spa wrap. Note: my color ink cartridge ran out today. On the embroidery design template, the blue is supposed to be green.

REQUIREMENTS

• 1 bath towel (not too thick)
• black gingham 2″ x 60″
• 30″ green grosgrain ribbon 3/4-1 1/2″ wide
• 1 novelty button  (watermelon button is hidden by ribbon)
• 4″ scrap for yo-yo
• water soluble stabilizer~4″ square for yo-y0, 8×8″ to cover embroidery
• embroidery design for monogram to match button
• 10″ velcro
• 10-18″ 3/4″ elastic
• green thread for embroidery and top stitching
• black  thread for embroidery
• monofilament thread for stitching ribbon in place
• 30-36″ scrap ribbon with large safety pin

SIZING–The standard/average chest measurements below are from a chart found on-line.    If you are unable to measure your spa wrap recipient, just guestimate by age.

The only component of the wrap that requires a child-specific measurement is the elastic.  The following formula worked perfectly 9 girls, ages 5-10, none of whom were measured.  Simply deduct 12″ from the chest measurement on the chart below. Of course, if the child is larger or smaller than average, take that into account.

• Children’s sizes   1       2       3      4      5      6       6X
•     Chest”          18.5      20   20.5    21.5    22.5      23

• Girls’ sizes          7         8        10        12     14
•     Chest “           23       24      25.5      27    28.5

This works because the wrap has a 10″ overlap, closed with velcro.  This allows for a wide range of adjustments when the wrap is worn.  The other 2″ is for stretch in the elastic.  So from the chest measurement, 10″ is subtracted for velcro, and 2″ for stretch.  For example, the size 7 standard measurement is 23″.  After subtracting 12″ , the suggested elastic length is 11″.  Easy peasy.

QUICK OVERVIEW

• Fold short side hem to right side and stitch in place.
• Make casing
• Embroider monogram
• Insert elastic
• Attach velcro
• Make gingham ruffle
• Join ruffle to towel\
• Stitch grosgrain ribbon over raw edge of ruffle
• Create gingham rosette
• Make and attach yo-yo
• Sew on novelty button

DIRECTIONS

1.  Fold one short side over approximately 1″ to front, exposing hem.  Straight stitch in place with lengthened stitch, approx. L. 3.5 .  NOTE:  Decorative grosgrain ribbon will be sewn over hem so it will be held securely by that row of stitches.

Hem on short side is folded from wrong to right side of towel and stitched in place. Blue dashes indicate L. 3.5 straight stitching, which doesn't show up in photo.

2.  Reduce bulk at casing:  On right side, draw a horizontal line 2 1/2″ from top of towel.  Work zig zag stitch from top to line, about 1/4 to 1/2″ in from fold.

3.  Pick out straight stitches from top to drawn line, at the end of zig zag.  Cut away notch from above line and to zig zag stitches.  This removes bulk.

4.  Casing:  Fold top edge (long side of towel) down 1-1/2″ to right side. With green thread in needle and bobbin, work triple straight stitch very close to bottom of casing.  Repeat with edge stitch foot 1/8″ (or so) from folded edge.  NOTE:  Without triple straight stitch, the stitches bury themselves into the terry cloth and are not prominent enough to suit me.

Casing is triple straight stitched with green thread in both needle and bobbin.

5.  Embroider monogram to finish 1-1″ from folded over hem edge. Cover embroidery area with water soluble stabilizer.

Water soluble stabilizer covers embroidery area. This monogram design is from Five Star Fonts Lacy Girl Font collection.

ELASTIC AND VELCRO

6.  Draw line through casing 10″ from either short side.  This marks the beginning and end of the elastic and the beginning of the 10″ of velcro.

Mark 10" from both short ends of casing.

7.  Sew at least 12″ scrap ribbon to one end of elastic.  Attach large safety pin to this ribbon.   Sew another piece of scrap ribbon at least 20″ long to other end of elastic.

Sew scrap ribbon to each end of elastic, with large safety pin attached to short ribbon.

8.  Insert safety pin into casing and pull elastic through until it meets the drawn line at 10″.  The elastic can be felt through the terry cloth.  Pin in place and then stitch vertically, securing elastic along marked blue line.  Pull ribbon out as far as possible and cut away.  Whatever is left in the casing is of no concern.

Repeat at opposite end of casing.

Pin elastic in place then stitch securely.

9.  Stitch loop side (soft side) of 10″ velcro to wrong side of wrap, above monogram.  Butt velcro to front edge of casing, stitching close to edge.  This not only attaches the velcro but closes the casing opening.  Velcro should extend to beginning of elastic.

Stitch soft side of velcro to wrong side of wrap.

10. Stitch hook side of velcro (scratchy side) to RIGHT side at opposite end of casing.  NOTE:  After velcro is stitched down, trim off all eight sharp corners to avoid scratching tender skin.

Ruffle, Ribbon and Rosette:

11. Curve both ends of  2″ x 60″ black gingham. Finish one side with tiny shirttail hem, rolled and whipped edge or serged rolled hem, using wooly nylon to improve coverage.

Finish one side of curved gingham ruffle.

12.  Gather raw edge by serging with differential feed and lengthened stitch or by using sewing machine gathering foot. Make sure the finished gathered ruffle is longer than the short side of the towel.

Gather opposite raw edge.

13.  Beginning at bottom of wrap, butt raw edge of ruffle to folded over hem.  Stitch in place with zig zag L 2 W. 4.0.

Begin ruffle attachment at hemline with zigzag L. 2 W. 4.

14.  Stop zig zag at lower row of stitching at casing (see arrow).  Leave ruffle unattached to wrap but pinned in place.

Stop zig zag stitching at arrow, lower line of casing.

14.  Cover raw edge of ruffle and folded over hem with grosgrain ribbon.   With monofilament thread, begin straight stitching ribbon at first line of casing stitching (at arrow).  At bottom edge fold under raw edge of ribbon and continue stitching up opposite side..   This is most easily done with edge stitch foot.

Stitch ribbon over raw edge of ruffle with monofilament thread, starting at bottom of casing.

15.  Twist excess gingham ruffle form rosette.  Draw up center tight enough that raw edges will be covered by yo-yo or large button.

It may be necessary to work a row of hand stitched gathering thread. Stitch rosette in place.  NOTE: I find the easiest way to do this is to stitch free motion, with no presser foot. 

Form rosette and stitch in place.

YO-YO’S

16.  With washaway marker, trace a circle onto yo-yo fabric.  I used a spray starch can lid.    Place water soluble stabilizer on RIGHT SIDE then straight stitch on blue line.  NOTE:  The gingham used in the photo is two sided so it doesn’t matter which side the stabilizer is on.  But if you are using a fabric with right and wrong side, be sure you have the right side up.  I have made waaaaay too many yo-yo’s wrong side out to neglect stressing this.

Place water soluble stabilizer on RIGHT side of fabric. Stitch on traced line.

17. Trim 1/4″ from stitching line.  Cut slit in stabilizer.

Trim 1/4" from stitching line. Cut slit in stabilizer in order to turn right side out, like a pillow.

18.  Turn right side out.  Press.  Trim away as much stabilizer as possible in order to reduce the bulk when dclosing yo-yo up.

19.  Thread handsewing needle with a 24+ ” length of doubled thread, knotted at one end.   Take big but fairly regular stitches close to the folded edge.  Start and stop on inside of circle.

20.  Pull both thread tails and draw yo-yo up as tight as possible.  Knot but do not cut thread tails.

Draw up threads and knot but do not cut tails.

21.  Use one thread tail to hand stitch yo-yo to center of gingham rosette.  Use the the other to sew the button in place.

Finished rosette.

HURRAH!  Finished.

MISCELLANEOUS THOUGHTS

Gingham ruffle:  I just happened to have a piece of 60″ wide poly/blend seersucker gingham on hand.  The rosette was an after thought when the serger gathered ruffle was too long for the side of the wrap.  Most gingham is 45″ wide and would certainly work as the ruffle.  Then, if you still want a rosette, it could easily be made from another length of gingham.

This is the first wrap I made.  The ruffle was cut to fit the wrap so there was no excess for a rosette.   Only a button decorated the top.

This is the ric rac jelly bean font, unaltered. Very cute.

Casing and front edge:  These were folded to the right side to avoid possible irritation on my little Princess granddaughter’s delicate skin.  I’m not sure she would be unable to sleep if there were a pea under her mattress, but I’m not taking any chances with spa wraps.

Monograms:  The Lacy Girl font from Five Star Fonts was used for this wrap.  But their really darling Ric Rac Jelly Bean Font was also used on three of the wraps for the spa party.  The jelly beans were replaced with butterflies.

Instead of a yo-yo, silky rose with a black button center was used.

Yo-yo’s:  These are decorative, but were only necessary to cover the raw edges at the center of the rosette.  Both the ladybug and bowl of cherries buttons were large enough that a yo-yo was not used.

I think it is really important that basic facilities be clearly marked. At the end of this post is the story of an unfortunate incident that took place at the Asheville (NC) airport some years ago. Well placed signage would have prevented this embarassing occurence. But I digress……

After some remodeling at our church, the ladies bathroom was further removed from the Fellowship Hall.  In order to make it easier for visitors and newcomers to find their way, this note was posted inside the hall that led to the bathroom.

Now, I’m not a gal with time on her hands, not someone looking to fill up the lonely hours of my day with whatever sewing project I can wheedle into the sewing room.  But it seemed to me that we needed a more substantial sign than this paper note.

So I embroidered the sign above.  I thought the thread colors should be somewhat subdued and conservative. Actually, I embroidered two because there is a turn in the hall with a second directional paper note.

The floral corner design is from Martha Pullen’s Zundt 1 collection.  Monogram Wizard Plus provided the Curly Q font that spelled out Ladies and also provided the basic shapes for the arrow.

My Ladies signs aren’t rocket science and they won’t make the world a better place or delight a child.  But I think they are more pleasing to the eye and much more durable than those posted now.

I am also reminded that my fancy workhorse Brother Quattro can be put to use for practical purposes in addition to making elegant children’s clothing and home dec items.

Now, why do I think signage is so important?  Well, let me tell you.  I was teaching in Maggie Valley, NC, at one of Mildred Turner’s fabulous, always-sold-out Sewing in the Mountains schools.  The day before classes began, I was assigned to pick up another teacher at the Asheville airport, about an hour away.   I left late, got lost and was worried that I would arrive after the flight landed.  So I did some unconscionable speeding.

As I rushed, breathless, into the completely empty lobby, I saw that I had 6 minutes to spare!  Yippee! Time for a bathroom break!  At every ticket station was an agent who looked up as I rushed in.  I stood tall (as tall as a 5′-1/2″ lady can), took a deep breath and calmly walked into the bathroom  directly across from the first bank of ticket counters.

As I walked in, I gasped at a man, standing up, putting his equipment back in his pants.  I was outraged and announced, “You are in the wrong bathroom!”

He calmly finished his business and smiled, saying, “I don’t think so.”  Then I noticed the urinal.

As I rushed out, every agent was staring at me, grinning from ear to ear.  I ducked into the POORLY MARKED!!!  ladies room a little further down the lobby and stayed there until I heard the rush of arriving passengers.  Only then did I sneak out of the bathroom, unnoticed by the agents.

As it turned out, I was late picking up the other teacher.  But I didn’t care.

The spa wraps for American Girl dolls are finished, waiting at the home of the birthday girl for the guests to arrive.

Laurel's wrap

spa wrap for Laurel's doll

The big Spa-tacular birthday party is today so I quickly snapped a few pictures while the wraps were still in my possession.  Each guest is bringing her doll to the pampering party where they will dress in matching outfits.

Mackenie's wrap

wrap for Mackenzie's doll

I had planned to make a tiny ruffle for the doll wraps, but just ran out of time.  The black gingham ribbon was an acceptable substitute.

Kylie's spa wrap

They will also make monogrammed ponytail “button ups.” The embroidered covers I stitched will pop into my Fabric Button Cover machine from Hope Yoder.   This is a fabulous tool with so many applications.  Check out what Betty has done with hers!

This Bizzy Bee monogram design set comes with the machine. "I" for Isabelle was a poor choice as an example, but I is a really hard monogram to recognize.

Our daughter is here for Laurel’s birthday, along with her husband and 3 year old son, Alastair.  He is so much fun!  But it is hard to get anything done.  So I’ve run out of time to do some of the things I had planned.  I love spending time with this precious little guy.

His sweet, happy disposition deteriorates when he gets the news that it is time to go home and leave Nana and Granddad.

So I’ll close this short post and promise that the next one will give more details and pictures of the party and the sewing projects.

This post was included included in Freckled Laundry’s Air Your Laundry linky party–all textile entries.  Great inspiration here.

Cherries decorate Five Star Font's Lacey Girl Font "K."

I’ve just finished 9 spa wraps for my granddaughter’s Spa-tacular 8th birthday party.  These have been so much fun to make!  All the materials were on hand, except for the towels themselves and the velcro.   It was fun to match up the trims, buttons, embroidery designs and embellishments.  Using from my stash gave me a false sense of being frugal!

Two different fonts were used, both from Five Star Fonts.  Because each wrap is sized to the child, and because there were some duplicate initials, it was necessary to easily match up a child to the appropriate wrap.

Rachel is the younger "R" so her wrap is made from the rick rack jelly bean font.

Upon the arrival of the guests, there will be a lot of confusion with 9 giggly girls deciding who gets the first manicure or foot bath and changing into their spa duds.  So the younger child gets the rick rack jelly bean font.

For Laurel's rick rack monogram, the flowers were extracted from another design, but they were individual and not connected. With BuzzEdit 2 I was able to add a simple serpentine stitching line to join them together.

Of course, the jelly beans have been replaced with a small design to match the available buttons and ribbon.  I always enjoy rearranging designs with BuzzEdit2.

Alyssa is the older "A" guest. In order for the button to show up, I had to give it a background with more contrast. So I made a yo-yo.

I get carried away with the design arrangement.  The search of my design library was specifically for a butterfly in the same position as the button. I spend way too much time on things that don’t really matter!

Isabelle's wrap is decorated with bumblebees.

The font with the lacy fill is  Lacy Girl Font.  It fills a large area but isn’t stiff.  Bumblebees replace the original hearts.

This pink Plain Jane was the first wrap that was made. I hadn't realized that I would need something to cover the ends of the black gingham. So I pulled out what I had. Too bad there were no heart buttons in my stash. This is for Ava, the younger A guest.

On the pink ribbon wrap, the jelly beans were replaced with hearts.  All little girls love heart so it seemed like a good choice.

Again, a yo-yo was used as a background for Jasmine’s dragonfly button.  The shank is sizeable, so the yo-yo gave it a place to rest.  Otherwise, it would have wobbled.

Ladybugs for Mackenzie.

By the time I got to Regan’s hot pink wrap, I was out of buttons with easily matched embroidery designs.  This may be a stretch, but it works.  The flip flop button needed a yo-yo for contrast and to cover the inside of the gingham twist.

If there is any interest, I might later post the directions for this style.  I wouldn’t have thought instructions would be needed, but it took a lot of planning–and errors– to get the sequencing of each step just right.  And, of course, the techniques got better as I went along, so that the last one was the best.

Now, I’m off to start on the doll wraps.  Laurel is so excited about this party, especially the doll wraps. More on those later.

Have you made party favors for your child or grandchild? We’d love to hear about it.

I love pretty handkerchiefs.  I love the exquisite needlework, the elaborate designs, and the options they offer for re-purposing.  They can be used in so many ways–vintage handkerchiefs are like money in the bank.  But you don’t have to break the bank to get them.  Each of  these cost $1!

Of course, there is the original purpose for these beauties.  Aside from the one set aside for my own personal use, I find it is handy to always have a clean one in my purse for others.

Unlike my friend Terri Click who abhors a hankie and is always equipped with a generous supply of tissue,  many people are unprepared for the first sneeze of a new cold or an especially touching sermon.   Note to self:  use less-than-favorites for giveaways.

The label says "Made in Switzerland." The other was in an unopened envelope.

My supply is regularly replenished at estate sales or the antique shop I just visited.  Every handkerchief shown in this blog was $1.  How’s that for a deal?

This batch of colored linen was an especially happy find.  For Madeira applique’ this very fine linen is perfect. I have no qualms about cutting into unembellished linen.  And what a great assortment of 10″ squares.  It appears that these have never been used, as several still had the label identifying them as 100% linen.  The pink one with a row of hemstitching is the only odd one.

These with crochet edges are ideal for the hanky purses I make my granddaughter, Laurel.  She has allergy problems and really needs to have a hanky nearby at all times.  I’ve started making a purse to match her church dress and loading it with another hanky and her offering.

The ribbon matches the dress. Instead of swapping out the ribbon to match other dresses, I'll just make one to match each dress.

These are also great starts for doll clothes.  Recently there was a pattern on-line for a pinafore made from a handkerchief.

How fashionable is that lime green? This will be a hit with Laurel.

Colored or plaid fabric always catches my eye.

The $.69 price tag on this beautifully hand embroidered, hand hemstitched,  lavender hanky proved that this is very old.

The pink plaid with its sweet embroidery is so charming.  Do I like it especially because the design is crooked, just like the one I embroidered on Laurel’s collar?  Do I feel vindicated that even hand embroiderers get it wrong?

White hankies are always classic and usually present fine needlework.  They make really sweet collars for yoke dresses.  I spotted this interesting adult version of the handkerchief collar.

The bottom hanky has shadow embroidery in each corner. These are perfectly white, but raising the resolution to show detail has colored the shadows yellow.

It's likely that the gray crocheted edge hanky was dedicated to funeral use.

You might have noticed that this blog is waaaaay overdue for a new post.  I could wail “How Busy Am I!” but suffice it to say that with surprise out-of-town guests and trying to finish up the spa wraps for my granddaughter’s birthday party,  I’ve been tied up.

While our guests were here, I was lucky enough to find these hankies when we visited a local antique shop  I hope you have enjoyed seeing them.

This post is linked up to Faded Charm’s White Wednesday Linky Party.  There are some lovely things posted there.

Okay, so I have done a little sewing on the spa wraps for Laurel’s spa-tacular 8th birthday party next week.  But mostly, I have sewn at night. I finished the first wrap in the wee hours this morning.

Because there are 9 party guests,  I still have 8 to make.  These are not difficult, but the sequence of steps is important.  Now that I have that figured out, the  rest should go together fairly quickly. Then  10 matching doll wraps must be made.

That makes 20 white towel projects, more than enough to qualify for White Wednesday at Faded Charm.  Check out this beautiful site.

Except for the velcro and the 10 white bath towels, all the materials were on hand.  Each wrap will have a gingham ruffle, but the ribbon may be lime green or aqua or red.  This should make a dent in my ribbon stash.

Spring in Florida is always a glorious time, but with the drought and cool weather, it has come later this year.

For those readers who are gardeners, the remainder of this post is a tour of my yard and a peek at this Florida spring.

It took several years to train this jasmine to climb up the tree. Now, it climbs a few feet each year. We need to edge the driveway.

The sweet, heavy scent of the Confederate jasmine covers the wrought iron porch rail and climbs up several palm trees.  Its perfume is a constant distraction when I try to get anything accomplished in the house.

The perfume from the jasmine is just heavenly.

Bob and I often sit on the porch after dinner and enjoy the scent and the mild spring weather.  I just planted purple torenia in the little pots on the tables but they aren’t blooming yet.

My Knockout roses in the front did, indeed, knock themselves out at Easter, as seen in this photo with grandchildren Robert and Laurel.   But today they are nearly flowerless as they quietly grow the next flush of blossoms.  Now they need rose food, deadheading and more pruning.  That takes time away from sewing.

The pink roses make a 40' hedge.

Our bougainvilleas froze to the ground this winter.  They required a lot of careful pruning–they have vicious 2″ thorns– and training the canes back up against the trellis.  I doubted they would recover from the freeze, but in just 3 short months this is how it has grown!

This bougainvillea is just outside my sewing room window and at one end of the back porch.

I look out at these beauties as I stitch in my sewing room.

Another frozen bougainvillea at the other end of the back porch.

This one also froze and recovered beautifully.  Our kitchen table is just inside the window on the left.  So we look out at these when we are eating.

Tausendschon climbing rose

I love antique roses like this climbing Tausendschon.  They are disease resistant just plain tough.  There was a row of trellis above the garage fascia board for the rose to grip. But just before the rose came into full bloom, a powerful, windy storm blew it and the trellis off the roof.  It bent all the way down to the ground so I was afraid the canes would break before we got it back in place.

A birds' nest is tucked in the canes, just under the overhang.

Bob used the loader on his tractor to lift the canes up while I pulled ropes.  Then he climbed on the roof and tied to big screws he put up there. It was a little peaked looking for a day or so, but then it was just fine. But a lot of buds were lost in the collapse.

In the bed below the rose there are/were poinsettias.  I just pruned them and have the cuttings potted in the shed.  They will grow back quickly, but it surely is a barren and ugly bed now.

Bob built this for me many years ago. I love spending time there.

About two weeks after we got the climbing rose tied back up, I reached up to cut a few sprigs for use in the house.  A furious mama bird flew out of her nest and squawked at me from the Surinam cherry hedge nearby.  Didn’t she pick a lovely spot for her home?

Little Gem Magnolia tree

When this Little Gem Magnolia tree was planted 6 years ago, it came just to the top of the breakfast porch screen.  It has really grown.

Magnolia flower are so lovely.

We transplanted a little magnolia that sprouted below the mother tree.  The 12″  seedling is doing well and has a new leaf bud.

The side yard still needs a lot of work.  The white Mandevilla that climbed over the arch froze so we have replaced that.  Fortunately, it grows quickly.  I love the glossy leaves and white flowers against the black iron. The one on the left is coming back, but it is spindly.

I’ve still got to plant the pots on the tables with white impatiens and plant some around the oak tree behind the chairs.  The children loved to swing here but the seat is too short and their legs are too long.  Bob has to shorten the ropes.

Usually, the planters on the walkway between the garage and the wash house are filled with coleus.  But this year the garden shops didn’t have the colors I wanted so I am trying caladiums.

They were leggy when I planted them, but the new growth is standing up nicely.

My daughter gave me this orchid almost 5 years ago and it has never bloomed.  Suddenly, this spring, it sprouted four flower shoots, from 3-5′ long!  The tiny yellow orchids are just gorgeous.

The next time we have guests, I am going to put it in a more prominent place, where it can be seen more easily.

Then there are the gloriosa lilies and white bleeding hearts, passion vine  and so much more.  But I’m sure you’ve had more than your fill and are ready to get off this cyber tour bus.

This post is an effort to explain why the blog posts have been behind schedule.  My spade will soon be put down and the needle will be picked up.   Then I’ll be holed up in the sewing room for the summer, just like a bear hibernates in the winter.

I hope you are having a beautiful spring in your area.

gloriosa lilies

This little garden cherub has been playing in the 4 o'clocks and needs a good scrub.

 

Her 8 year-old granddaughters are just 3 months apart in age.  Making gorgeous, matching birthday dresses, along with gorgeous matching doll dresses and hairbows is an annual challenge for their long-distance grandmother. Of course, there are also matching Christmas and Easter dresses.  If you haven’t seen Judy’s lovely creations, click on Judy Day’s Creations  in the menu on the right.

As happens so often, Creative Needle  magazine provided the inspiration for the birthday dresses.  Judy told me that the Sept./Oct. 2001 issue had been waiting its turn on her cutting table since before the girls were born.  That’s where she stacks “I definitely want to make that!” ideas.

In this issue, Carol Harris had created her interpretation of an antique garment.  According to Judy, the instructions on marking and making the tucks were excellent.  Carol used Swiss voile, but because the girls’ birthdays are in the winter, Judy used Swiss flannel.

For the same reason, Judy made her sleeves 3/4 length rather than short puff sleeves.  In order to accommodate more tucks, she cut a deeper yoke.

My favorite feature is the back bodice with its embroidered buttons.  She opted for button loops rather than button holes, which would have interrupted the pattern. By using only every 3rd  loop, Judy managed to position the buttons in perfect alignment with the embroidered flowers.  Notice that the top buttons, above the tucks are not embroidered.    Details like these make Judy’s projects exceptional.

Before the birthday frocks were in the mail,  the girls’ Easter dresses were well underway.  Knowing what a short time we have to sew for our granddaughters, Judy doesn’t miss a single opportunity.  And as she says, with two granddaughters and two American Girls dolls, she always sews X4.

I know that Jo, Donna and Beckie have all sewn multiple matching outfits. Do you get tired of them before you have finished the second?  Have any other readers made matching garments?

After spending the morning at the nearby wildlife refuge, grandchildren Robert and Laurel ( two uppermost tree climbers, striped shirt girl and tow head boy), stopped by with their friends and mothers.  I’m telling you, grandchildren are SO MUCH FUN!!!

After a quick lunch which their mothers had packed,  the first activity was decorating cupcakes I had baked for their dessert.  It was just like Cupcake Wars on tv!

With bags of buttercream frosting, tubs of sprinkles, cans of whipped cream and bowls of chocolate chips and mini marshmallows, they had all the fixin’s for prize winning cupcakes.  Laurel’s design philosophy is “too much is seldom enough.”

Brett was of the same persuasion.  How can more not be better?

They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

As the ultimate Gator fan, Robert showered his cupcake with orange colored sugar, sprinkled a restrained amount nonpariels and  added a side of whipped cream.

Ultimately, they declared a 6 way tie and ate the spoils of the cupcake war.

Then they were off for a golf cart ride.

After touring the yard and checking out the tree house along the way , Granddad took them into the “forest” across the street, which has a short bike path.  Robert and Laurel have always called out the imaginary animals as they spot them lurking in the forest/jungle.  They’ve “seen” purple hippos, yellow elephants, pink giraffes, green gorillas, striped alligators and more.

When they returned from the wilderness, I asked what they had seen.   The descriptions were vivid.  But 5 year old Matthew said nothing.  When I asked him if he saw any pink monkeys, he replied, wide-eyed, disappointed and clearly confused, “I didn’t see ANY animals!”  An honest kid like that has no future in politics.

They played in the tree house, enjoying treats and juice boxes from the snack box stored up there and then climbed the big cedar tree in the front yard.  I am not a great photographer–not even a mediocre one, but I love these pictures.  Laurel, at the top of the tree was cut out of most shots.   Little Matthew on the bottom branch was cut out of some and looking away in others.  So this is the best I have.

When they left to go home, Bob and I just grinned at them and then at one another, equally thankful to be involved in these precious, busy little lives.  We were thankful that they live close enough to visit often.  We were thankful that they are so happy and healthy.  And we were a little bit thankful that they were on their way home.  We were exhausted.

An hour with your grandchildren can make you feel young again.  Anything longer than that, and you start to age quickly.  ~Gene Perret

This is an amazing dress, an example of what I would call heirloom recycling.  Whoever made this dress embraced the “green” philosophy–or simply needed a white dress and had a pretty tablecloth.  Whatever.

On a yard sale/church bazaar Saturday outing,  a mother/daughter duo came across this dress.  Well aware of my penchant for antique textiles,  the shopping duo decided then and there to gift it to me.   What wonderful friends!  And, of course, I was delighted.

front bodice motif

Remarkable for a number of reasons, the dress is made from a beautifully stitched fine linen tablecloth.  It was not immediately obvious that the cutwork, surface embroidery and needle lace inserts were not embellishments meant for a special gown.

My first clue that this was a tablecloth was when I discovered the embroidery at the neckline, under the bodice overlay.  Hmmmmmmm….no reason to embroider there.

It is pieced together so artfully that the placement of the designs and the needle lace seem well planned for a dress.  The skirt was cut so that the cutwork lines up at the side seams.  The unusual sleeve style incorporates a corner of the cloth.

sleeve motif

At the upcoming mother-daughter church luncheon, a display of vintage wedding gowns and dresses will be featured.  So I pulled out the dress and proceeded to launder it.  That’s when I discovered the embroidery at the neckline and the non-standard skirt attachment.

Close examination convinced me that the cutwork and embroidery were done by someone other than the seamstress who constructed this garment.  There is a noticeable disparity between the workmanship of the handwork and the construction.

This is most noticeable with lace attachment.  It is simply straight stitched onto what appears to be a machine rolled and whipped edge at the hem and sleeve edges.

However, on  the front and back yoke overlays, which are lined, it is very nicely hand stitched.

The color has been edited to show stitches joining lace to overlay.

It seems to me that the short opening at the center back would make it very difficult to put the dress on.  But it’s likely that the seamstress/designer didn’t want break the horizontal line of the lace on the overlay.

Of course, I wonder for what special occasion was the dress made?  It could have been a confirmation or graduation dress.  It even could have been a wedding dress.  Whatever.

Scarlet O’Hara would have found this a welcome, comfortable change from her velvet drapery dress.

Click here to view the embedded video.

In the previous post, Pin Stitch…What’s it all about? basic information was given about fabric, needle, thread, foot and fabric preparation.  There was more, because pin stitch is one of my favorite techniques.  And my writing style can be summarized as why-say-in-a-sentence-what-could-be-said-in-a-paragraph?  But I bet you already knew that.

This is part II with how-to details and applications for this classic stitch.  I hope it is more useful than boring.

NITTY GRITTY HOW TO–After reading all this background  and materials preparation info, you are probably wondering  HOW DO YOU DO IT????  Finally, we get down to it.

Lace edging is pin stitched to the sleeve of a shadow smocked dress, as detailed a few posts ago.

Pin stitch is almost always connecting one thing to another, like lace to fabric on the sleeve to this shadow smocked dress or the angel blanket above.

Often it joins fabric to fabric as you see on the hem of American Girl doll Molly’s lace tape nightgown.

Or in the case of Madeira applique’, shaped fabric to fabric.  I like to have my lace or applique’ fabric in place before I begin pin stitching, which is what was done in preparation for securing the hem of this linen Madeira applique’ baby pillow with pin stitch.  In the same manner, the hem on the Brother bishop dress  below was prepared.

For Madeira applique’, I machine baste the crisply starched applique’ fabric in place 1/4-3/8″ away from the folded edge, with fine thread and a #60 needle, so as not to leave noticeable holes in the applique’ piece.

Step #1...Of course, you would not use black thread. Use thread to match the lace.

For lace edging, step #1…I prefer to place the lace on top of the fabric with decorative edge even with the raw edge.  With #80 wt. thread in the color of the lace, straight stitch in the header of the lace, securing it to the fabric.

Step #2 Fabric under lace has been pressed up away from lace edge.

Step #2~ the fabric that lies under the lace is pressed away from the edge.  This renders a lace edge straight stitched to a folded edge.  The pin stitch is worked with the forward/backward stitches in the fabric.  Stitching over the fold makes the lace attachment more secure.

Then, with a wing or sharp needle and fine thread that matches the lace color, the stitch settings are rehearsed on a scrap.  The goal is for the “reach” stitch, the horizontal one on the diagram, to reach over the lace header.  The forward/backward stitches should be close to the header.  As it stitches, the needle penetrates two layers of fabric and then one layer of lace.  As mentioned before, a good starting point is W. 2.5 and L. 2.5.

If there are any puckers, reduce needle tension a little.  If the appearance is still not satisfactory, place a length of Stitch & Ditch under the piece.

Step #3...pin stitch is worked over the folded fabric edge

Step #3~the pin stitch is worked over the fold.  Notice that the straight stitch is covered by the reach of the pin stitch.  Worked in thread to match the lace, this line of straight stitch disappears into the header.

Step #4..folded excess fabric is trimmed away. Of course, this would be much prettier with ecru thread.

Step #4…finally, the fabric that has been pressed up from under the lace, toward the foundation fabric, must be trimmed away.  I have greatest success with the curved snips for machine embroidery.

After that, I usually run my fingernail along the trimmed edge to bring up any stray threads, which I snip away.

 lace insertion

Step #1...straight stitch in each header. Of course, you would not use black thread. Use thread to match the lace.

For lace insertion, step #1 is to place it flat against the fabric and straight stitch in each of the headers.

Step #2...expose lace by pressing fabric away from lace.

Step #2…  slit the fabric under the lace, down the center, parallel to the straight stitching. Then the fabric is pressed away from the center, exposing the lace.

Step #3 ..work pin stitch through fold.

Step #3…the pin stitch is worked over the fold, with the reach into the lace.

Step #5 the fabric is trimmed away. Of course, this would be done on both sides of the lace.

Step #5…finally, just as with lace edging, the folded back fabric is trimmed close to the pin stitching.

NOTE:  Remember to do a sample first.  Then, if there are any puckers, reduce needle tension a little.  If the appearance is still not satisfactory, place a length of Stitch & Ditch under the piece.

Please leave a comment if you have any questions.

APPLICATIONS:

1.  As already shown, most often, pin stitch is used to join lace to fabric, either an edging on collars, handkerchiefs or blankets, as shown on Alastair’s butterfly blanket.

or insertion, as used on Laurel’s ’10 Easter dress.

2.  It can be used to hold tucks in place.  This technique was used on my Laurel’s  first birthday dress.

3.  Securing Madeira applique’ pieces is another common use for the pin stitch. I frequently use it on pillowcases, such as this monogrammed pair, made for my daughter’s birthday.

Or on the center panel of this lady’s blouse, where the Madeira panel as well as lace tape and lace insertion are all pin stitched in place.

4. Pin stitch is a good choice for making holes for small crochet hooks.  Oh this pocket, a pin stitch was worked over the fold of the pocket top.  Then the folded fabric was trimmed away.  A crocheted edge was stitched through those neat, perfectly spaced holes.

5.  For a no-fuss edge on receiving blankets, napkins or tablecloths, pin stitch can create a unique look.  On this child’s linen tea set, the napkin and tablecloth are edged with a pin stitch worked over the fold with the reach stitch “in the air.”

On another child’s tea set, made for my granddaughter, pin stitch is used for both the finished edge and the Madeira applique’ piece.

Do you know of any other applications for the pin stitch?  Please share with us if you do.

Soon, there will be a similar post on entredeux.  For ease in comparison, clear photos will show both machine made entredeux and pin stitch on the same garment.

I hope you will check back.  Please send any suggestions for how this could have been clearer before I write the entredeux post.  Also, please let me know if these two pin stitch posts are helpful.