In spite of all the stitching that has gone on since my past post, going on in my sewing room I have done no blogging about it. Too many obligations, too little time, and too many projects beckoning me! But now I will begin to catch up with this first post of my earlier projects.
Christmas came and went with Bob and me celebrating alone between doses of antibiotic. Bronchitis struck again so it was a quiet time for us, but no less special. The “reason for the season” was most important.
Our 3 year old granddaughter was given a sheer, white cotton, smocked bishop with a mint green slip. This beauty was purchased on the facebook group, Smocking Destash, smocked but requiring finishing at the neck, sleeves and hemline. What a find! The pictures were taken on a rare, dark, cloudy day with scattered rain. They do not do it justice!
The mint green slip shadows through in person, but does not show so on this cloudy day.Geometric smocking is a very pale mint green floss. The plentiful bullion roses were spectacular–not stitched by me!
On the hem lace edging was joined below the pinstitched beading. To keep the mint satin ribbon from slipping, it was secured to the beading with evenly space French knots. The slip was purposely a bit longer to show off more lace edging.
Mint green Imperial batiste slip with it’s laced edged hem can also serve as a sundress.
The machine embroidery design is from Petite Poche’, (Wendy Schoen) Creating Heirlooms for Baby. The bee was added to tickle the fancy of granddaughter Beatrice, nicknamed Bea. The lace at the slip neckline peeks out above the dress neck binding. Beatrice was delighted with the addition of the bee.
I was dissatisfied with the attachment of the slip’s skirt to the lined yoke. The gathers created so much bulk that the yoke would not lie flat. This would have been less of a problem with all cotton fabric. If I were to do it again, I would reduce the skirt’s width.
Again I was reminded of the joy that comes from seeing a child in classic clothing. I’d love to see photos of your Christmas creations.
Required disclosure: I am a paid Ambassador for Brother. Not required: I really do love my Brother machines.
fil tire’ oval surrounded by pinwheel roses and greenery ~~situated above serpentine entredeux woven with threads used for leaves…5.12″ x 7.9″
The Fil Tire’ and Fancywork machine embroidery collections created by Suzanne Sawko and me have been mentioned in several posts.
There are three sets, Elements,Combinations and Frames and Phrases. The stitched samples make the post very image intensive, so each collection will be posted separately. They will appear in succession,as quickly as I can scan sew outs and write the descriptions.
A few of the free designs offered here have been from one of the three sets.I am sorry this is more tedious than the one click purchase option on other upscale sites. This is more like yard sale bargain prices, changing inventory, and limited quantities. You might be surprised at some of the unique items I have in my stash/hoard/collection!
These designs are from the Fil Tire’ and Fancywork Combinations Collection.The cost is $25 if delivered electronically or $30 + postage if delivered on a cd.
3.85″ x 2.07″ Another useful design for monograms is this design called monogram swag.The flowers look very much like hand embroidery.
For sale: Fil Tire’ and Fancywork Combinations machine embroidery collection. $25 downloaded or $30 + postage on CD. Designs require hoop sizes from 4 x 4 to 6 x 10″. This is the second of three Fil Tire’ and Fancywork collections.
6.63″ x 2.02″ ~~very sweet on a baby blanket with a monogram or name above the swag.
She was the first to digitize fil tire’ and, in my opinion, no one has ever duplicated the crisp, light, hand stitched look of her machine embroidered version of this classic hand stitching technique.
2.59″ x 0.63″~~I’ve used this on either side of a button front yoked daygown.
There are 3 collections, Elements, Combinations and Frames and Phrases. Elements has individual designs that can be combined as you choose. Many of those “elements” are included in the Combinations designs. The other two collections will be offered and displayed in another post.
3.94″ x 3.94″~~Replicated from a 1930’s boudoir pillow.
There are also designs that look very much like hand embroidery. Some were copies from antique embroideries, like this one which was featured on a ’30’s boudoir pillow. There is a single coordinating flower in the collection.
When she first told me many years ago that she was digitzing fil tire’, I might have been skeptical had I not known her. Suzanne had already digitized so many hand look stitches like chain stitch for redwork, machine embroidered French knots, lazy daisy, pinwheel rose and more that I expected she would do it and do it well.
1.69″ x 1.34″
See this design on a little quilt, “If apples were pears….”
There are 35 different designs, but 54 design files. Many identical designs are offered in two versions, like the two below. The first features web roses (shown unfinished–see the 5 legged cross at the very center of the fil tire’ and along the sides) which need some hand work, explained in the information file.
8.54″ x 5.54″ This would be pretty on a round collar or yoke.The collection includes another version of this design which includes web roses, requiring some handwork.
Other design are offered with slight variations, such as a row of entredeux with three pinwheel roses at right. It can be stitched vertically with what might be ribbons or, if stitched in green, tendrils. This same entredeux design with pinwheel roses is also offered horizontally.
1.2″ x 0.48″ The dainty, wide V design is sweet on collars or as brackets around a tiny monogram. See this design on zig zag bonnet.
3.26″ x 1.55″ If rotated, the corner below also works for a monogram or name. It was also used on the sides of a Swiss flannel baby shawl. A handkerchief corner is another place for this small design.
3.94 x 3.94″ As is, it looks sweet on a handkerchief corner or on either side of a yoke. This design was used on a set of child’s tea party linens.
3.94″ x 3.94″ I use this little floral spray frequently on baby blankets, to break up a line of feather stitching around the perimeter.
.54″ x 6.9″ floral serpentine This can be stitched continuously with a border hoop. One of my favorites in this collection is the floral serpentine. It can be connected to a continuous line around a skirt or down a blouse front.
1.56″ x 1.33″ fil tire’ oval See this on a doll dress bodice.For those of you patient enough to read through all this and still eager to sample a design, please leave your request as a comment. I will e-mail the fil tire’ oval, one of the most frequently used designs in the collection, to you.
Joanne Banko hosted me on her live YouTube show December 9 for a fun and informative tutorial on Madeira applique’. This is one of my favorite heirloom techniques.
You can watch the replay here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7Dw119fJJg&t=455s
Joanne is a dear friend of mine, who was described by another sweet friend who has never met her in person as “a genuinely warm, nice person.”
Her Friday live “Tea and Tutorials” are always a treat with various guests. Each show offers a unique sewing talent and special technique. Tune in to Joanne’s YouTube channel for entertaining and fun learning.
Getting back to Madeira applique, the video shows many of my finished projects that feature this technique and then goes on to show how-to step by step. Here are some of the projects shown, but the real meat of the video is the instructional story boards.
This little baby pillowcase was not shown, as there were time constraints. But I love this project.
I would rather have used a softer blue for the Madeira hem but for tv, I knew a darker color would show up better. The fil tire’ hearts and the swag are designs by extremely talented designer and my good friend Suanne Sawko.
This pillowcase is another project that was not included in the video. It was a birthday gift for my daughter a few years ago.
Details are included in this earlier bloghttp://www.janicefergusonsews.com/blog/2009/10/05/madeira-monogram-pillowcases/
This little bishop dress was included in the video.
It shows a traditional Madeira hem as well as a Madeira treatment on the sleeve. The sleeve didn’t show up very well on the video as with that Ipad camera I am as clumsy as a gorilla with a tatting shuttle. So prease be forgiving. Here is a close up.
That tiny rosebud at the peak of the Madeira is a free download here. It is so very useful. Just ask for it in the comment section and it will be sent to your email.
It’s time to get back to Christmas preparations. It love this joyous season. The house and tree are almost decorated (I know it’s late but I’ve been crazy busy), the staircase is lovely and my favorite holiday ornament is hanging on the front door wreath. It is an antique sleigh bell I purchased at the church bazaar 50 years ago.
With a houseful of family arriving from New Jersey, Nebraska and Lakeland, Florida, it will be a chaotic, wonderful time of love and laughter. Above all, it will be a time of celebration of the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. More on Christmas sewing later. Happy last minute holiday stitching to you!
This beloved, long-awaited baby girl will be 3 years old in a few days! In celebration of the occasion I have made her a birthday confection of batiste, lace, embroidery, feather stitches, ribbon and entredeux. As her official church Nana, I embraced this privilege.
This child is pure joy for her family and our entire church congregation. We prayed so fervently for her safe delivery into the loving arms of her adoptive parents. With her sparkling brown eyes and bouncing curls, she is all girl while at the same rough and tumble.
Beatrice romps with her big dog and both of mine (weighing 100+ lbs). She is friendly with the three family goats
and fearless with huge horses when she visits the stables. shhh..but just between you and me, she is a little frightened by teeny tree frogs!Continue reading →
Are you all set for Christmas? Cards sent, house decorated, gifts wrapped and sent, sewing finished? Congratulations if you’ve answered yes to more than one of these questions.
My cards are sent and some house decorating is done, but my greatest accomplishment is finishing my granddaughter’s Christmas dress.
The white lace dress pattern included in the latest Classic Sewing magazine was made for almost 8 yo granddaughter Vivian Rose. It is lovely but was just waaaaay too big for her. She is tiny, though her mother declared she wears a size 8 and I went with it. Big mistake. Even with the accurate and current measurements I had for her, the lace has some stretch. I should have taken that into account. The silver lining for this disappointment is that now her Christmas dress for 2021 is already finished! I’ve never been ahead of the game like this!
Here she is with the shoulder seams falling off her shoulders, with her handsome 11 yo brother. He’s had such a growth spurt that his mother just discovered that the only dark shoes that fit his newly enormous feet are his soccer cleats. So that’s what he wore for this picture. Fortunately, the shoe laces match his vest. With any luck, Amazon will deliver his new black dress shoes this week.
My two younger grandchildren in their Christmas clothes. It’s likely they will only be worn for at home Christmas dinner with grandparents in their bubble. But they will look spectacular, especially if Vivian has a monumental growth spurt or wears her soon-to-arrive Sugar Plum Fairy dress (see below).
Farmhouse Fabrics, as always, came through with the white lace fabric. I ordered a few hours after their on-line Gab and Gush featured this lace and at that time there were only 6 yards left! The ever-helpful staff matched up ribbon for the sash with the satiny rose slip fabric I chose. The hairbow, also ordered on line, was a perfect match. Of course, I ordered 3 bows hoping one would match and it did!
Vivian Rose with her beloved rescue dog, Mendel.
This dress was relatively quick and easy to make, with 4-thread serged seams and a Swiss batiste bound neckline. There was no hemming at the sleeves or on the skirt. In the Farmhouse Live video Sally suggested a crocheted thread loop at the shoulders, attached with a snap to secure the slip shoulders. That was a great tip, especially when the dress turned out to be too big. That slip would have fallen off the child’s shoulders and annoyed her all day. Another set of crocheted loops was added to the waistline for the optional ribbon sash. Continue reading →
Christmas is just around the calendar corner and it’s rush, rush, rush for me and many of you. I’ve just finished this Swiss batiste dress for Baby Beatrice.
I’ve written in earlier posts about Baby Bea, our new granddaughter via our church. Neither of her parents’ mothers is living, so months before she was born they asked me to be her official Nana. That was a happy day! And, of course, she is a doll, just now 4 months old, which for me has been at least 120 more happy days.
Her daddy is an avid hunter, especially for deer. Bea’s little daydress is a reminder NOT to shoot Bambi or his antlered father.
Like all of Jeannie B’s patterns, this one is a delight to sew and offers several design options. I love the Scriptures and embroidery designs she places in the blank space around the pattern pieces.
The shadow work fawn is from Joy Welsh’s Applique for Kids. It stitches just beautifully with her instructions. The greenery beneath the fawn was extracted from another design which I cannot recall right now.
The holly at the neckline is another design whose origin I cannot recall. I need to keep better records of what I embroider.
Classic Sewing Magazine is offering a FREE Sew-Along. I made this sweet little dress/daygown for Brother’s submission to the magazine and it is being offered to you. The instructions have been broken into 4 lessons.
Written for beginners, it also includes tips and suggestions that might be useful for experienced heirloom sewists. Techniques such as lace insertion, lace shaping, pin stitch, joining gathered lace, etc. are included.
The first two lessons have been posted so go sign up! You must be signed up to get notification of the next lessons.
I do hope you will join us. Just click on the link in the opening photo and you will be taken to the site to sign up. The sleeves on this pattern (Simplicity 8024) are just precious.
Made 11 years ago, this first birthday dress was for now 12 yo granddaughter Laurel. Of course, I still love sewing for her.
It’s birthday time for our older granddaughter, Laurel, so I’ve been spending some time reminiscing about her birth and infancy. So here is a re-run of a post about her first birthday dress.
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Laurel was our first grandchild, and a girl at that. Our son had been married for 9 years and our daughter was still a single career gal. After nearly 15 years of Granny Lust, mitigated only by gathering fabric, patterns and trims for my Grandmother’s Really Hopeful Chest, I was ready to sew as a genuine Nana.
That first year went by so quickly! Smocked daygowns and bonnets, embroidered diaper shirts and onesies, monogrammed bibs and baby Gator duds flew out of my sewing room. It seems that for almost 12 months, I did nothing but sew and snuggle that baby.
center front embroidery
As her first year drew to a close, I did manage to pull myself away from the enchanting child long enough to make her first birthday dress. Of course, it was made with my finest Swiss batiste, carved pearl buttons, treasured Maline lace and other hoarded trims. Continue reading →
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.
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.
Stitching a nightgown is always a pleasure. Often made as gifts for birthdays, holidays or bridal showers, pretty sleepwear is appreciated by ladies old and young.
This gown was made for my daughter when she was a teenager. The pattern, Mary Lydia, is an old, all time favorite of mine.
Its versatility allows you to use goods of any width. The armhole curve is placed over the finished fancyband and dips into the skirt fabric.  It is also suitable for a sundress.
SWISS HANDLOOM blue bow insertion on back yoke
SWISS HANDLOOM blue bow insertion on front yoke
Made of all Swiss goods–batiste, galoon beading, blue bow handloom insertion and edging–it is guaranteed to present sweet dreams.
This handloom is one of my all time favorites.
SWISS HANDLOOM. It is exactly like hand stitched shadow embroidery.
