Baby Slip

Swiss flannel Old Fashioned Baby slip with hand embroidery—yes, I embroidered this by hand!  Here at the cabin, this quilt was the only thing I could find to use as a background.

While we at here our cabin in North Carolina, I am enjoying some uninterrupted sewing time.  This is the first project I have finished (except for buttons and buttonholes) for Grandbaby Girl #2, due around Christmas.   December weather in Florida could be 28 or 90 degrees.   So for a start, I am planning several daygowns and at least one Swiss flannel slip for cool days.

This should have been a quick and easy project, but it has taken me several days.  Once again I am actively pursing the achievement of an acceptable feather stitch.  I think I just barely made the grade this time, but it took me FOREVER!!!!  First, I had to study all my embroidery books and then go to on-line tutorials and finally YouTube demonstrations.

The problem is that I want this stitch to look good NOW!  Clearly, no amount of  extensive study and mental preparation are enough to achieve a perfect stitch.  It takes practice.  I spent more than two hours on the first 6″ before I realized that ripping it out didn’t make the next stitches any prettier.  Better, it seemed, to keep on keeping on and get the practice.   Even with uneven stitching, the effect, I think,  is pleasing—if you don’t look too closely.

The pattern is Jeannie B’s OFB Smocked Baby Clothes.

It is sweet and simple, perfect for any embellishments you might want to add.  Instead of lace edging,  a Swiss tiny embroidery was chosen because fresh out of the dryer it looks okay–but not great.  I’d like it to be user friendly.

I’m still undecided about the embroidery shown on the pattern at the front neckline.   Even soft pastel embroidery might shadow  through an unsmocked yoke, but the slip looks so much sweeter with it.  What do you think?

Did you notice the fabric under the slip?  YES!  The print I desperately needed arrived from Chadwick Heirlooms, thanks to Merry Gay who located it for me.  I reeeeally appreciate that!

Now, off I go to project #2.  I am using an old pattern for this next outfit and wonder if any of you use old patterns.   Or if you replaced them with newer ones with better directions and illustrations?   Let me know, okay?  I am curious.