Sweet Baby Duds

The scallops and embroidery are a very soft pastel yellow, not nearly like the bright color that shows up on my monitor.

I’m approaching the panic mode as my new granddaughter concludes her cozy stay in utero. So few items have been sewn for her! A few smocked daygowns (Liberty of London, striped Swiss dot), a smocked white pique diaper shirt, a Swiss flannel slip, the ho-hum bassinette sheets, and the bassinette skirt.

On my cutting table sits a tall, tottering stack of fabric and patterns which I expected by now would have been stitched into an even taller stack of sweet baby garments.

So now, with less than a month to go, I have launched Plan B. rather than begin the elaborate beauties I long to stitch. This plan consists of making ruffled diaper covers to match the precious embroidered diaper shirts I bought in Puerto Rico. On one of my teaching trips to San Juan, almost 9 years ago, these shirts were purchased a few months before the arrival of my first granddaughter, Laurel.

She wore them only a few times each, as our bouncing baby girl arrived weighing 10 lbs. and they were soon outgrown. All are still in very good condition.

The linen shirt is entirely hand stitched, from the Madeira applique’ chicks to the buttonhole scallops and French seams. I really like this simple bias cut style with its almost circular hemline and seams only at the shoulder and armscyes.

The yellow is just not that bright.

Having never seen a pattern like this, I wish one of the designers like Jeannie B. or Wendy Schoen would draft one. I guess I could trace this off, but I’d rather someone else do that.

notice the pin stitch and handmade buttonholes

The shirt back was closed with what I call “utility” buttons of plastic. They were replaced with some antique colored pearl buttons on the original card that were in my button stash.

Alastair, 3 1/2, alllllllll boy!

Already the mother of 3 1/2 year old Alastair, my daughter is so ready for pink and ruffles. Early on in the pregnancy, she said she especially liked ruffle bottom diaper covers and would like enough for every day wear. Consequently, I am making them up in basic colors to match the Puerto Rican diaper shirt collection.

This diaper cover pattern is Sweet and Sassy Pull-on Diaper Cover from Martha Pullen’s book, Precious Baby Daygowns, Round Yoke Collection. I love the bias cut and the double back panel suitable for embellishment with machine embroidery, shadow work or lace ruffles. The fabric is easy care Imperial broadcloth.

The ruffles were all finished with a 3 thread rolled hem with wooly nylon in the upper and lower loopers. The look is a little too heavy for the look I was seeking.  Next time I will roll and whip by machine with 80 wt. Madeira Cotona.

So once again, to save time, I am pairing something old with something new. At least it is another outfit from Nana for little ????? (I wish they would decide on a name. I love monograms and so does Rebecca.)

P.S. I just remembered that there were a few things made when we thought Alastair would be a girl! She also has two other smocked daygowns, one in pink batiste and the other white with fagoted lace. That counts, right? Am I approaching a moderately acceptable number?