NEW..Year, Beginnings, & OFB Daygown

“Whether we want them or not, the New Year will bring new challenges; whether we seize them or not, the New Year will bring new opportunities.  ~Michael Josephson

January, 2013,  a time of beginnings.  We awaited the drop of the big ball with a  a fabulous, fun-filled New Year’s Eve with our son and his family.  They brought along Apollo, their 100 lb.  German Shepherd and it was a time of happy chaos here at our house.

We watched football, ate goodies, had a bonfire with s’mores, then fireworks.  Robert and Laurel found a farewell letter from Peter Elf and said their goodbyes to him.  Laurel, the little businesswoman, had bags to embroider so she got that done.  New Year’s Day was more of the same, except for the bonfire and fireworks.

As the above quote states, the new year brings new opportunities.  Our overdue granddaughter has still not made her appearance and I’m seizing this nail biting opportunity to sew more baby clothes.  The challenges he predicts will come in their own good time.

Ready to begin!  Yellow Imperial broadcloth, Vintage Swiss petit point handloom, French lace, entredeux and OFB Baby’s First Daygown pattern.

Thank goodness, I’m finally well and healthy enough to hold a newborn any day now.  I don’t know if it was all hot tea or the fresh-off-the-tree citrus I consumed, or maybe all  the naps.  But thankfully, I’m back in the sewing room.

Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.  Ralph Waldo Emerson

This Old Fashioned Baby pattern has been high on my to-do list since it came out a few months ago.  All of Jeannie B.’s patterns have excellent directions and this one is touted as quick and beautiful.    And if there is anything this Nana-come-lately needs, it’s quick and beautiful.

Several compromises were made in my effort to make this a modern project for old fashioned Nanas.  My daughter, Rebecca, loves heirloom clothes but wants and needs some easy care garments for this little one.  So I have chosen yellow Imperial broadcloth.  Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know she said she didn’t care what colors I choose.  She said any shade of pink is fine—light pink, dark pink, medium pink, peachy pink, orchid pink….  You  get the picture.

But if I am already tired of sewing nothing but pink, that little mama will grow weary of Baby’s monotone wardrobe even sooner.

Yellow was chosen because I have been so eager to use some of this gorgeous, unusual, and probably vintage Swiss handloom.  My dear friend Mildred Turner gave it to me about 25 years ago and it wasn’t new then.  The tiny petit point pattern is worked in colors that were considered rather bright for heirloom at that time.  I love it!  Rebecca is fond of brighter colors so I think she will like this, even though it is not pink.

The yellow was also chosen because it is  the same fabric as  the ruffled diaper cover made earlier.

I’ve already pressed the tissue paper pattern pieces and found delightful little bits of encouragement, Scripture, and tips printed on the blank space.  This is a really sweet addition to the pattern, like sewing with a friend at your elbow.  Following Jeannie B.’s lead, I’m tucking a few New Year’s quotes in this post.

“Your success and happiness lies in you. Resolve to keep happy, and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties.”       Helen Keller

As I plundered through my stash of fabric, lace and patterns, I found myself strolling down memory lane.  When Rebecca was about 9, we were stretched out on my bed looking through my newly purchased  French Handsewing for Infants, Sarah Howard Stone’s spectacular second book.  We both were mesmerized with the beautiful garments.

I commented, “When you have your babies, Rebecca, I will make these for them.”

“No, Mama,” she replied.  “I will make  them for my babies.”

Well, that’s not happening.   So it’s up to me to dress my daughter’s babies in heirloom clothing.

Which is what I am doing.  I’m off to cut out this precious  pattern, Baby’s First Daygown.  I’ll  report back on just how quickly this sweet little dress goes together.

I’m a little bit older, a little bit wider, a little bit rounder, but still none the wiser.  Robert Paul