Category Archives: smocking

Vivian Rose and Her New Smocked Daygown

Posted on January 7, 2013 | 18 comments

Vivian Rose 2 hours old

 

Hurrah! Baby Girl arrived today, Monday, via C-section weighing in at 8 lbs. 7 oz., measuring 21 “.  Mother and Vivian Rose are both happy and well.  We are thrilled!

From the moment she was placed in her mother’s arms, she latched on and nursed for almost 2 hours.  Of course, it was not non-stop, but she never let her little mouth stray from the source of her contentment.  She screamed when she was moved to the opposite side and then went silent when she was in the vicinity of lunch.  So she was 2 hours old before we got a good look at her and took this photo.

Rebecca was very pleased with this pink Swiss flannel bishop daygown.

 

 

It matches the bonnet made earlier.

Continue reading →

18 Comments

Posted in baby accessories, hand embroidery, heirloom sewing, machine embroidery, Nana fun, smocking

Swiss Dot Daygown and Thankfullness

Posted on November 23, 2012 | 20 comments

Thanksgiving Day sewing

 

I hope you all had a joyful and happy Thanksgiving.  This is the first turkey day celebration in several years that both of our children and  their families were gathered around the harvest table. In order for that to happen, we scheduled our festivities for Wednesday.  That allowed for dinner with their in-laws.

It’s been a lonnnnnnng time since I’ve posted, for no other reason than busy, busy, busy-ness.  A lot of time has been spent with dear friends who are dealing with heartbreaking and life-threatening health hardships.  These continue even now.  High on our Thankful-For List is good health.  I am reminded yet again that sewing is not the most important task on my daily to-do list.  But it’s still near the top.

I have sewn a little and finally finished smocking the striped Swiss dot daygown which was started some time ago.  Just last night, I pleated up a matching bonnet so that and a pair of pink knitted booties will complete  this little outfit.

 

gown all

I have to say again that this is one of the most luscious fabrics I have ever handled.  And now I’m beginning to wonder about the fiber content, as it seems to be nearly wrinkle free.  That would be a real bonus.

 

yoke-002 xx

 

These photos have given me fits as I’ve tried to adjust them to reflect the true colors.  Trust me, the pink is as soft as baby’s cheeks and the smocking is slightly darker. Continue reading →

20 Comments

Posted in infant clothing, smocking

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Cutest Halloween Costumes

Posted on November 9, 2012 | 1 comment

Halloween has never been my favorite holiday, but I must admit I have warmed up to it since our grandchildren joined in the festivities.  Both of my children have October birthdays and each had at least two parties every year (school, family and sometimes neighborhood).  By the time Halloween came around, I was out of creative energy.  They were told to scrounge around to find whatever they could for a costume.

My three grandchildren, however, had fancy costumes that did not come from the dress-up box.  Three year-old Alastair was resplendent in his Incredibles  costume, his current favorite Super Hero.  It arrived at Nana’s house while he was here a month ago.  Thank heavens for Express Delivery!I got big points (read lots of hugs and kisses) for pulling that one off!

Alastair Incredible flexing his muscles at the office of his adoring paternal grandmother, “Oma.”   There was an office party for the children and he loved it.

His mother had to hide it after they returned home so that it would still be wearable by Halloween.  And it was.

Continue reading →

1 Comment

Posted in doll clothing and accessories, Holiday Projects, smocking

So sad and So sweet

Posted on October 31, 2012 | 5 comments

My concern and prayers are offered  for all who suffer in the path of destruction left by Hurricane Sandy. So many have lost absolutely all of their worldly possessions, and even worse, many have lost loved ones. At times like this, neighbors pitch in to help.  But Sandy’s swath of destruction is so wide that neighbors able to lend a helping hand are very far from the center of the damage.  It will be a long time until any semblance of normal is restored.

The guest room, quite unfit for guests.

In 2004, our home was badly damaged by Hurricane Charlie.  We were without power for almost a week in August, a brutally hot month in Florida.  We were miserable.  The suffering of Sandy’s victims is exacerbated by the bitter cold weather.  I encourage all readers to do what they can to help, through the Red Cross, Salvation Army and other crisis management organizations.

On a more cheerful note, in the midst of my own personal (but comparatively minimal) bronchial misery, I have started this daygown for our Christmas/New Years girl grandbaby.  So far as I’m concerned, forget about the Robitussin and Contact Cold +Flu Caplets!  Smocking is my best medicinal comfort.   It took a while to rally the energy to prepare this project for smocking but I couldn’t be more pleased with the work-in-progress results. Continue reading →

5 Comments

Posted in smocking

Daygown~Lessons Learned

Posted on October 16, 2012 | 16 comments

Liberty daygown

 

LESSON:  Haste makes waste…or dissatisfaction with a rushed project.

After my idle hospital stay, I was desperate to stitch.  But I was restricted for another week from driving or using my sewing machine, specifically from using the foot pedal.   As soon as I was home, I grabbed up the supplies for the daygown that I had planned while hospitalized and rushed to cut it out and begin smocking.

 

daygown goods

 

Pleater use was allowed, but I could not sew up the shoulder seams.  Ah, but I had heard about seamless pleating.  That should work. Continue reading →

16 Comments

Posted in infant clothing, smocking

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Pink Antique Lace Daygown

Posted on September 25, 2012 | 7 comments

ant pink lace daygown all2

 

I love antique laces.  I love the extra detail in the pattern, the unusual colors, the history of previous owners and previous uses about which I speculate while I am sewing.

I love this daygown.  I love the materials, the techniques, the details that I so enjoyed adding and the daydreams I entertained while fantasizing about grandchildren in my future.  Can you tell I love heirloom sewing?

Yet again, this is not a modern project for an old fashioned Nana.  I needed grandchildren before I realized the importance of easy care.

Through the years, I have sniffed out some incredible finds.  This lace was one of them.  At the end of this post, I will tell you about how I became the final owner of this unused, antique lace. Continue reading →

7 Comments

Posted in antique textiles, hand embroidery, heirloom sewing, infant clothing, smocking

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Smocked Diaper Shirt & Rhumba Pants

Posted on September 7, 2012 | 15 comments

shirt pants

 

One more little outfit is ready for our due-at-Christmas granddaughter.    How I LOVE making baby things!

 

pants back

 

The diaper shirt and ruffle-butt bloomers are Swiss pique, trimmed with candy pink microcheck. The ruffles were made on the serger,  finished with a 3-thread rolled edge. Continue reading →

15 Comments

Posted in heirloom sewing, infant clothing, serger, smocking

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Troublesome Diaper Shirt

Posted on August 29, 2012 | 16 comments

 

ztroublesomediapershirt1

 

 

I’m still frantically making  toddler toys for Operation Christmas Child so I haven’t had time to write up a new post.  Getting all 50 of these in-the-hoop stuffed dolls and animals out the door is my highest priority right now.   As soon as they are finished, I can get back to stitching baby girl things for our newest granddaughter, due at Christmas.  So this re-run will have to do for now.

It seems especially appropriate, since it is our daughter Rebecca’s baby we are eagerly awaiting.  Read below to see why.

This little diaper shirt will be pulled out of the special items packed away after granddaughter Laurel outgrew them.  To go with it, I’m going to make a pair bloomers with an eyelet edge.  Do you think yellow gingham or solid?

Oooh, I cannot wait to see this precious, long-awaited baby in smocked and heirloom clothing.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Babies are always more trouble than you thought – and more wonderful. Charles Osgood

Even 5 year old Laurel is well aware of the first part of this sentence.  Babies are, in her words, “a LOT of trouble!” Recently, for a homeschool social studies lesson, Continue reading →

16 Comments

Posted in hand embroidery, heirloom sewing, infant clothing, smocking

Tagged ,

Sewing in the Mountains

Posted on August 15, 2012 | 11 comments

My dear husband and I are enjoying some quiet time here at our cabin  in North Carolina.

Mountainside Cabin on Seven Devils Mountain

Now, the mountains are covered with these flowers that look like yellow black-eyed Susans.  But I don’t know what they are called. Continue reading →

11 Comments

Posted in heirloom sewing, infant clothing, smocking, uncategorized

Copper Lace Collar

Posted on July 19, 2012 | 5 comments

The redecorating of the grandchildren’s bedroom at Nana’s house is coming along. But I don’t want to break stride and thought you might enjoy reading this re-run post. Soon, I will have a new post about the projects for the children’s room. Meanwhile, let me know what you are stitching.

I love colored antique laces. Today, imported laces are rarely available in a color other than white, ecru or ivory. But vintage and antique laces came in a variety of hues and have always appealed to me. Much as I love adding unique pieces to my collection, I am loathe to use one unless the project seems worthy of the sacrifice.

coppercollarscan2

When I found this short length of copper colored lace, I knew its use would be limited. The Star of David ground identifies it as a Binche lace, the lovely pattern outlined with a cordonnet thread. Continue reading →

5 Comments

Posted in antique textiles, heirloom sewing, smocking