Browse Tag by Hand Embroidery
New Pattern

A New Pattern! The Infant Crossover Bubble

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Infant Crossover Bubble is now available in my Etsy Shop and at my website. This is a larger version of my Preemie Crossover Bubble, sized for older babies and it comes in sizes Newborn to 12 Months. It features Kimono Sleeves, so there are no tiny armholes to stitch around. It also opens flat for easy diaper changes. There is an asymmetrical collar that can be embellished in a number of ways. Make it fancy with some heirloom lace and hand embroidery, or make it more casual with some piping. You can also leave the collar off and add some machine embroidery. It is fully lined and needs minimal hand stitching. You can really let your imagination go and be as creative as you can be.
I’ve wanted to offer a larger version of the preemie bubble for a while now, and it’s finally available.
You can find it here at the websited under Patterns.  You can also find it, along with fabric and trims, in my Etsy Shop.
The photo above features a more casual version, with some hand embroidery.  I copied the motif on the fabric using my camera and Illustrator to make an embroidery transfer.  The little duck is finished in a simple chain stitch.  A tutorial for that will be available in the near future.
Below, I used machine embroidery on Swiss Flannel.  The design is from Mommy’s Apron Strings and it’s available from her Etsy shop here.  She features vintage style designs and they match this vintage style bubble perfectly.  Her designs stitch out beautifully.
The bubble below has some heirloom lace and Swiss Embroideries.  I used the new 100% Organice Cotton Linen Batiste with some Lavender Pique.  The fabrics are available in my Etsy shop.  The Swiss Embroidery trim and lace was from my stash, but I carry other laces that would work as well.
The fabric can be purchased here and here.
I’ve used snaps on all my version, however, the pattern testers made some wonderful versions with buttons!  I’ll be featuring their creations so stay tuned.  Subscribe for updates and sign up for my newsletter to get all the latest news.
Classic Style, Embroidery, Heirloom Sewing

The Mountmellick Stitch- New Tutorial

When my daughter asked me to make her son’s Baptism outfit, I decided to experiment with something new.  She didn’t want smocking and chose a shirt and shorts outfit with simple tucks and embroidery.  She also wanted linen which I was thrilled to hear!

I needed a “row” stitch, something that would look like a braid between the tucks, which of course were hemstitched.  I have a tutorial for that here and here.

I was drawn to the Mountmellick stitch and after experimenting I found that I could make it look like little arrowheads that could be mirror imaged between the tucks.

I made the stitch 1/8″ wide, 4 threads apart, with size 8 Perle cotton.  It’s simple and elegant.

Here’s the outfit:

 

Click here for the tutorial and have fun experimenting!

 

Classic Style, Construction, Embroidery, Forever Classic, Heirloom Sewing, SAGA, Sewing Techniques, Silk Ribbon Embroidery

Variations on Big Sister Pamela Pattern

I wanted to share my granddaughter’s Christening Gown.

 

I made it using my Big Sister Pamela pattern.  Even though it is featured as a smocked yoke dress, it can be transformed into any basic yoke dress with a few tweaks.

I wanted to make an heirloom style gown without smocking.  It was inspired by a scrap of hand embroidery I had trimmed off of Carol’s First Communion Dress.  I had just enough to fit into a yoke so Big Sister Pamela fit the bill perfectly.  This was also my first project using Nelona.  What a delight it is to work with.  It’s just so gorgeous and easy to sew and press.

First, I traced off the Yoke pattern piece and the Blocking Guide for the smocking.  I overlapped the seam allowances across the front and traced off a whole bodice piece.  Now, I had a template for laying out my  heirloom laces.  I added the V shape in the center to feature more of the embroidered piece and add some visual interest.

 

The hardest part was mitering the entredeux into the V shape.  Next time, I will just draw a separate template for the shaped seam line and hand stitch the entredeux pieces together first.  I think it would be easier to manage.

Next, the sleeves were finished with lace insertion and the hemstitch on my sewing machine. Gathered lace and entredeux are used for the armband.

 

The next big decision was concerning the skirt treatment.  I knew Carol wouldn’t want a huge skirt, so I chose a 36″ width.  I also liked that the number is divisible by 3 for the Trinity.  Then I calculated the lengths I would need for the lace band and stitched the laces together.  The ruffle is double the width of the skirt with lace insertion and pintucks on each side, with lace edging along the bottom.  I added the V shape in the middle and added seam allowances for stitching to the entredeux.

 

I also wanted to embroider a cross for the skirt and coordinate it with the embroidery on the yoke.  I tried to shadow embroider the cross but it was too large and I couldn’t get it to look nice.  So, then I tried a chain stitch.  My dear friend Lori suggested silk floss and my goodness, it was lovely to work with.  Then I used some floche for the vines and I even found some of the same white silk ribbon that I used on the original dress!  Same patina to match the roses on the yoke.  Sometimes it pays to not throw things away! LOL.   A lace insertion oval and it was complete.

 

I’m pleased with how it turned out even though my heirloom sewing skills are a little rusty.  It took almost 2 months to complete, which includes all the mistakes and Plan Bs, but it was still fun.  I think I’ll submit it to Show and Share when I go to the SAGA convention next month.

 

Happy Stitching!

 

 

 

Classic Style, Construction, Embroidery, Forever Classic, New Pattern, Quick Projects

Drawn Thread Motif

 

Hello everyone!  I’ve finally finished my tutorial for the Drawn Thread Motif.  I hope you find it helpful.  You can find it here.  It was inspired by a vintage dresser scarf that I found in an antique shop.  I love finding inspiration from vintage items.  I wrote about it here.

Check it out and give it a try.

And keep checking in for my tester call.  I’m almost ready to start the testing phase for my preemie bubble pattern, which features this motif on the collar, as well as other embellishment options.  If you are interested in testing the pattern, check back here or my Facebook page or my Instagram page.  The pattern will fit a preemie up to 5 1/2 lbs.  It’s also perfect for Reborn baby dolls.

Classic Style, Embroidery, New Pattern, Quick Projects

Playing With Threads

By | On June 06,20 | 0 Comment

Wow, it’s been a while.  Time to catch up.

I’m currently working on a new preemie pattern for boys.  This one will be a little bubble.  No smocking, but it will have a little collar and I thought a touch of Drawn Thread Work would be a perfect little touch to add.  It’s always special when a mom or grandma can stitch a little bit of her heart into something so I started doing my research.

It started with a photo…but for some insane reason I didn’t save it! Now I only have my memory of a little square design that kind of looks like Reticella work.  Very vague and enough to haunt my thoughts until I could google as much as I could and ask my dear friend Lori, who’s done much more embroidery than I. She advised that Reticella and Hardanger might be too bulky for what I had in mind and advised me to stick with Drawn Thread.

I stumbled on Mary Corbet’s wonderful website and she had a link to the Antique Pattern Library.  What a rabbit hole that can be! But I disciplined myself and stuck to my research using the Drawn Thread book by DMC on the Antique Pattern Library website.  Here is the link:

http://www.antiquepatternlibrary.org/pub/PDF/DMCDrawn1.pdf

Have fun! But don’t forget to come back and read the rest of the post! Haha.  Then I went through my own library, but I only had some books on Pulled Thread and Ruskin Lace Work as well as an odd little book that illustrates all kinds of stitches for all of these open and counted thread types of embroidery.

Nothing popped out and said “Stitch Me Now”.  The line drawings were a little bland, and the old fashioned illustrations from the antique DMC really didn’t light a fire in by brain.

More searching, this time through Etsy and I was amazed to find this little gem!  And not a PDF, but the real book!  The listing said it is from the 1930s but there’s no copyright.

It’s the second part of the book at the Antique Pattern Library.  It’s a wonderful book but still no solutions popped out at me.

Then, I cleaned my sewing room!  Eureka!

I picked up a little shopping bag and my problem was solved.  Inside were two little doilies that I bought when I went to the craft show and antique show at the Schwenkfelder Museum with my dear friend Wanda.

What a wonderful day that was.  An entire antique and vintage fair that featured textiles and everything involving a needle.  They had all kinds of lovely antique sewing tools and linens that day and there in that bag was the perfect little design for my bubble.  It has the lacy open look of Reticella but is delicate enough for use on a lightweight linen or batiste.  And it’s not girly looking so Dad can relax haha.  It’s small in scale and can stitch up quickly.

 

 

I quickly cross referenced the books I was looking through and found the instructions I needed to execute the stitches.  The openwork square consists of wrapped bars and dove’s eye.  And the border is in my DMC book from Etsy!

Now to practice.  I have the itch to stitch.

 

Classic Style, Construction, Forever Classic, Sewing Techniques

Out Of My Head And On The Baby

I’m a little late in posting this, certain life events came up and I just haven’t been up to posting.  I can’t believe it’s been since May when I was trying to work out a procedure for my grandson’s baptism outfit.

Well, it’s finally out of my head and on the baby!  Here he is, sitting on Grandpa’s lap.  I tried my hardest to get him to sit on the sofa alone, but he played surfboard and just wouldn’t have it.  He was only happy on Grandpa’s lap.

 

 

All of the mental gymnastics were worth it.  My daughter loved the outfit and she was very happy.  Sammy was comfortable and happy.  He didn’t even cry when the priest poured the water on his head.

Here are the details:

This is the embroidery in the center.  I made the hemstitched tucks on either side.  a tutorial will be coming to explain the steps.  I pinstitched the yoke by hand.

The fabric here is linen and the rest of the bubble is a fine shirting fabric with a herringbone pattern.

 

I made a peter pan collar with faggoting.

And here is the bubble with the cap:

It certainly is a satisfying feeling to finally get it out of my head!