A Different Vintage Pillowcase Sundress

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I just adore old hand embroidered, crocheted, and hem stitched linens.  When I see them in antique stores, resale shops, flea markets, and yard sales I am impelled to 'resue' them!  I KNOW how long it took to do that kind of work by hand and I just can't stand to see them lying there forgotten and neglected!  I often use them in my own home but others go in my stash to be used in making 'new' pretty things.  I like to think that the ladies who made them long ago are watching me and smiling as I set a table with their pretty cloths or make a dress for a little girl using their linens.

This blue cotton pillowcase was in perfect condition but was very badly soiled when I purchased it at an antique store.  It soaked for several days in a Biz Bucket and came out beautifully.  I used Madora's Sundress and Jumper by Beaucoup, an old pattern that you can still purchase at different heirloom sewing shops such as:

http://www.chadwickheirlooms.com/categories/patterns/beaucoup     and  

http://www.itssewheavenly.com/Beaucoup--Medoras-Sundress-Jumper_p_93.html

The mitered gingham ribbon is on both front and back bodices.  This little dress was a size two and was given as a gift for a friend's granddaughter.  Wouldn't it be lovely if you have some of your own family's vintage linens that you could turn into an heirloom dress for a cherished daughter or granddaughter?

Lovely Smocked Baby Bonnet

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I just love baby bonnets, especially smocked or embroidered ones.  This sweet infant bonnet has both smocking and embroidery!  I love the shades of raspberry in this!  I was in the hair salon smocking away while waiting my turn, and a lovely lady was so taken by the bonnet and the fact that it was handmade that she purchased it from me before it was even complete!  

Hand smocked in shades of raspberry.

It was made using a lovely old pattern called Baby's Layette by Chery Williams.  The brim is tapered and French lace edged.  Little glass pearl beads attach the silk ribbon ties.  It cinches with more silk ribbon in the back making it adjustable as baby gets bigger.  The pretty brim shades baby's tender skin from the sun and surrounds the precious face in lace.  Oh, my!  I'll have to make another one like this for my 'grandmother's hope chest'.

Yazmine's Purple Butterfly Sundress

As a kindergarten teacher in the public school system I am always so grateful for parents who volunteer their time to help me and my students with special projects, book clubs, field trips, etc.  I usually have a couple of volunteers every year who go above and beyond to help in any way they can.  Yazmine's mom was one of those parents.  She volunteered nearly every week and stayed for several hours.  Teachers often give their regular volunteers a parting gift.  I usually sew something for one of their children and call them Thank You Dresses.

This is the back of the dress with the sash tied.

This pretty sundress (hanging very 'wonky' on the hanger) is in Yazmine's favorite color with her favorite insect (mine, too!).   I tied the sash too tightly for the picture and caused the bodice front to be distorted. You'll have to believe me when I say that the pattern sews up beautifully.   I used another of the special patterns by Primrose Lane.  It is the companion pattern to the one I wrote about in my last post called Annie's Sundress and Jumper.   All sizes 2-12 are included in the pattern!   Primrose Lane also has a matching 18 inch doll dress available.

(http://www.primroselanepatterns.com/)

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The removable waist decoration is made with Venice lace, grosgrain ribbon and an antique mother of pearl button and is attached with a jewelry pin.

A Sundress of Daisies for Delaney Kate

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Hello! It has been too long since I posted anything!



If you have been a "follower" of this blog, please accept my apologies for the long absence. I stopped posting when we found out that my husband had prostate cancer and then just when we thought he was on the road to recovery, he had a heart attack. He is fine now, thank God! Unfortunately, my mother became increasingly ill and died this past winter. She is thought of with love and missed everyday. The day before she died, she said that she wanted "to see Jesus, now". It gives me joy to know that she is with Him.

It has been hard for me to get back into the swing of blogging but I am ready to jump back in! I may not have been blogging, but I have been sewing, smocking, embroidering, and even doing a little crocheting! Get ready, for I am committing to at least one blog per week.

First up: a little sun dress using the pattern Baby Annie by Primrose Lane. It ties on the shoulder and has a back button opening and a placket in the skirt. This makes it so much easier to get on and off a squirmy baby. Delaney Kate was about 10 months old when I made this outfit.  I made the 12 months size and it fit her beautifully. The fabrics are cotton coordinates from my stash that I purchased some time ago from Jo Ann Fabric Store. I don't remember what pattern I used for the fancy pants but I just finished the edges of the ruffles and gathered them down the middle and sewed them on with the center of the ruffles about an inch lower than the sides. The teething toy was adapted from a pattern in an old Creative Needle magazine with the little face hand embroidered. The bib is one I designed using the shape from one in another old magazine. The ensemble looked adorable on Delaney Kate with her big blue eyes. I know she wore it often and had some professional photos taken while wearing it. 

 You can purchase the pattern in some heirloom shops or at the designers website:

http://www.primroselanepatterns.com/