Sunday, February 2, 2014

Smocked Layette for Project Run & Play Season 8: My Signature Style

Click on the pictures to enlarge them.

 My signature style is full of old-fashioned details:  smocking, embroidery, French lace, heirloom sewing techniques, silk ribbon, traditional/classic baby patterns.  This set was made for my godmother/aunt to give as a shower gift to a great niece.  It is made of a lovely shade of blue Imperial batiste, silk ribbon and French lace.

Using the Imperial batiste (fine polycotton) makes this little ensemble very easy to launder.  It can go right in the washer and dryer (inside out) on the delicate cycle with other delicate things.  Remove promptly and only the ribbon ties may need a quick pressing.
 The pattern for the tiny (newborn to size 3 months) diaper shirt and diaper cover is from Australian Smocking & Embroidery #61.  The magazine design didn't incorporate lace and was all in white but otherwise I made the outfit as illustrated there.  I used white floche (type of embroidery thread) for the smocking and two shades of pink floche for the roses.  Floche is a lovely fiber for delicate smocking and embroidery.  It is not separated by strands and is about the thickness of two strands of DMC cotton six strand embroidery floss. The bonnet was made using an old Grace Knott pattern.

I used the smocking design that the designer (Margaret Wight of South Austrailia) created for the ensemble in the magazine.
 The back of the dress has four lovely buttons that I embroidered with pink rose buds.
You can see just how tiny this little top was in the next picture.  The armholes are uniform...I just had the outfit sitting crooked on the hanger.  
 
The bloomers were made with a folded over ruffle on the tushie.  I added the gathered French lace and the silk bow to tie it in more with the top and the bonnet.  I embroidered another rose on the ribbon, of course.
 I smocked a simple design adapted from the smocking plate in the pattern on the bonnet.
 The silk ribbon ties were attached with more of the hand embroidered roses.
I loved making this ensemble!  I adore making baby clothes.  They are my absolute favorite things to make, especially if they are smocked and embroidered and dripping with fine materials.

I hope you liked this little outfit!  The outfit was a big hit with the baby's family and created quite a stir at the shower.  My daughter loved this whole ensemble so I know that I'll be making another one for my grandmother's hope chest someday.   I'm wondering... given the soft easy care material used in this outfit, would the young mothers you know put this on their babies?

25 comments:

  1. Oh so beautiful!
    I love smocking. I wore smocking dresses while growing up and used to love them..:)
    Thanks for stopping by earlier at my blog.

    -Priyam @ http://priyam-simplejoys.blogspot.com

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  2. That's such a pretty layette! Love the smocking and ruffled bloomers.

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  3. I absolutely love this; I saw this article in Australian a while back. My mom used to teach smocking so I learned as a kid. I was never very good though - I prefer flat embroidery (rather than up on pleats). Beautiful, beautiful work <3

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  4. Smocking is so time consuming! I absolutely love the vintage look of your ensemble!
    http://xoxograndma.blogspot.com/

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    1. Thank you so much! I went to your blog and loved your little mint dress! I wanted to leave a comment but your Picassa pop-up wanted too much personal information. I went to read the 'changes to Picassa' and all the info would be available. I'm sorry, I just feel strange about that. I loved the photos of your little grands, too!

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  5. This is just sooooo soooo lovely, Lisa! I love everything about it, from the gorgeous smocking, bullions and lace to the absolutely adorable bloomers. The way you placed the ruffles with the lace and bow above them.....just too precious.

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    1. Thank you so much, Janice! Coming from you, those are very high compliments, indeed! I always love your gorgeous heirloom handwork!

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  6. I am having a baby girl in 4 weeks and I would absolutely put this on my baby in heartbeat...I only wish I had time to make it myself

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    1. Congratulations! I am so happy for you! I appreciate a young mother saying that the outfit would get used. You would be surprised by how comfortable these soft clothes are for babies to wear.

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  7. Wow! The dress, bonnet, and bloomers are adorable. And oh so tiny!

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  8. Your bullions are always perfection!!! I'm completely having bullion envy right now.... Such a sweet outfit....

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  9. Thank you, all, Ladies! You have made my day with your kind words!

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  10. What a beautiful gift you have created! Your works are so beautiful and delicate. I am just imagining how adorable the baby must have looked in this outfit!

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  11. So sweet! I especially love the bonnet and bloomers!

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  12. Love, love, love smocking! And a bonnet...with smocking? Almost edible!! We included embroidery this week too: http://skirtfixation.com/2014/02/t-shirt-dress-outfit/

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  13. You are so amazing with your smocking skills! Just adorable!

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  14. So very beautiful! I'd love to learn to smock!

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  15. Wow! That's mocking is gorgeous.
    Would love to learn this skill one day.

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  16. Ooh, this little set is just beautiful! I really love the three loops and embroidered rose where the ribbon attaches to the bonnet, and the roses on the buttons. Those little bloomers and just darling!

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  17. Oh, my goodness! I have loved reading all the comments and visiting the blogs of those who shared their thoughts with me. Thank you so much for your sweet comments!

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  18. Absolutely Beautiful! Thanks for visiting Night Owl Corner....just stopping by to check out your blog too!
    Linda
    www.nightowlcorner.com

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  19. Those are beautiful!! I think you chose the perfect details to make this little outfit pop.

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