Antique Gertrude Baby Slip

Found in an Antique Store.

This antique slip is 18 1/2" long from shoulder to hem (including the 1 7/8" ruffle). The side seams are French Seamed by machine.  The rest of the slip is stitched by hand.  There is tiny entredeux  between the slip hem and the ruffle.  Lace edges the ruffle and the top of the slip.

What a beautiful hem.  I would love to see the dress that matches this slip!!

The embroidery on the hem is exquisite.  It is tiny and fine.  The stitching, amazing.

Back of the antique slip.

The back of the slip has the same amazing embroidery on it!

The embroidery design is reproduced on a slip and bonnet in  "Best Embroidered Baby Clothes One".

I loved the embroidery desing so I used it on a Slip and a Bonnet in my pattern "Best Embroidered Baby Clothes One". 

Antique Slip hem and my reproduction hem.  I substituted some easier stitches on my slip.

I did not include the ruffle on the slip in my pattern.  If you want a ruffle, combine this slip pattern with the slip in " Revised Baby Daydresses ".  The slip in that pattern has a ruffle.  Be sure to adjust the slip length to your dress.

Gertrude Baby Slips

 Collection of Gertrude Baby Slips.  Each is a little different.

Baby Slips are an essential item in a baby's wardrobe.  they keep baby comfortable and warm and they flatter the gown or dress worn over them. A "Gertrude"  is a style of slip or petticoat  that buttons at both shoulders.  As the baby's comfort  became the focus of infants clothing at the end of the 1800's, the Gertrude was considered superior.  It did not restrict baby's movement and was easily removed without disturbing the baby's other clothing when it became wet (no disposable diapers then!!).  For winter, a slip might be made from a fine flannel.

This lovely set is from OFB pattern Baby Layette.

It is featured in Sew Beautiful magazine, issue 121.

Slips are made to match the dress for special outfits!  Just use the same lace, fabric, embroidery design or floss.  Something that ties them together.

The lace insertion and edging match the lace on the Daygown.  Part of the embroidery design was stitched between the insertion.

Now thank we all our God

A Bounty of Roses

O Thanksgiving

Now Thank We All Our God

Now thank we all our God, With hearts and hands and voices;

Who wondrous things hath done, In whom this world rejoices.

Who, from our mother's arms, Hath led us on our way,

With countless gifts of love, And still is ours today.

O may this bounteous God through all our life be near us,

With ever joyful hearts and blessed peace to cheer us;

And keep still in thy grace, and guide us when perplexed;

And free us from all ills, in this world and the next.

All praise and thanks to God the Father now be given;

The Son and Him Who reigns with Them in highest heaven;

For thus it was , is now, and shall be evermore.

hymn text by Martin Rinkart (1586-1649), Lutheran minister

In Search of Fine China on the Cheap

China found for me! Very Exciting!!

My friend and her husband went on a week end trip to the Grand Hotel in  Point Clear, Alabama.  From Baton Rouge to Point Clear, they stopped at many stores to look for discounted pieces of her Spode Christmas Tree china (and mine).

 

Belinda couldn't wait to see how it would all look on her table!

Every store they stopped at, I received a phone call.  "Jeannie, they have such and so, do you want any?"  my reply "Yes"!  And she knows my china patterns.  She was on the lookout for thrifty pieces that I might need. 

So, she bought me more Christmas Tree Plates! 

And they stopped at the same stores on the way home too.  Just in case more stock was put out!!

What a great husband!

Close up of her lovely hand embroidered Vintage Table Cloth.

Belinda gave me her favorite sewing spot.

After we played with the china, we sat down and sewed!  What a nice morning.

Little Pansy Flowers

poem from:

The Sunbonnet Babies Primer

by Eulalie Osgood Grover

circa 1902

Little pansy flowers,

Nodding in the sun,

Have you feet like ours?

Can you jump and run?

 

The pansies' feet are the little roots.

The pansies cannot walk nor jump nor run.

Poor little pansies!

Do you think they are happy?

They have happy faces.

Yes, the pansy flowers are happy.

They do not want to run and jump.

They do not want to play.

They like to grow in the garden.

they like to live in the sun.

The pansies smile at the Sunbonnet Babies.

They smile at every one.

They like to have the Babies pick them.

They nod and nod to them.

Pansies can see inside the Babies' bonnets.

They can see the Babies' faces.

The Sew Sew Sisterhood

Sew Sew's having fun.  I am taking the picture and one lady was in Italy.

I belong to a little sewing circle that was started way long ago when we were still young (relatively speaking).  We each remember the beginning a little differently but for me, it was  an-off shoot of those of us who got together to pleat premie bonnets and have lunch at my house.  We thought it would be fun to get together and just sew what ever we were working on!

 

Lorraine B. hosted this Sew Sew's.  You will recognize Lorraine by her SAGA ribbons!

We decided there would be no more than 8 members because that was the most we could seat at our table for lunch. We always have sharing and it's fun to see what others have done.

 

Lorraine B. made this bib from my new pattern "Baby's Sacque,Wrapper and 50 Embroidery Designs".

More lovely bibs by Lorraine.

Lorraine P. shared her new Grandaughter!  Cute! 

Notice she is wearing the "T-Yoke Gown" from my pattern, made by Grandma.

Lorraine is wild about fagoting!  The bib and yoke feature this lovely stitch.

Carole is all about doing the unbelievably tiny petite point for her Grandaughter's Doll House!

Diane was crocheting a Baby Blanket.

Someone was working on a Jan K. bear.

Jennie was working on a yoke for a Christening Gown.  Jennie likes to sew baby clothes by hand.

See the tiny Hemstitching used to attach the lace.  Lucky Baby!! 

 

A pretty dress for her new Grandaughter.

Lorraine P. is sewing Lace Edging to the hem of my pattern "Emma's Smocked Baby Dresses".

I was working on a Wee Care gown which I forgot to Photo so had to take the picture at home.

 

I decided to leave off the vines around the Cross (from my Embroidery Book) but need to wash away the blue marks.  I am going to add lace to the hem.

Drying my Linens

Since moving house, I have yet to get a 'real' closeline!

Today I boiled some of my linens!  Yes, on the stove.  I put some mild detergent in a big pot and brought it to a boil and put in the linens.  I used the handle of a wooden spoon to smush them into the water.  They boiled for 15 minutes.  And most of the old stains came out!

Heritage (David Austin rose)  is one of the rose bushes you see behind the linens. 

Abraham Darby (also David Austin) is the bush on the left.

November in Baton Rouge is wonderful.  My roses love the cooler weather and so do I!

Gallery of Priscilla Daygowns

Priscilla Daygowns

I am displaying Priscilla Daygowns and  I would love to display Yours!  It can be any view.

Email me a picture of your Priscilla Daygown, include your first name. Send to: jbaumeister@cox.net

Daygown by Cheryl M.

Original gown  (View 1) by Maude for Baby Priscilla. 

 

Christmas Daygown for a Christmas Baby by Jeannie B.

 Priscilla View 2 by Belinda in soft pink fabric.

Close up of Embroidery on Belinda's Priscilla.

A Happy Blue Dress

Emma's Smocked Baby Dress (Classic View) in cute old fashioned cotton print.  Made by Belinda.
Belinda smocked it using Anchor Floss: Blue 130, Pink 73 and Green 875

There is nothing as sweet as Old Fashioned!! 

Back View of Emma's Smocked Baby Dresses in happy blue fabric. 

The Back of this dress is so "Baby" with the cute tucks!

I love the back!  I am already thinking about a design for Baby with the tucks in the front of the dress!

 

A Louisiana Saturday

What are all these people standing in line for at 9am on Saturday morning?

The line forms to the left and goes to the door!

Cafe au Late and Beignets at Coffee Call

Coffee with milk and French Donuts.  It's fun to see them replenish the despenser.  They pour in equal  amount of coffee and warm whole milk at the same time.  You can see them dishing up Beignets.

If you visit Baton Rouge, come to Coffee Call!!

 

The Beignets are covered in powered sugar!   Here is a double serving of "Fingers".  They are quick and easy to eat.

A table full of children on their third plate!  Love those Beignets!

Today is game day!!

All Sugered up and ready to go!

Lesson on The Running Stitch

The Running Stitch is a simple little stitch that was commonly used to finish the hem of a daygown.  It is the way I finished the hem of the Priscilla Daygown.  It would not be used for hems of older children. It is made by weaving (or running) a needle in and out of the fabric several times before pulling the thread through.  Stitches for the hem should be small and even.  Use an 11 Sharps needle and white  DMC # 50 thread.

Click on Photos to Enlarge.

.

Dark thread has been used for demonstration purposes.

Begin the stitch with a tiny knot or back stitch hidden in the hem.

 

To work the stitch, hold the fabric over your hand to keep tension on the fabric.

Run the thread through the fabric several times and then pull it through. Stitch through all the layers of fabric in the hem.

Use a thimble to push the needle through the fabric for quicker results and to protect your finger.

Be sure to smooth the fabric out after each set of stitches to keep it smooth.

Be sure to keep the stitches nice and even.  Smooth the fabric so stitches don't pucker in your hem.

Hems where the running stitch was used to bring out the color of the blue appliqued hem. 

When worked with two or three strands of embroidery floss, it makes a nice and easy embroidery stitch.  The more strands of floss used, the farther apart your stitches will be.

Lesson 8: Finishing Priscilla Daygown/Hem and Buttons

Time to Finish this Daygown!! All that is left to complete the Priscilla Daygown is the hem and buttons.  Follow the directions for View 2,  Step 5  for Finishing.

Sew on the Buttons

Sew the top button on first.

 The buttons must be lined up exactly with the button holes.  To help me to do this, I sew on the first button, then stretch the front facings out flat and mark the remaining button holes.

I am using a fine line, wash out fabric marker.

Line up the buttonhole accurately and mark in the center. Notice I have sewn the button on using the same red thread used in the embroidery design.

Hem

Turn up the raw edge of hem 1/8" and straight stitch (L3.0 or 3.5)along the fold. 

For the Hem, first turn up the raw edge of the hem and stitch.  This will be used to pull up the fullness in the hem so it will lie flat.

Turn the hem up 3".

Pin at the center back, the side seams and both sides of the front.

 Make sure the two sides of the front are even. 

Pull up the gathering thread and pin the hem in place.

Stitch the hem in place by hand, using the running stitch, removing pins as you stitch.

When complete, soak the daygown in COLD water - no soap!

The blue Wash out fabric markers have a chemical in them that is not removed just by wetting the fabric. The blue line might go away (it often returns when you press) but the chemical is still in your fabric.  Do not use anything but cold water, and not soap to soak them out.  Then you can wash as you please.

For embellishment, I have used designs from Jeannie B's Embroidery Book. 

I have taken a design from page 22 to embroider between the top 2 buttons. Instead of a Rose, I embroidered French Knot,  Red Berries.  I used two strands of floss and wrapped twice. Suitable embroidery designs are included in the pattern also.  I used the Holly and Berry's on page 29 for each side of the lower hem.  The Holly is Shadow Embroidered but would look cute as the Outline, Chain or Back Stitch!

We Are All Done!