Dream Stitches: Baby's Layette - (Five)

Sweet & Simple Daygowns pattern  For Girl (left) or Boy Baby(right). 

Sweet little Daygowns are the staple of Baby's Layette for the Old Fashioned Baby today.  Make them out of soft fabric like the  Lawn  shown above.  Front buttons make it easy to dress baby.  Use cotton and don't worry about wrinkles. The fabric is  soft and comfortable!!  And baby is happy!

Baby Layette Circa 1917

A layette consisted not only of garments but also included bedding and toilet articles for a newborn child.  According to an article in the 1917 American Dressmaking Step by Step, the following itmes were considered a necessary part of a basic layette:

4 Dresses  (these dresses/gowns would have been at least 27" long)
3 Petticoats (flannel)
2 Sacks
3 Pair Booties
1 Diaper Cover
1 Coat
2 Shawls
6 Dayslips (Daygowns today)
3 Petticoats -white
3 Flannel Bands
3 Pairs Stockings
4 Dozen Diapers
2 bonnets
1 Carriage-robe
6 Nightslips
2 Kimonos
3 shirts
4 Pining Blankets
6 Bibs
1 Veil
1 Receiving Blanket

This was a basic layette which meant "the minimum" baby would need.  It might be much more elaborate if ones means allowed.

Shadow Embroidery Bows on the front of the Daygown.  

I used baby tatting for the boy Daygown  but tatting is nice for either.  And baby Lace for baby girl.

Shadow Embroidery Bird at the hem of Daygown.Embroidery is from my Jeannie B. Embroidery Book.

Sewing the layette garments for a new baby is still the thrill it was when the poem Dream Stitches was written.  And it feels like we have wrapped that baby up in our love when they are wearing something we made for them.    "Many a prayer and many a dream"