Fine Heirloom Sewing, Smocking and Hand Embroidery

"Baby will be well and smiling in little garments made by Mother, Auntie, Grannie and loving friends!"

Please join me as I teach the old fashioned techniques and skills needed to sew baby clothes. You will find lessons that start at the very beginning and take you step by step as we sew little baby clothes together. May you find much joy and pleasure in making them.
It's easy and it's fun!!

Visit My Heirloom Sewing Webshop www.oldfashionedbaby.com




Friday, August 6

Daygown Sew-Along. Lesson Two




The Embroidery Design is on page 2 of your pattern instructions. Get it out and look at it.
Starch and Press your Dress Front (do not press over tape on wrong side).  Fold Daygown Front together and crease Center Front all the way down to the hem.  Read Step 2 for more instruction.

There are different ways to transfer embroidery designs onto fabric.   I am showing you how I will transfer the embroidery design using this pattern and this embroidery design.   

Link for Lesson on Transferring  Embroidery Design Here!  Read the entire Lesson even if you don't think it applies to you.

 Then come back to this lesson and continue.

Read all instruction in this Post about the Embroidery before beginning your work.

Line up the Daygown Front neck with the neck edge of the embroidery design. (in picture above)
 I have my design pinned to a Fabric Board.  An ironing board can work as well.  Or, gently tape the design to the table so it will not move.  
Place a piece of white computer paper under the page with the embroidery design on it.  It will help make the design more visible.  I did not have any problem seeing the design through my blue Satin Batiste fabric.
 I am making my Daygown for a Boy Baby and although the embroidery design is elaborate, it is suitable for a boy.  To make the Daygown less fancy, just leave off the hem embroidery.  


I am measuring 6 3/4" above the hem for the right side of the hem design.  I will measure the left side of the design too.  I want to make sure the design is even on both sides of the daygown hem area.  
The instructions for the Hem embroidery design tell you to place the lowest part of the embroidery design  6 3/4" above raw hem edge.  It is important to measure for each side.
We will not embroider this lesson.  Set the fabric aside after tracing embroidery design.
Now go back and transfer your Embroidery Design. 
 Then come back for the MAJOR part of this Lesson. 

Question for Lesson Two - Where do you live?  Which State if in the USA.  Please post comment at the end of this Lesson on this Post.

Buttonholes!!
It is raining this morning.  Perfect sewing weather.  It feels nice to just look out the window at the rain.
I down loaded some Joshua Bell music "Romance of the Violin" to listen to.  Perfect music for Handmade Buttonholes!

Most of the old Baby Clothes were made by hand and even the old Baby Clothes that were made by machine had Handmade buttonholes in them.  There was a practical reason for this.  The sewing machines did not make pretty little button holes.  Today our sewing machines can make lovely buttonholes.  There is no shame in putting machine made buttonholes in your little Daygown.  Having said that, I REALLY want you to stitch at least  a couple by hand on a practice fabric.  Your dress is not entirely made by hand if you use the machine for buttonholes.  

Always stitch at least one buttonhole on the same fabric as your garment before stitching the buttonholes on your  garment.  Have the same layers of fabric for practice as you have on your garment. (two for this daygown)

Machine Stitched Buttonholes: Use a very light weight stabilizer under the fabric.  I use plain old tissue paper.  Use DMC #50, Mettler #60  Mettler Silk Finish #50 cotton thread (top and bobbin).
Sewing your Buttonhole will depend on your Sewing Machine and you will need to refer to your Machine manual or your local Sewing Machine Dealer.  Usually the top tension is tightened , sometimes the machine does this automaticly.

Click Here For Handmade Buttonholes.  Then come back here!

I was a little late this morning because I baked a cake for you!  
It is my goal to get the Lesson up by 9 am on Friday!

Today, we are having homemade Chocolate cake and Pomegranet Green Tea.  Using my Wedgewood "Romantic England" blue and white China.  Yum!



And we can watch the birds play!


Romantic Birds too!  I have a theme going here!

Thank you for coming!

Little Drops of Water
Little drops of water,
Little grains of sand,
Make the mighty ocean,
And the pleasant land.

Little deeds of kindness,
Little words of love,
Help to make earth happy,
Like the heaven above.
Author Unknown










All Designs Are Copyright Protected copyright 2009 Jeannie Baumeister

60 comments:

Unknown said...

I want windows like that!!!!!! The cake looks yummy!! THANKS!!!

Eileen said...

Hi Jeannie! I live in Tinley Park, IL (south suburbs of Chicago).

Unknown said...

Hi everyone! I live in Bastrop, Louisiana...small town in northeast Louisiana.

Kathy said...

Hi Jeannie! I'm stitching along in Rockwall, Texas, just east of Dallas.

Cherished Treasures said...

I live in North Georgia.

Robin Hart said...

I am in June Lake CA and it is before 9 am... :)

Sewbusymor said...

Karin is stitching along from New Jersey...the Garden State. I curreently am in south/central NJ, about 25 minutes from Philadelphia...home of Liberty and Independence. Someday, Jeannie, we will have these lessons in Victorian Cape May...you will love it there. Love the lessons!

Georgette said...

Hi Jeannie! I'm stitching in Ovid, Michigan on a beautiful sunny day :)
Georgette

RebeccaM said...

Hello Everyone. I am stitching along in Plano TX, north of Dallas.

Angela said...

I am in east central Alabama - near Auburn Alabama.

Cindy said...

Hi Jeannie,

I can't tell you how much fun I am having hand stitching this sweet little daygown!!! I am stitching in Alabama.

Becky said...

I'm in Montgomery, AL. I'd like some of your rain please. Cake would be nice too.

Unknown said...

Hello, I finally figured out how to leave a comment! I am stitching from Claremont, California.

Sherry Richardson said...

Love this lesson!!! Now I will know the perfect way to to hand button holes. I'm in Baton Rouge, LA but have family in for the weekend and won't get to do my lesson until they have returned home. Going to enjoy my family, grandchildren, granddog and then enjoy my down time doing my lesson. Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend. Saving my cake and tea for later

Karen said...

Hi Jeannie! I am stitching in St. Petersburg, Florida. Actually, I am using today to catch up. I received the gown pattern from you on Monday and have prepared my fabric (white cotton lawn). I was both hoping and a little afraid that this week's lesson would be handmade buttonholes. I've done them before but have never been satisfied with my work. I really hate machine buttonholes on fine baby things so these will be handmade (and hopefully much better than my previous ones)! Thank you for all the detailed steps in your lessons!

Susie B said...

Sending cool breezes & sunshine from Southern California to all ~ from Laguna Niguel (Orange County)~ a perfect day for sewing!

dlogan said...

Hi Jeannie,
I live in Hot Springs, Arkansas and today the rain has fallen,and I rejoice in God's perfect timing! I can't wait to get started on this lesson and my buttonholes, plus embroidery design. I am actually not behind!!!

Blessings, Darby

fran said...

Am stitching fom Hamilton, New Jersey which is central Jersey between Trenton and Princeton. The buttonholes look challenging but I,ll give them a try. Fran

Patti H in MS said...

Hi Jeannie: I live in northern Mississippi. Love the Sew Along and that cake looks so good! Thanks so much for all your hard work!

Jan M said...

I am in Highland Village, a suburb north of Dallas, Tx. Wish it was raining, except with our heat it would just be steamy. The cake looks yummy. Hope I don't get chocolate icing on my little white daygown!

Unknown said...

Hi Jeannie,

I won't be checking in until this time every Friday, hope that's ok. It's a beautiful day in Michigan.

Unknown said...

Hi Jeannie,

I won't be able to sew along until this time every Friday, I hope that's ok. This is my first class with you and I'm really looking forward to it. Thank you for doing this sew along!

wendy said...

Oh, yum...Thank you for the lovely cake and view!

I'm stitching in Michigan with my teenage daughter...See who posts first.lol.

Emily said...

I live in Michigain. Your china is so so so kawaii(cute)!!!!!! Mama said I should mention that I'm learning Japanese, just to make the kawaii less random. The cake looks very tasty too...maybe the birds are stalking the cake!?!?
I happen to be the teenage daughter that Wendy(Mama) mentioned sewing along with.

Virginia said...

I'm stitching from Naples, FL.

Quick question...are the buttonholes supposed to be vertical or horizontal? The pattern shows vertical but your photos are showing horizontal. And if it matters, why?
Thanks!

Aunt Honey said...

Hi Jeannie. I live in Georgia. Thanks for the cake!!!

Cathy said...

I am just beginning so am a little behind. My sweet husband brought me a new light box so I will be tracing my embroidery here in Texas. Such fun. I don't yet know if I will tackle hand buttonholes but may try one on a sample. Thanks for the lessons. Also, I am making this little gown for the daughter of a friend.

Marlene said...

I am stitching in Wilmington, Delaware. That chocolate ake looks yummy!

Jean said...

I just finished sewing the buttonholes by machine, sorry, but I promise I'll try a couple of hand-made ones on some scraps! I've never done that before. This fabric is so fun to work with, I love it. I see more satin batiste in my future!

I live in Northern California--in the forgotten third of the state above Sacramento. ;)

Jeannie B. said...

Answer to Virginia: The buttonholes are vertical like the pattern shows. You need to turn the fabric when stitching them so the picture might show them side ways. The direction of the buttonhole can make a difference so it is best to follow the pattern directions. In the case of this Daygown, there would not be enough fabric on either side of the buttonhole for stability if they were horizontal. And the buttons would be off center as they pulled to the edge of the buttonhole.

Michelle said...

Good Morning, Jeannie,
I am sewing in Daphne, Alabama which is on the Eastern Shores of the Mobile Bay. It is HOT,HOT,HOT, and a lot of STEAMY!!!
The chocolate cake looks scrumptious!!!
Thank You for all your time with this sew-a-long!!

Elisabeth Rose said...

Hi Jeannie,
I'm ready to start lesson 2 and I'm going to attempt buttonholes by hand, just to say I did it. I'm writing about my experience in the Sew Along.
It's great that so many ladies are participating!
My question: I am making this for my baby boy. I'm using blue satin batiste and I'm still hung up on the embroidery looking "girly". I found a design by you in CN Nov/Dec 98 (p.22) Do you think I could substitute that one?

Virginia said...

Thanks Jeannie! That clears it up for me. Now that I look again, I see I was confused when looking at the picture. Can't wait to get going.

antcan said...

I'm up the road from you, Jeannie, in Baton Rouge.

Jeannie B. said...

You are welcome to use another embroidery design if you would like.

dlogan said...

Hi Jeannie,
I now know that I can remove a handmade buttonhole and start over!I think I am through the learning curve, but I do have a few questions. I have heard so many different opinons about using starch and the blue wash out markers. Do you think starch makes it hard to get the blue out? and does ironing over the blue marks make them permanent? Also, what length of thread is best to use for the buttonholes? Thanks! Darby

Jeannie B. said...

Answer to dlogan: Well, I starch really well before I mark my fabric but I have marked and then starched and I press over mine. But I will not tell you the blue will always come out. Just that I have not had a problem with it. You can be safe and starch, mark, sew and carefully rinse it out before continuing. But be careful you don't fray the unfinished edges of the daygown. I use 18" to 20" of thread or floss or what ever I am using.

Jan said...

Hi Everyone,
I'm from Boise, Idaho. I love everyone's comments. I'm on vacation this week and I'm finishing up projects for the state fair, but I'm taking time out to stitch my daygown. I may even enter it in next year's fair. Thanks for the easy instructions. Jan

mydogbama said...

Sewing from Talladega, Alabama. Sorry I'm late - last minute trip to the beach before school starts.

What color do you recommend to embroider on light blue?

Marmycakes said...

I'm from NE Florida. I am a little behind on my stitching because I'm out of town helping my daughter who just had a baby. As soon as I get home, I will be catching up on my daygown!

Gina said...

Hi, I'm in beautiful SE OK. The town I live in has the World's Highest Hill!! It rained this morning! Thank you God!

Love this sew along. I'm behind. In fact I haven't started yet, but don't give up on me. I'll get there!

Thanks for doing this!

Hugs,
Gina

Kristen B. said...

I live in South Lyon, MI. I'm a little late joining the group. My gown will be for my niece/nephew who is due in February. Kristen

Debbi said...

I live in Stoughton, WI but am in Orlando right now for my oldest daughter's college graduation. I never tried handmade buttonholes before but I loved doing these! Mine are very, very far from perfect but the look is so much lighter than machine ones and I avoid the terror of knowing that if my machine goes all fussybludget on a buttonhole, it will be almost impossible to unstitch or fix. Thank you for giving me the courage to try these!

ChrisB said...

Thanks for the yummy looking cake! I am stitching along from Mayer, Minnesota (a little town about 45 southwest of the Twin Cities). I can't wait to try the hand buttonholes...I have not been pleased with how my machine works buttonholes on the fine fabric I use for heirloom sewing, so may this will be my new method!

Pandy said...

Hi Jeannie I live in Lexington Missouri a civil war town just of Kansas City Missouri. We have a connon ball still in our courthouse column that was fired by the southern troops. We still use the same courthouse it was built aroung 1840 or so. I don't have anyone to sew for so I guess I'm making it for me. My question is do you do the embroidery after you cut the gown out? If you do how do you use a hoop? do you make the seam lines also so you know where to sew the seams? Thanks Pandy

Denise-Ann said...

Looking forward to joining in once I have my pattern and material - which is on its way. Doing this for myself, I live in Perth Western Australia. Denise-Ann

M said...

I'm stitching in Irvine, California.
My fabric for this daygown (and might have enough fabric for a matching bonnet) is off-white, sort of a pale ivory/ecru. Any floss color suggestions?

Jeannie B. said...

Answer to Pandy: I don't use a hoop for the stitches on this embroidery design so I cut the pattern out first and then embroider. If you were to use a hoop, you would need to trace the pattern onto your fabric, and the embroidery design too. Then embroider and then cut out the garment. I am going to do the embroidery after the garment is finished and will not use a hoop.

Jeannie B. said...

Answer to Embroidery Floss colors: I am doing my blue daygown in a blue that matches. It will be all one color. I like tone on tone. It could also match the lace - ecru for ecru lace or white for white lace. And you can always use colors. Green for stem and leaves and blue or pink for flowers. Choices , choices!

ChrisB said...

Hi, Jeannie. I am practicing my buttonholes and have a question: Do you wax your thread for buttonhole stitching? Thanks!

Cindy said...

Jeannie...I stitched my buttonholes today and although they aren't perfect it was a great challenge and I enjoyed it. My question is this: After I finished them I wondered if I should have waxed my thread? Do you personally wax your thread when you stitch the buttonholes by hand? Thanks so much!!!

Jeannie B. said...

Answer to Chris: I wax my thread. Go to How to Use Bees wax for more info
http://oldfashionedbaby.blogspot.com/2010/01/beess-wax-and-how-to-use-it.html

Unknown said...

OOPS! forgot to say where I live. I am from Dothan, Alabama, about an hour from the gulf coast beaches. I love being able to run away to the beach even if it's only for the day!!!!

Unknown said...

Jeannie,
I missed the first two lessons, but I am busy catching up!
I live in Rheinfelden, Germany which is right on the border between Germany and Switzerland.
Thanks for the lessons.
Sarah de Roos

Pat C. said...

Jeannie -

I've been on vacation, so I have some catching up to do. I live in Overland Park, Kansas.

db said...

Just got my kit so I have some homework to catch up on - may take me a while as company arrives tomorrow! Joining you form eastern PA. BTW - loved the cake - the best kind - zero calories :-)

Sharon said...

Hi Jeannie,

I am Norfolk, VA, home of the 2010 SAGA convention.
Your room awaits you dear friend.
Sharon

Jeannie B. said...

I can not wait!! Your class will all get a special treat...just because you will be in it!!

Unknown said...

Hi,

I am stitching in Iowa. Just received my pattern before we left town for a long weekend. Will be playing catch up this week.

Belinda

Jean said...

I sewed a buttonhole on practice fabric! It was kind of chewed-up looking to be honest but it wasn't a total disaster--I guess I could do that next time...

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