Pink Baby Slip Inspiration!

A pretty embroidery design on a vintage garment.  Roses and Featherstitching.  My favorites!

The embroidery is embellishing this baby slip. 

 A fairly plain little slip in the Gertrude style.  No lace at the neck.

But embroidery and lace at the hem.  No doubt there is a dress or daygown somewhere with the same embroidery on it.  

Old baby clothes are such an inspiration to me!

I included this old design in my embroidery Book.

You will find it on page 36.

Happy Pink Saturday!

And I stand not alone.  I will gather a band

Of all loving mothers from land unto land.

Our children are part of the world! Do ye hear?

They are one with the world-we must hold them all dear!

Love all for the child's sake!

For the sake of my child I must hasten to save

All the children on earth from the jail and the grave.

for so, and so only, I lighten the share

Of the pain of the world that my darling must bear

Even so, and so only!

Charlotte Perkins S. Gilman (1860-1935)

All Designs Are Copyright Protected copyright 2011 Jeannie Baumeister

Lesson on a Gertrude Baby Slip - Stitching

You should have the slip all cut out and marked prior to beginning this lesson. See Layout!

We are using the slip pattern and  instructions from my pattern "Priscilla's Layette".  Any of my Gertrude patterns will work.

Step 1.  Sew the front and back together in a French Seam.  

Then, finish the lower edge with the Shell Hem.
When Shell Hem is complete, stitch the remaining side seam in a French Seam.

Bottom of slip finished with the Shell Hem.  Here you can see the right side on top and the wrong side underneath.

In this picture  you can see that I used a light blue thread just to give the white slip a little color.

I mark the 1/4" seam allowance on the shoulder facings. The two little dashes are the marks for the TOP of the Button holes.

Step 2. Shoulder Facings - The front and back facings are finished the same way.  The difference is only in the spacing of the fold line.  Also the front facings have the Buttonholes.

Narrow hem the raw edge of the facing by turning to the wrong side along the outer fold lines.  Press.

Now, fold the facing to the right side along the inner fold line.

Above, the facing is shown being stitched using a hand running stitch along the seam line.

Stitch the facing in place on either side using a tiny running stitch by hand. Or use a  machine stitch. 

You will not turn the completed facings to the wrong side until the Shell Hem has been completed. 

To prepare to stitch the Shell Hem, double fold the fabric to the wrong side as shown.

Step 3. Shell Hemming the Armhole and Neck edge.

Double fold the raw edge of the fabric to form a 1/8" hem.  Finger press.  

You will work from right to left and the Shell Stitches will be 3/16" apart.  I used white thread to stitch the Shell Hem at the neck. 

Secure the thread in the fabric fold and begin the Shell Hem where the facing ends.  Refer to Shell Hem to learn the stitch or for help in perfecting your stitch.

Finished Front and Back Facings.

Turn the facing to the wrong side and stitch in place with the hand Running Stitch.  Work Buttonholes on the front facings and sew the buttons to the back facings.

Embroidery design from Jeannie B's Embroidery Book is worked in one strand of light blue floss.

Embroider your slip as desired.

Lesson on a Gertrude Baby Slip - Layout

Gertrude Slip.  Embellished!

 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 (a frequent occurrence before rubber pants which preceded disposable diapers).

Slip Front and Back are cut on the fabric fold. I am using the slip from Priscilla's Layette pattern.

The fabric selvages must meet in the middle because both slip front and back are cut on  a fabric fold.  This can be tedious because you must measure from the selvage to the fold from one end of the fabric to the next to make sure fabric is on grain.

Let me show you an easy way to do this.

 

Match selvages evenly.

First fold fabric right sides together, matching selvages.  Smooth fabric.

 Use your thumbnail to score (crease) the fabric fold.

Crease the fabric fold.  This will mark the center of your fabric.  Open up fabric so crease line is in the center.  Now, just fold each selvage in to  meet the fabric center crease line.  You can quickly measure to check but it will be right.

Fabric selvages meet in the center!!  Easy! 

Use your pattern slip pieces and pattern instruction guide to aid you in the layout, marking and cutting our process.    For detailed pictures and instructions for Pinning, Marking and Cutting out see the Lesson from Priscilla Daygown Lesson 3.

Next Lesson will be the Shell Hem.  That stitch will be used to finish the armholes and the neck (instead of the lace).