As most of you that follow this blog know I love the needle arts. Whether it is sewing, crochet, knitting, embroidery, cross stitch or quilting I adore them all. As a child I grew up with a seamstress mother who instilled these skills in me early. Recently I sat down with a pattern, a pair of scissors, needle and thread and made a couple little dresses for a dear childhood friend of my oldest daughters. She was expecting her first child.
Although it is hard to tell from the photo this little dress is a peachy pink.
What makes this little dress unique is that every stitch on this dress was done by hand. It was sewn at my dining room table. With tiny french seams and even hand sewn button holes and embroidery. They now call this heirloom sewing or french heirloom sewing. Around New Orleans where I grew up in the 50's this was much more common than now. Especially with special clothing like christening outfits, first communion clothes and wedding dresses. They made beautiful little baby ensembles for new babies. Gowns and day dresses especially.
It has been a long time since I had done any hand sewing and just wanted to revisit the skills. It gave me a good reason to make a really special gift for a special little girl.
I also did a little smocked pink gingham gown.
Again every stitch done by hand.
Blessings from The Holler
The Canned Quilter
Ok, CQ, how do you get the smocking gathering to be so consistent?
ReplyDeleteI grew up sitting next to my Mom watching her make her clothes and mine. Then went on to make all of my dresses. I was a teacher and each summer would make a new batch of dresses for the coming school year. It was not the 'in' thing to do, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I could buy fabric on sale and make a dress for $10 or less, especially if I reused a pattern.
Beautiful work, CQ. The arthritis in my hands really impacts what I am able to do now days, but it doesn't mean I still don't want to.
Blessings, Fern
On that particular dress I used the tiny gingham check as a grid. I started sewing making doll clothes then graduated to 4-H projects. I miss the days of being able to buy affordable good quality fabric. Nowadays the fabric available is of such poor quality. As far arthritis it just hasn't got that bad YET. Stay safe CQ
DeleteAbsolutely beautiful. Brings back memories of when little girls and babies were dressed so sweet and innocent, instead of dressing them like adult pop stars. Guess I'll catch flak for saying that. When my daughter was little I had a few handmade dresses like that for her--I remember the French seams. I also used to sew a few items of clothing for my children, and items for myself also.
ReplyDeleteI know I used to love making those beautiful little dresses for my girls. That was all the fun of having girls.
DeleteWhat a beautiful precious gift.
ReplyDeleteThere aren't many of us left. I still can make buttonholes by hand as well. Hand sewing is one of the most satisfying things I do. Beautiful work,CQ.
ReplyDeleteThere really aren't that many of us left are there. Like you I love the hand and detail work best of all. Thanks and stay safe CQ
DeleteToo beautiful to use! I have always wanted to do this but as of yet haven't the time to start. My grandmother always made all her clothes, and when she passed 30 yrs ago I kept one of her beautiful handmade dresses. Such a treasure!
ReplyDeleteI have a box of tiny baby dresses of my own that when my mother passed away I found. Every single one homemade and a beautiful homemade infant coat and little white leather shoes. She kept that little box of clothes for over 50 years. She made all my prom dresses and even my wedding dress which I passed down to my daughter. I am so sentimental about stuff like that!
DeleteJust gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteSuch beautiful handiwork. I am interested in learning how to make French seams. Would you show a close up of your seams? So happy you are blogging again.
ReplyDelete