A member of our guild made this beautiful Christening gown for a friend. The set includes the dress, slip and bonnet. She describes her project details below:
I used Swiss Nelona for the gown and Swiss batiste for the slip. The laces are Lily of the Valley 7/8" insertion, 3 1/2" edging and 1/2" beading. I used Lily of the Valley Maline lace on the bonnet. The ribbon in the beading and on the bonnet is silk ribbon #3 pink (which matches the DMC #818 pink floss perfectly).
For the pattern pieces, I used the front and back yokes from Chery Williams' Baby Square Yokes. I used the long puffed sleeve pattern piece from Ginger Snaps Christening Gowns, Book 1, with one inch removed to accommodate the beading and edging. Design elements were borrowed from "Loops of Lace" by Lyn Weeks, published in Sew Beautiful, Issue 72.
I used 3 strands of DMC white #5200 for the smocking. The smocking plate is basic 2-step baby waves with a 2.0mm white pearl at each intersection. The last 2 full rows form hearts with an embroidered rose in each. I used 2 strands each of DMC pink #818, white #5200 and green #369 for the embroidery.
The tucks on the bodice and fancy band are 3/16", spaced 3/8" apart.
For the slip, I used the pattern from Old Fashioned Baby Gowns with about 3/16" removed from the neck edge. I finished the neck and sleeves by hand with a tiny shell stitch. The slip is embroidered with the baby's name and date of baptism. For the bonnet pattern, I used Old Fashioned Baby Bonnets, Package 2.
I hope you are inspired! It is lovely work!
