9/19/99
e-Mail: smockingstore@att.net
Website: Garden Fairies Smocking & Needlearts Catalog
Smocking Newsletter - Beth-Katherine Kaiman, copyright 1997-2004, all rights reserved. Please respect my creativity and hard work and ask permission before you copy something from these newsletters for your non profit goup, I always ask that you quote me correctly and give me credit with a way for people to get back to me. Thank you. IF you wish to quote me in a venture for profit please contact me separately concerning royalties.
In this Issue:
From Our Readers
Christening Gown questions
<< I am getting ready to make a Christening Gown. This gown has smocking along with shadow embroidery. What material do you recommend that I use?---Lesley Brown >>
Dear Lesley,
The type of material you will want to use depends on the look you are going for. Shadow Embroidery can be done on almost every type of sheer fabric (with the exception of polyester). Organdy is nice, Silk Organza is nice, both with an underlayer of either cotton batiste or silk batiste - which would make a gown that floats. You can also use Swiss Batiste, Satin Batiste or Lawn for a lovely gown. Either of those three makes an elegant gown. Also handkerchief linen is lovely but usually ends up a wrinkled mess before the end of the ceremony. Imperial Batiste can also be used, it is a blend but a really nice fabric. <------Beth-Katherine
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<< Hello, I recently found out that I am having a boy and would like to make him a christening outfit. I made my little girl (now 2 1/2) her baptism dress (smocked, beaded and hand tatted the lace). However, I am stumped and do not know what to make for a boy. I really don't want the outfit to be a dress. Do you have any patterns that may be appropriate?
Sincerely,
Pamela R. Henry-Pollat
DAC Extension Home Economist >>
How about a blessing suit? I saw one in AS&E 45 which was real cute. Here is the description from the magazine "Blessings a shepherd suit (boy's christening outfit) of soft winter white twill sizes 6, 12, & 18 months. "
Another suggestion would be to make a non frou frou christening gown out of pique or linen or if you really like batiste lots of tucks tend to make a gown look more tailored than lots of lace.
Hope these ideas help,
Beth-katherine
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<<I found a plate by Grace Knott which refers to the turret stitch but haven't been able to find a description on how to make it anywhere, do you know? Debbie>>
Oh that's simple a whole step wave stitch, same as a baby wave except it's done from row to row. Guess they called it that because it looks like a turret tower in a castle from medieval times - you know how these English are. <------Beth
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Another suggestion for the Wheat Stitch
<<Beth, I was reading your instruction for wheat stitch and you can do this much more easily if you do the row of outline stitch first, then work the stem stitch above it. This way you will avoid the problem of having to squeeze the needle between the stitches and you can easily keep the needle horizontal. It does mean that the stitches angle differently but the overall effect is the same. . Hope this is of some help.<----Susan>>
Yes Susan this is one way of working the Wheat Stitch and probably the better way, but I wanted the ladies to get learn how to "squeeze the needle between the stitches" to prepare them for working other stitches which can't be done any other way.
I suggest you experiment both ways and see which is the easiest for you to do.
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<<Just thought I'd let you know that I think your new index is terrific--a really good resource. Also, a question about the baby bunting bag pattern--I don't see a price on it. I probably just haven't figured out how to get to the price list but it seems most other things are priced.
Thanks--love your newsletter! Valerie>>
Thanks Valerie I spent a long time arranging everything in order.
Never lend your car to anyone to whom you have given birth.--- Erma Bombeck