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  "Heirloom Sewing Books Page 2"

Baby Daygown Series by Mildred Gould, published by Nancy Coburn

Ginger Snaps has been publishing since 1985.  Nancy Coburn's product line includes designing patterns for heirloom sewing, smocking and writing wonderful instruction manuals for making gowns for babies which include patterns.  You can see her designs in almost every issue of Sew Beautiful and Creative Needle.  Her patterns and books are well known for their clear directions and excellent illustrations for Heirloom sewing, instructions are also included for adapting these patterns for French Handsewing Techniques, in fact she tends to spoil you with information.  Mildred Gould, the author of books 1-3 at the time of writing these books had been "sewing children's clothes for over 50 years but her first love was sewing daygowns - special creations with tiny tucks, lace insertions and edgings and delicate hand embroidery." (From Book One)

"Mildred Gould's machine sewing techniques are fast and easy and are especially helpful to the beginner seamstress.  For those of you who are handsewing enthusiasts, her patterns and designs may be adapted to French handsewing techniques.  These unique designs may be used to create your special baby's entire wardrobe or to make a quick and inexpensive (but very special) shower or baby gift."

Each book is a mini course in Heirloom sewing (or French Handsewing).  We are proud to offer these books to you and do apologize for not having them up on our website sooner.  (Oh and in case you are wondering about the term French Handsewing by Machine, it's the same as Heirloom Sewing.)

Each book includes:

Please click on image to see a larger view

Baby Daygowns Book I - Mildred Gould  $16.00

Book One contains daygown designs with back closing in either French Handsewing or Machine Sewing.  Four designs (as shown on cover) are included.  Newborn and Infant patterns, designs and easy machine techniques included.  Designs and Patterns may be adapted to French Handsewing Techniques (now known as Heirloom Sewing).

  • Sewing Techniques
    • Tucks
    • Lace Insertion
    • Attaching lace edging to a bias binding
    • Back Closings
    • French Seam
  • Basic French Handsewing by Machine Techniques
  • Neckline Variations
  • Sleeve Variations
  • Hemline Variations
In this book, Mildred Gould is sharing samples of her designs as well as some of her unique methods for designing and creating these special daygowns.  She calls sewing daygowns "play" rather than work because it truly is fun.

Price $16.00
Quantity requested    

Baby Daygowns Book II - Mildred Gould  $16.00

Book Two in the series expands the lessons learned in Book one but with Front button Closures.  "As in Baby Daygowns, Book I, instructions for various design guidelines and construction technique make it possible for you to create your own daygown designs, as well as sew the designs presented in this book.

Additional design features and style variations are included. They may be used interchangeable with the neckline, sleeve, and hemline variations and other design features presented in Book I.  Simply use the center front an center back of the garment, or the center point of a pattern piece such as a sleeve, as your beginning reference point and adjust the instructions accordingly.

The daygown designs presented because of the front button closing offer a wider variety of designs suitable for infant boys.

  • Sewing Techniques
    • Baby Slip
    • Kick Pleat for Daygown Back
    • Tucks
    • Lace Insertion
  • Front Button Closing Variations
  • Neckline Variations
  • Sleeve Variations
  • Daygown Construction

Price $16.00
Quantity requested    

Baby Daygowns Book III - Mildred Gould  $16.00

Book III brings you what is perhaps the fastest and easiest of all daygown designs - the raglan sleeve daygown.  The simpler raglan sleeve daygown designs are ideal for quick-to-sew baby gifts.  The design of the ragland sleeve itself makes it an easier daygown to sew and it makes dressing the baby easier.

Raglan sleeve daygown designs are suitable for both infant girls and infant boys.  A variety of front button closings, including those found in Book II, and the variety of sleeve styles included in all three daygown books, provide yet another opportunity to design and create unique and special daygowns. Color variations using pink, blue or yellow embroidery or bias bindings on a white daygown expand this opportunity. A very special smocked variation of the raglan sleeve daygown in included.

  • Smocked Ragland Sleeve Daygown
  • Front Button Closing Variations
  • Neckline Variations
  • Sleeve Variations

Price $16.00
Quantity requested    

Baby Daygowns Book IV - Nancy Coburn  $16.00

Preemie, 15" Baby Doll, Newborn and Infant Patterns Included.

This edition continues the Baby Daygown series by Mildred Gould.  "It contains a wide variety of variations of daygowns based on the raglan style including five smocking designs for both traditional English Smocking and combined with silk ribbon embroidery, smocking with pearls and picture smocking. One daygown design is a copy of an antique daygown. It features tucks and lace, held in place with French knots. This design, completed with bullion roses, is ideal for girls. Make a few minor changes, including substituting buttons instead of bullion roses, and you have a design even reluctant fathers will accept for their infant sons.

  • Daygown front variations
    • Smocked Daygown Front
    • Antique Daygown with Tucks and Lace
    • Daygown with Vertical Insertion
    • Machine Embroidery or Shadow Work Variation
  • Lace Techniques
  • Sewing Techniques
  • Smocking Designs instructions
  • Back Closings
  • Neckline Variations
  • Sleeve Variations
  • Hemline Variations
  • Tuck and Lace Placement guideline

Price $16.00
Quantity requested    

Baby Daygowns Book V - by Nancy Coburn  $16.00

The latest in the wonderful baby daygown series, complete with patterns and instructions for the garments shown on the cover.  Includes variations which appear to be specially gender-suited.   The smocked variations have sleeve and neckline treatments that some people may classify as feminine - too lacey for an infant boy.  The same is true for the two 'boy' daygowns, the designs that are simple and tailored.   However, any of the neckline, sleeve, and hemline treatments may be interchanged to create dozens of daygown variations.  

The sacque length may be used on any of the daygowns presented.  Sized 5-lb Preemie, Newborn, and Infant Patterns included.

Price $16.00
Quantity requested    

Baby Daygowns Book VI - by Nancy Coburn  $16.00

Heirloom Daygown Designs from the 1920's ....Yoke Design for heirloom sewing techniques.  Perfect for machine embroidery designs as well as hand embroidery.  Using the pattern as a canvas for the heirloom sewing fabrics you create by attaching lace insertion to swiss beading and embroideries.  Use the designs included in the booklet or make up your own.

Included within are:

  • Pull-out pattern in multi-sizes for 5-pound preemie, newborn, and infant
  • Heirloom sewing by machine techniques
  • Four variations with interchangeable neckline, sleeve, and hemline treatments
  • Tailored design for infant boys
  • Embroidery designs included
  • Detailed step-by-step instructions with numerous photographs and illustrations

Price $16.00
Quantity requested    

Baby Daygowns Book VII - by Nancy Coburn  $16.00

This volume of daygowns was created for designs for embroidery either by Machine or by Hand, but primarily with machine embroidery in mind.  Can also be used for monogramming, hand embroidery or shadow work, outline stitch designs, as well as traditional embroidery designs which are included.  

Center front pleat variation showcases the embroidery on the skirt ....notice how the gathers in the skirt fold away from the embroidery because of the pleat.   Simple construction is great for beginners.  Neckline and sleeve embellishment include cording and flat trims which are hand whipped to the finished edge...no heirloom sewing is included, although variations may be adapted to heirloom sewing and hand embroidery

More than 4 variations

  • Hemline variations include plain hem, false hem, and flat trim hand whipped to the finished edge
  • Long puff sleeve, long straight sleeve, and short puff sleeve
  • Detailed step-by-step instructions with numerous photographs
  • Fast and easy baby gifts
  • Pull-out pattern in sizes preemie, newborn, and infant

Price $16.00
Quantity requested    

Kimono Sleeve Daygowns Book - by Nancy Coburn  $16.00 Ltd. Ed.

Here is another limited edition by Nancy in the Daygown Series (get it now otherwise it might be gone).   "Contains pull-out patterns in sizes Preemie, Newborn and Infantfor an antique Christening gown and embroidered antique daygown which are sewn using traditional heirloom sewing fabrics and laces.  In addition, you will find easy-t-sew designs which are suitable for a variety of fabrics.  These simpler variations may be made of fabrics like cashmere flannel, Swiss Flannel, brushed cotton, piques, and broadcloths.  Detailed instructions are incluced for neckline, sleeve, and hemline variations.  Embroidery designs are included as well.  Whatever you choice of fabric or embellishment, you are sure to find the kimono sleeve daygown one of the easiets you have ever sewn."

Price $16.00
Quantity requested    

Button-on diaper covers for boys and girls
Sizes: Preemie, Newborn, Small, Medium, and Large

A delightful book filled with dozens of variations, using the combinations presented in this book with pull-out pattern in sizes. You will find fast and easy construction techniques with numerous photographs and illustrations. Instructions for cording, Swiss eyelet edging, and entredeux and lace edging. Embellishment with hand embroidery, machine embroidery, decorative buttons. Measurement charts and guidelines included. Perfect for baby gifts....fast and easy. Great projects for using embroidery machines.

Price $16.00
Quantity requested    

Ginger Snaps Designs - Patterns


Victorian Treasures by Debbie Glenn of Love and Stitches

This thick paperback book is filled with a lovely collection of nostalgic needlework projects with step by step illustrated instructions for over 30 designs.  Techniques included to reproduce hand cutwork, Australian windowpane, and high relief embroidery using a zigzag sewing machine.

Also included are two circa 1908 alphabets, patterns, vintage embroidery motifs, Jack Frost smocking design, and a complete trousseau for baby.  Trust me you'll be a happy person once you open up this book, so much to see, so many projects to make it will be hard to choose your first one to do.

Price $26.00
Quantity requested    


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