A Smocked Blessing Gown for Maggie

 When I went up to help mom and dad with Maggie after she was born, I asked them if they would like me to make her a smocked blessing gown.  They agreed, and I was so glad.

Unfortunately, other Christmas projects and a few unexpected sewing projects came up, along with difficulty getting the supplies I needed from my local heirloom sewing shop, and I found myself beginning the week after Christmas for a January 3rd blessing.  I discovered in the process that my eyes aren't as good as they were the last time I embarked on a smocking project, and that I was woefully out of practice.  I stitched at my daughter's over Christmas - at least as long as the light held.  I stitched on the plane on the way home, and at the USO while we waited half a day for our final flight.  New Year's Eve found me frantically embroidering the top and constructing the dress just hours before our drive to Atlanta the weekend of the blessing.

I improvised the smocking design, mostly because I found working from a pattern on an airplane fairly difficult, and because once I realize I had to have it finished in just a few hours, I needed to take a few shortcuts.  Fortunately, the dress construction fairly straightforward and it went together rather well.  I found the lace for the sleeves in my stash, thank goodness.

I planned to use lace for the hem, but didn't find any in my stash, and since I had forgotten to buy any, that was a problem.  Finally, my daughter who was visiting said, "Use rick-rack, Mom.  It's so sweet and innocent.  I love it."  I would probably never have considered it, but it worked well and ended up finishing the little dress nicely.

It was a pretty cold day for an outdoor baby blessing and a baby wearing a sleeveless cotton dress, but she looked beautiful, and I hope the dress will be an heirloom she can use for her own babies someday.

The Last Ornament of the Season

I started this ornament at the Stitch-In and finished it tonight.  It was really intended for another ornament exchange, but I didn't get it finished in time.   My friend Julie was so disappointed that she didn't get my smocked ornament in the Stitch-In swap, but she was number 4 and number 3 took my offering, so maybe I'll give it to her.

This is an Ellen McCarn pattern with adjustments to make it fit the ornament idea.  In any event, I enjoy making them.  They are easy and fun and they go quickly.

So, Merry Christmas, all.  Happy crafting!

The Stitch - In

Way back in the 60's, students sometimes protested by staging a sit-in.  They would invade a school administration office and sit there until their demands - whatever they were - were met.  Tonight I participated in a stitch-in.  Luckily, with this event, there were no demands made - just a great Christmas dinner, an ornament swap, and 6 or 7 hours of stitching and chatting.  I only knew 2 other ladies who attended (both from work) but it seemed like the other ladies and I had so much in common, I never felt like an outsider.

Some of the ladies were working on very elaborate projects.  One was making a plaid pillow - by stitching all the plaid herself (my friend Julie and I looked at each other and almost simultaneously said, "Wouldn't it be easier to just go to the fabric store?"  It is just possible that we have missed the point).  Another was making a 12 Days of Christmas Sampler.  Everyone had a project to work on.  I took Christmas gifts to finish.  Got some things finished, too.

While we were there, some of the ladies were talking about finishing their ornaments by making their own cording.  It seemed very complicated and like it was a lot of work.  (Here again, Julie and I looked at each other and said, "Don't they sell cording at Jo Ann's?  Again, I think perhaps we missed the point.)

The picture above is the ornament I made to swap.  It is very much like the first candy cane ornament I made, but I like this one better.  I exercised a little creativity, which is something I have trouble with the first time I make something, and added a little color.  I think the green jazzes it up a little.

I'm not sure the recipient liked it.  It was very non-traditional for that particular group of women (well, considering that the stitch-in itself was held at a needlework store, I guess that's not too surprising).  They were all working on counted cross stitch and needlepoint and other kinds of traditional embroidery.   She said she liked it.  And my friend Julie said she wished she had gotten it. 

Here is the ornament I received, made by Shirley R.  It is beautiful.  And it is much more traditional for this particular group.  I love the beading, and the buttons are adorable.  I love buttons.  I was very happy with my swap. 

Here is a close up of the detail.  The flash made it a little weird.  The color is almost a seafoam green and the beads are red and white.  Still, it's pretty cute, huh?

I have one more ornament to make for an ornament swap, and I actually started it at the stitch in.  It will be similar to the candy cane ornaments, but this one is Christmas lights.  Can't wait to see how it turns out.

My New Toy!

Newell Pleater

Look what came in the mail today!

What is this, you ask?  This is a Newell Pleater for smocking.  Now I can make my own pleated panels out of any fabric I choose.  

A couple of weeks ago, I finished two smocked ornaments for the Flickr Handmade Ornament Swap organized by Locodowo.  I am also a member of the Learning to Smock Yahoo Group.  The members of this group helped me improve my smocking when Beautiful Daughter #1 asked me to make Abby's blessing gown.  (I love to lurk on the site and see all the beautiful things people make, so when I made the ornaments, I shared them.)

I was grateful for the advice on the gown.  And honestly, it turned out better than I expected. It really was lovely. 

Then, for the ornament swap, I smocked these two ornamments.

I have been buying my pleated panels at Derrell's, the only heirloom sewing store in the area.  In fact, Mary at Derrell's pleated the ivory silk for the blessing dress.  But, when I finished the second ornament, I went back for more pleated panels and they were out of stock.  And I went back a week later, and they were still out of stock.  And then the third time they were still out.  Frustrating, to say the least.  Finally, I happened by on a Saturday morning just as Mary was pleating something for someone else.  I waited until she pleated my two little panels so I had something to smock.  I plan on a couple more ornaments and maybe something for Abby's first birthday.

Anyway, in my frustration, I commented on the Yahoo group that I had been unable to make any more ornaments due to lack of materials and a couple of days later this nice lady emailed me and offered to sell me the above pleater at what I think was a great price.

I know that they don't make the Newell pleater any more, and I also know that it doesn't have as many rows as some pleaters.  But needles are still available for it , and I generally only smock 10 rows anyway.  Except for the blessing gown, where I think I smocked 14 rows.  Anyway, it should fit most of my needs, and if I only smock a few things, it has paid for itself.

It came with the manual and extra needles.

 Now, I just have to figure out how to use it.

A Smocking We Will Go

 

Tonight I finished the second ornament for the Handmade Ornament swap.  I got the pattern online from maggiebsmocks.  Her instructions were great and very easy to follow.  She had great pictures.  Unlike maggieb's photos, the photo above was taken with my phone and therefore is not very crisp.  I think I need to work a little more on the "poles".  They just will not lay flat.  Must be a learning curve there I haven't grasped.  But, in general, I like it.  Another thing the photos don't show very well is the colors, which are aqua and red.  The beads are random colors, just to give the impression of ornaments.  I was toying with the idea of a jingle bell, but haven't decided yet whether I like the idea or not.

Meanwhile, I need to get the photos off the camera (which is not cooperating) so I can finish my tutorial.  I have tried everything I can think of to retrieve the pictures, so tomorrow I will take it to work and see if our computer guru can get them for me.  If not, I guess I'll try the camera store.  Barring that, the only other thing I can think of to do is to re-create the item so I have the pics I need.  Very frustrating.  For the most part, they weren't bad pictures.  I bought a new memory card, which I hope will solve the problem.  I'd hate to think it was the camera itself.  That would make me cry.