The Making of a Christening Dress
Saturday, July 4, 2009
I should have smacked myself upside the head. I’d had a month to get the Christening gown for Sophia completed, but ended up finishing it just a few hours before her Baptism.
Beyond my usual procrastination, I have a habit of “designing as I go.” I usually have an idea of what I want it to look like. However, I continually change design elements and always end up with something totally different from my original design. Am I the only one who does this?
Working with silk shantung is challenging to say the least. And trying to set the tiniest gathered sleeves is beyond nerve-wracking!
Then I sewed lace and tatting to tulle. At least I was smart enough to do it flat (before sewing up the side seams of the skirts).
But the worst was trying to gather 6 skirt layers (1 cotton batiste, 3 tulle, 1 netted lace and 1 silk shantung overskirt) and attach them to the tiny silk shantung bodice.
Whew! DONE! To give you an idea of size…this dress bodice is a size 3 months…LOL! It just looks bigger in photos. Ok, so the dress is huge…I think it measures about 48 inches. And oh my…it was HEAVY!
At the last minute, I decided to do these silk dupioni spider web roses. I’ll post a quick tutorial this week (once I get another manicure), so everyone can make some, too.
To make dressing the baby easy, I used large sewn-in snaps and covered them with no-functioning rhinestone buttons.
Here’s a close-up of all the skirt layers. I’ve made several special occasion dresses, but never a Christening dress. This was a first. I’ve been collecting vintage laces and tatting for ages and loved using them for such a precious little girl!
Meet Sophia, daughter of my dear friend, Diana (aka Diana of Not Just Bagels)! The Christening gown fit Sophia perfectly! It was such a feeling of accomplishment to see Sophia in the Christening dress.
Sophia enjoyed sucking on the big silk roses. Isn’t she beautiful?
Diana loved the dress and is going to put it in a huge shadow box to display in Sophia’s room.
Wishing everyone a Happy 4th of July!
Entry Filed under: SEWING, childrens boutique, childrens clothing, clothing manufacturer, custom boutique, design entrepeneur, fabric, fabrics, fabricstash, fashion design, handmade, patternmaking, serger, sew, sewing contractor, sewing machine, sewing patterns, sewing room, sewing studio, sewingpattern, sewingroom, sewn, stash. .
1.
Mary | Saturday, July 4, 2009 at 9:06 PM
My beautiful friend, that dress is truly a work of art. And a labor of love. Worth every bit of effort you put into it.
And, yes, I sometimes wing it as I go! LOL!
2.
Dana | Saturday, July 4, 2009 at 9:43 PM
WOW! I’ve been following your blog for a while and love all of your stuff, but oh my goodness, that dress is absolutely breathtaking! What a lucky, little girl! That is just amazing – like a beautiful wedding dress! I think it’s a fabulous idea to have it in a huge shadowbox – what a special piece of decor! It will instantaneously make the room “fit for a princess”! Have you considered something like “Project Runway”???
3.
2fun4u | Saturday, July 4, 2009 at 10:33 PM
Lisa,
That is fabulous!!!
Diane
4.
Michelle Jadaa | Sunday, July 5, 2009 at 7:05 AM
ahh lovely.What a work of art and love!She will treasure it always:)
5.
tattingchic | Sunday, July 5, 2009 at 9:20 AM
That gown is absolutely GORGEOUS I love the roses on the bodice and that skirt! WOW!
You know what is really cute about the tatted edging that you used? The name of it is “hens and chicks”! How appropriate for a christening gown for a little chicky!
6.
kacey | Sunday, July 5, 2009 at 11:09 AM
WOW !! Lisa! Beautiful. I read every blog post you write- but I read it in my blog reader so I rarely click over to comment (sorry!!!) but I had to come over and tell you just how amazing and beautiful this dress is. I am so glad you shared- its gorgoeus!
7.
MsJHyde | Sunday, July 5, 2009 at 2:19 PM
Hello,
The dress is truly a work of art! You are so talented and the parents are blessed with a beautiful baby.
8.
Cathy | Sunday, July 5, 2009 at 4:59 PM
The dress is absolutely gorgeous and Sophia looks like a big beautiful doll in it. I love those roses and the buttons and laces are divine. All perfect details. You did a fabulous job on it!
9.
keagansmom | Monday, July 6, 2009 at 1:44 AM
That is beautiful!
10.
Helena Dank | Monday, July 6, 2009 at 9:29 AM
that is so beautiful!! *sigh*
11.
seemommysew | Monday, July 6, 2009 at 11:08 AM
That is just gorgeous!!!
12.
Frances L | Monday, July 6, 2009 at 6:02 PM
I’ve missed seeing your beautiful dresses, Lisa. Sophia looks wonderful in it.
13.
Dena Martin | Tuesday, July 7, 2009 at 4:43 PM
You did a beautiful job on the christening gown. I understand completely about designing as you go. I too have this affliction and struggle with it on many projects.
Let me know if you ever find a cure!
14.
thedomesticdiva | Tuesday, July 7, 2009 at 5:02 PM
you girls have me blushing! Thank you so much for your sweet words!
With friendship,
Lisa
15.
Kathleen Fasanella | Wednesday, July 8, 2009 at 9:39 AM
That’s one of the most beautiful dresses I’ve ever seen. I’ve only seen all white ones, the roses were an excellent departure.
16.
thedomesticdiva | Wednesday, July 8, 2009 at 9:53 AM
Awww…thanks Kathleen!
17.
Christening Gowns | Wednesday, July 8, 2009 at 10:37 PM
This Christening gown came out just gorgeous! Great job on making it!
18.
Lisa Martin | Thursday, July 9, 2009 at 4:26 PM
that’s breathtaking! I love it. And I love how you casually say “oh I made this” like I’d say “oh I flossed today!” lol
Thank you for sharing
19.
thedomesticdiva | Thursday, July 9, 2009 at 5:53 PM
thanks!
Lisa…you made me giggle. If you coulld have seem me sweating through it…LOL
20.
melany | Friday, July 10, 2009 at 9:51 AM
Holy Moly. That is amazing. Great job. Thanks for sharing.
21.
Barbara | Saturday, July 18, 2009 at 8:08 PM
Oh how lovely, the christening dress is just beautiful! I made a christening dress last year for my grand neice, from my mothers wedding dress. She is 84 year young and just loved seeing her great grand daughter in a christening dress made from her wedding dress.. It was a special day. Loved your technique of making the roses, would love to try that soon!
22.
Veronica Treen | Wednesday, July 22, 2009 at 10:06 PM
Beautiful, beautiful dress.
Here’s a tip that may be helpful. To reduce thickness of layers needing to be gathered onto a tiny bodice. Attach 2 pettcoat layers together by stitching one layer 2 or so inches below the other. This way you still have the two petticoats for the bottom of dress but only 1 layer of fabric to gather onto the bodice.
I wing my sewing all the time as I make stage cosutmes for dancing performances and get asked to create crazy things like light up skirts etc.