Choose fabric type and color
Fabric types:
- 100% cotton Nelona
- 100% cotton batiste
- Handkerchief linen
- Silk dupioni
- Cotton poly blend eyelet
- Your other fabric desires as available as special order (allow extra time)
Fabric colors:
- Most fabrics are available in white, cream, and ecru
- Pastel fabrics may need to be ordered (allow extra time)
Decide on a basic style such as tailored, fancy, or even your fantasy gown
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Consider length of gown
- Consider fullness of gown around the bottom
- Consider any details you know you want on the gown
- If you have a particular gown pattern already picked out, I will make it up with any changes you desire.
- If you have a picture of a gown you would like copied I will work with it to make the gown you desire.
Decide on basic gown details
Yoke style:
- Round
- High straight yolk
- Low (nearer the waist area) straight yolk
- No yolk (princess style or other non-yolk style)
- Embellishment details such as pin tucks, embroidering, lace shaping
Collar style and embellishment or simple lace trim or no collar or trim
Sleeve length, fullness, embellishment or design details, and how the bottom of the sleeve will be finished
Skirt:
- Length
- Shaped panels or straight pieces
- Amount of fullness
- Fancy band with insertions, tucks, etc.
- Lace shaping or embroidered details
- Pin tucking or wider tucking detailing
- Other details
Hem Treatment:
- Fabric ruffle (lace edging optional)
- Lace ruffle
- Madera appliqué
- Tucks and a hem
Back closure: buttons and buttonholes, ribbon closure, or beauty pins. An internal drawstring to adjust fit may be optional on some low yolk styles
Embroideries:
- Size
- Subject matter: religious symbols, flowers, bows, etc.
- All white or ecru or with added touches of color
Laces:
- All laces and insertions will be subject to availability
- Mixing laces makes for a more interesting gown
- If you have a particular width of lace or design motif in mind, I will attempt to find it.
- Venice lace and tatting can be very charming and will work well with heavier fabrics.
- Venice lace is not as durable as cotton lace.
Slips can have a yolk that mimics that on the gown or can be A line. They can have a fancy band, ruffle on the bottom, or may be simply finished with a row of lace. The style of the gown will to a large extent dictate the style of the slip. The slip will be a little shorter than the gown unless its bottom detailing is an integral part of the bottom of the gown design. Slips will usually be made of cotton batiste fabric for the baby's comfort.
Size: Make sure you order your gown large enough. If you want this gown to be used by other babies it is best to order it at least 6 months to 18 month size. Not all babies are baptized or dedicated as newborns. Longer styles and looser fitting gowns will also be more versatile for future generations. When we do our phone consultation, I will be asking you questions about your baby's length, chest circumference, and age. For older children, I will need even more measurements to ensure a correct fit. I will need to rely on you to take accurate measurements.
If you have a specific christening gown pattern in mind or want me to recreate a gown from an old picture please call me. I have a number of Christening gown patterns in my library. If I do not have the pattern you want, I will purchase it and return it along with your finished gown.
I like to line the yolks of most gowns unless there is extensive lace shaping detail that would be lost with a lining. A lining provides more stability to the gown and a neater inside appearance. I use French seams or line areas so there are very few seams that could rub on the baby's skin. I use some culture techniques along with heirloom techniques to give you a truly one of a kind gown. I never use elastic on a gown as it will not last. I often use a ribbon threaded through a beading insertion or embroidered fancy stitch to pull in the excess fullness at the bottom of a sleeve. These techniques allow for adjustment of the fullness.
If you have some pieces of antique laces or linens that you would like incorporated into the gown I will plan the gown's design around them.
All embroideries on my gown are done by embroidery machines. I do not do hand embroidery or hand smocking so if you want these details on a gown you will need to seek out a different designer.
I recommend that the slip or gown be personalized with the baby's name and birth date. This is done by machine embroidery and is beautiful. It also makes your garment truly an heirloom for future generations to treasure. You may also want to add the parents' names, date and location of baptism, dedication, or Christening. See the order form for additional costs for personalization. Items that have been personalized are not returnable but if I make a mistake I will correct it. All personalized items must have the information approved by E mail or regular mail prior to my doing the actual embroidery.
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