Christening gowns have traditionally been made of the finest fabrics available. A thin weight cotton or linen fabric or silk fabrics were traditional choices when these gowns were handmade. Many of the currently available mass produced gowns are made of polyester silk or satin type fabrics. Laces were traditionally French, English, or Swiss in origin.
There are advantages and disadvantages of most fabrics. The more you know about the fabrics the better choices you will be able to make when planning your christening gown. Unfortunately most pictures of white fabrics all look about the same. If you go into a high end fabric store a helpful clerk should be able to show you examples of these types of fabrics. Unfortunately, most of us do not have such a store close by. If you are unsure of a choice for fabric for your baby's special gown, call or E mail me and I will mail you small swatches of a couple of fabrics so you can feel them.
Cottons. Thin cottons are a very traditional choice for heirloom quality gowns. 100% cotton fabrics will wrinkle. Cotton is a strong fabric and generally will last for many generations. Stains can usually be removed from cotton fabrics successfully. It is also is breathable which makes it more comfortable for baby to wear.
Swiss made Batiste or Nelona. 100% cotton fabric imported from Switzerland. Nelona has a gorgeous sheen. It comes in a variety of pastel colors and is very soft. It is considered an ultimate heirloom fabric. Swiss Batiste is slightly heavier than Nelona and doesn't have a sheen.
100% cotton American made Batiste. A little less expensive fabric. It is slightly heavier than Swiss Nelona.
Silk. Silk is also a strong fabric but is not as strong as cotton. Most solid colored silks like dupioni can be laundered if pre-laundered prior to construction. Silk does wrinkle and will need to be ironed on the wrong side. Spot removal can be difficult. Most white silks will naturally yellow in time. Silk fabrics do not provide the longevity of cotton or linen fabrics but will probably last for at least a couple of generations. Silk has a lovely sheen and is a luxury fabric.
Silk dupioni. This fabric will be prelaundered prior to construction. This softens the fabric and will allow you to launder the gown after your baby’s special day. This is a heavier fabric than cotton batiste but is very breathable. It is perfect for a masculine christening gown.
Silk batiste. A more luxurious alternative to cotton batistes.
Embroidered or patterned silks. These can be beautiful for detail work on a gown. Since most of these fabrics are meant for women's special occasions or bridal wear, the scale of design may not be appropriate for a baby.
Linen. Linen is an elegant choice for a Christening gown. Handkerchief linen which has been laundered and dried is used for these gowns. Linen is a very strong and durable fabric and will last for generations. It is breathable. It may yellow with age but can be whitened with non chlorine bleaches.
Cotton/Polyester eyelet. These are a cotton and polyester blended fabric with an all over machine embroidery and usually with one edge of the fabric having a finished embroidered edge. Since this fabric is a blend it will resist wrinkling and should need minimal ironing. It may tend to yellow over time and stains may be more difficult to remove due to the polyester used in the blend.
Cotton/Polyester batiste. If you hate to iron this may be good choice for a child’s dress or everyday wear. It is a strong fabric that will resist wrinkling and can be machine washed and dried. It is difficult to get crisp details like pin tucks or winged needle work on a cotton/polyester batiste.
Laces or nettings. These are often used as an overskirt. They can create a fantasy touch. It is important to remember that these may not be as durable as the base fabrics. I don't like to use 100% polyester in an heirloom quality gown.
Remember that polyester and nylon fabrics may yellow in time and it may be impossible to remove stains or return the gown to it’s original color.
Bridal fabric are choices but tend to be heavier and if patterned the scale of the pattern may be too large for a baby’s gown.
Laces and insertions. Fine English, French , or Swiss Cotton laces are used for Christening gowns. These are very delicate looking and are soft but will also last for future generations. Nylon laces are stiff and will yellow in time. Rayon Venice lace is an option but will not have the durability of cotton lace. Cotton tatted lace is another option that can be beautiful for trim around the neckline or a gown. The following pictures give you examples of some of these laces.
Buttons. Mother of pearl or shell buttons will be used on heirloom quality gowns. If you prefer, the gown can be finished with ribbon ties or left plain so beauty pins can be used instead. Ribbons and beauty pins allow for greater flexibility of fit for future generations.
Care of your Christening Gown. You will receive laundering instructions with your gown. It is critical that you hand launder your Christening gown within a few days of your baby’s special day. If you know that there are spots on the gown you may use biz/boost on 100% cotton gowns. Do not allow the spots to set or it may be impossible to remove them in the future. Dry the gown flat on a white towel or white cotton sheet on a drying rack. Lightly press out the worst of the wrinkle with a warm iron. Wrap the gown in acid free tissue paper or an old well washed cotton sheet. A piece of washed unbleached muslin can also be used to wrap the gown. Lightly stuff pieces of the acid free tissue paper into the sleeves to help maintain their shape. Also put tissue paper or use the sheet in the folds of the gown. Completely wrap the gown in an old well washed sheet and store in a cool, dry place such as a dresser drawer. Do not store in close contact with wood such as lying close to the wood portion of a cedar chest. You should refold the gown periodically. I will send a small packet with some of your gown fabric and laces for so future generations may use them for any needed repairs.
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