One of my dearest friends had her first baby this spring. I was so excited and happy for her, and so sad to be thousands of miles away, that (in what I hoped I wouldn't have to describe as a fit of crafting over-confidence) I offered to make her baby a christening gown.
When we were having Pippo baptized, we had not one, but two beautiful heirloom gowns to choose from. One from each side of our family. (We couldn't actually choose, and ended up using pieces from both, which worked out perfectly.)
As a convert to Catholicism, Claire was baptized as an adult, just a week or two before we met (at daily Mass!) during our first week of college. She didn't have an heirloom christening gown; she had a baptism dress, which was pretty, and served her well on many other occasions. But it isn't exactly something she could hand down to her babies.
So, after looking at Etsy listings of expensive baptismal gowns with her and oohing and ahhing together over the phone at the tucks and lace, I decided that I could make one. Not that I had any experience that would suggest I could. But I figured: a baptismal gown is (relatively) simple in design and small in size. What makes it special are the materials used and the care that goes into making it. I can do that, right?
The pattern I used was Simplicity 5813, which was the one I found that had the traditional styling we were looking for and also had the three pieces I wanted to make: slip, gown, and bonnet. Most importantly, it was actually, physically in stock at my local JoAnn's. Can we just all agree that it makes projects a million times easier if you don't need to track each element down from the far reaches of the Internets?
Of course, I can't leave well enough alone, and did change it in a few places to make the gown longer, add inset lace, and a few other little things.
The back of the slip. |
The fabric I used was an organic white cotton batiste, and it was really lovely. The lace is also cotton, which I ordered from Etsy, and let me tell you: searching for trim in the supplies section is a enchanting and dangerous business. I wouldn't suggest doing it unless you have quite a bit of time and/or self-control.
But goodness, is it fun.
I did it all by hand, mostly in the evenings after Pippo was in bed. I hadn't made anything entirely by hand in some time, and it was so satisfying! I love the contemplative aspect of sewing; I sent many prayers little Julia's way while I worked on this.
My poor mother must have fielded a million questions from me as I tried to interpret the pattern (I think I've only sewn from a pattern like this one other time) and figure out how to do it all. She informed me that I needed to use silk thread (in fact, she sent a spool along with my visiting mother-in-law) and French seams (I had to google that, and then had to figure out how to adapt the pattern to account for them).
I made my first buttonholes! I found a great tutorial online (sorry, I have no memory of where!) that warned in the directions to practice first. “Don't make your first buttonhole the top button of your wedding gown!” I thought that was very smart, because of course I was (basically) planning on doing just that.
So I did one practice one and then worked from the bottom up. That top one was my fourth buttonhole, and my best one.
The outside of the bonnet was a sweet dotted Swiss cotton, and the inside was the same batiste.
I packed it all up and sent it off just in time for Julia's baptism on the other side of the country.
She looked beautiful, though I can't take any credit for that. She's a pretty darling little girl!
Julia with her parents and grandparents. |
Isn't she? She also looks like she entered into the Church very peacefully, which was well-behaved of her. (Pippo came in kicking and screaming.)
I was so happy to be able to make something special for this special little girl and her family. Hopefully they are able to use it for many baptisms to come!
Cary says
Absolutely beautiful! I do have a question, why a slip, too? Is it for baby's warmth? Since my babies were in the hot Arizona desert, there wasn't much need for keeping them warm, so I am just curious. Or is it for fullness?
_Rosie says
Cary, both our family gowns have a slip, which is the main reason why I wanted one – it seemed like the thing to do! But the batiste is so fine (semi-sheer is what the description said of the one I bought) that you really need two layers to keep it from being see-through. Plus, I think the extra layers make it seem fancier.
My mother-in-law tells of baptizing her son in only one of the layers during an especially hot Dallas summer. She took photos several months later of him in the full gown to satisfy the sticklers for tradition, but said she just couldn't bear to make him wear it all then!
Anne Marie says
Just BEAUTIFUL! My mother made one very similar when I was expecting the first grandchild. We pass it around among siblings when there is a new baby, and each name and baptism date is embroidered on the back lining of the slip.
Lisa G. says
Isn't she a cute little thing – such cheeks! You did a wonderful job – looks perfect! And the buttonholes – I can't do them at all. But otherwise, sewing by hand is a nice, quiet thing to do and you really have a lot of control over everything when it's right in your hands like that.
Mary says
I have made many Christening gowns for friends and a few of my nieces and nephews as well (there are some twins in my family so an extra gown was needed a time or two). They are my favorite garment to make. Some of them I have smocked and some I have down more simply. The Simplicity pattern you chose is my favorite. Simple and elegant lending itself to lots of embellishment.
The fact that you did it bind hand is AMAZING!! It is a beautiful piece of work. I have made all of mine by machine and then added the lace embellishments and buttonholes by hand. I also love the French Seams (which I did by machine as well). They really complete the garment and lend to an heirloom feel.
Job well done Rosie!! Before you know it you'll be making Pippo some overalls or maybe even his Easter Suit!
Happy Sewing!
Margo says
that is exquisite! Why did you sew it all by hand…..? Is there some religious significance to that?
_Rosie says
Margo, no religious significance – I just didn't trust my old sewing machine (or my sewing machine skills) with the fine fabric and tiny work. I don't always feel entirely in control with my machine, and wanted to be in control on this project!
Jenny says
that is just gorgeous! Nice work
Katie says
What a beautiful gown!! Thank you for sharing all of the photos! I had been thinking that I wanted to do something similar, but had no idea how to go about it. In the heirloom post you linked to, it was promised that you would make a post about the nursery. I would love to hear about how you put together your nursery. 🙂
_Rosie says
Katie, it really wasn't *hard* – it just took time and good materials. You can do it!
While I was cleaning up Pippo's room the other day I was realizing I never posted about it. I'll try and take some pictures and see what I can do!
Margaret says
I also in a moment of insane ambition decided to make a christening gown for my daughter as one of my first sewing projects. It came out pretty well, but I'm much better at sewing now and am always fantasizing about making a fancier one down the road.
From the picture of the baptism, I realized that Julia's dad went to school with me! It's so funny that you know them, too.
Kristen says
What a beautiful gift, especially for a friend who is a convert. My husband and I are both adult converts, so I have an idea of what that kind of gift — the start of a Catholic family heirloom — must have meant to her. My oldest daughter is preparing for her first Holy Communion this year, and we are also starting from scratch when it comes to clothing and traditions. In fact, I think we are going to borrow an idea from your family, and try to find a mantilla-type veil which she could also use for her wedding (and hopefully pass down to her daughters and so on). I showed her your wedding photo (and your sisters'), and she seemed taken with the idea (it didn't hurt that she was looking at three beautiful brides while I described it). So thank you for the inspiration!
One of the thrilling things about being a convert is the ongoing discovery as one works one's way through the treasure trove of Catholic traditions and devotions. On the other hand, I'm always aware that we are the ones who are starting ALL of the faith traditions in our little family. That's one of the reasons that I love this blog!
Amy says
Beautiful. Simply beautiful.
Emily says
I am ridiculously impressed, Rosie! What an amazing gift for your friend.
Betsy M says
That gown is so beautiful and the baby precious. What a wonderful gift!
Deirdre says
Aww – beautiful! A lovely little gown.
Julia is such a cutie!
Melanie says
So pretty, I love all the details…
I have an heirloom gown that I was baptised in and now my two three daughters have worn it. It also has a slip, and a dress, and then this overdress part too…and a bonnet. 🙂 Definitely warm in our southern summers. But my biggest issue is size. Babies were a lot smaller 30-some years ago, and my babies are big…I have to get them baptized quick! lol…one of my babies was born just after Lent, and our parish (for some reason) doesn't do baptism during Lent, so there was a long time to wait for our turn afterwards….even though we reserved the date immediately, it was several weeks before she was bapitzed, and she was pretty snug in that dress. 🙂
Lynn says
Wow. It's beautiful! What a lovely gift.
Elizabeth says
It's absolutely lovely! I was wondering, though, why the silk thread was imperative? I would have guessed that one should use cotton thread with cotton fabric. Do you know the reason? I'm just curious. What a wonderful gift for your friend; I'm sure she'll treasure it, and the memory of all the time you spent. How special to be able to pray for the baby as you went along. Sometimes it is nice to just slow down a bit! (I can't imagine praying for the recipient while sewing anything by machine – it takes too much focus not to sew my fingers to the fabric!)
_Rosie says
Hmm, Elizabeth… I'm not sure. I think it's stronger, maybe? Maybe my mom can chime in. I just blindly followed her advice, I guess!
_Rosie says
(It definitely felt strong, and was lovely and smooth. Maybe that was part of it, too?)
Habou says
Rosie, this Christening gown is so beautiful as are the other two pieces. Awesome job. I'm so proud of you.
Anne Marie's family has a beautiful tradition; embroidering each baby's name and baptism date on the back lining of the slip. How wonderful!
Claire says
This is Julia’s mother posting. The christening gown is even more beautiful in person, if that’s even possible! It’s one of the loveliest gifts anyone has ever given me (us) — we just love it. Rosie, we were so touched by all the time, thought, and prayers you devoted to Julia. The gown is definitely something that will be treasured by our family for a long time!
polly says
This is ABSOLUTELY gorgeous–such an heirloom!! We used an heirloom dress (not a christening gown) for our daughter's baptism and an heirloom boy-ensemble for our son's (he was 1). This is inspiring me to make a christening gown for our family!
Astrid says
The gown is beautiful! And I am in awe of your hand sewing skills! (My own leave much to be desired, among them the ability to sew a straight seam…)
There are two baptismal gowns in my family, one made by my paternal grandmother when my eldest cousin was born and one made by my maternal grandmother when I was born. I think the reason a second gown was made was that I was a large baby (as were all my siblings). It is made from an old pattern which assumes that it might take som time before a baby can safely be taken to church for baptism (think wintertime on a remote mountain farm in a time before cars), and I think it would even fit a one-year old! Also, like all norwegian baptismal gowns I have seen, it is made to be worn over normal (light coloured) baby clothes. When our twins were baptized, it was very nice to have two baptismal gowns in my family, as there are none on my husband's side.
Maureen says
What a beautiful gift for so many reasons – and a beautiful friendship.
Ashley says
Beautiful!
Anne says
So beautiful. What a lovely gift.
Anne Franklin says
I love the idea of using doted swiss for the cap. My mother is a seamstress. I've watched her make many an heirloom christening gown, but each own carries its own special beauty, including this one. Lovely.
_Leila says
I am so proud of Rosie for making this gown! What a commitment! The silk thread, for those who asked, is important for the buttonholes especially. Silk is so strong and lustrous, and just adds what Habou calls “that finishing touch” to the creation.
And might as well use it for the rest, as well. Since the fabric is so fine, and the work is by hand, it's nice to have something that is light and strong to work with.
Anne-Marie says
Lovely!
I don't know what my sisters and I wore for our baptisms, but when I first became pregnant, my mother offered to make a gown. Poor thing, she had to make two, because I had twins! Our gowns are not as delicate as yours; the fabric and lace are heavier, but the lace was brought to the US when my mother's family immigrated here from China. My grandmother knitted the caps.
I can't wait to have grandchildren who can wear them!
Kathy says
Oh Rosie, that's lovely! My son is being baptized this Saturday, and I've started embroidering the initials and baptism years of the babies who have used the gown. The last one to use it was my older son, so I've got to catch up and add him!
Ngofamilyfarm says
What a blessing you are to your friend and her family! Wow, I'm just in awe of how beautiful that gown is. So precious! Beautiful work.
-Jaime
Briana says
Rosie, that is amazing!!! And, how loving and sweet that you made it by hand. We don't get to show our love with time much more, and when we do, it's so special to know that every stitch is a prayer.
Maria says
Beautiful! This totally blew me away, and that was BEFORE I read that it was all hand sewn! Gorgeous job!
günstige taufkleider says
Ein Schwerpunkt im Familienladen 24 ist die Freizeitgestaltung für die ganze Familie. Ein schönes Familienleben gibt Kraft für den Alltag und hilft, die kleinen und großen Schwierigkeiten des Lebens zu meistern.
sommer taufkleid says
Ein Schwerpunkt im Familienladen 24 ist die Freizeitgestaltung für die ganze Familie. Ein schönes Familienleben gibt Kraft für den Alltag und hilft, die kleinen und großen Schwierigkeiten des Lebens zu meistern.
Alex Gager says
Baby is really cute and looking extremely beautiful in that baptizing dress ! the concept of making baptist dresses a very special one is getting common now!
Cheryl says
Thank you so much for this pin. I have been looking at patterns and I just love your gown. I shall definately use this pattern and adapt it to incorporate my embroidery ideas.