October, you have plenty of time. My daughter only gave me 6 weeks to make the gown and bonnet and I ordered a lot on line (before Covid). Depending on your color of embroidery floss, but I was hand stitching with blue perle cotton floss, I think it's called. I made this 15 years ago so memory not good-lol. I used the old wooden pencils you get in the fabric department at walmart. Because I used blue floss and blue pencil, I wasn't too concerned if not all my marks came out, but mine did. Don't be confused with Mark-Be-Gone, as that is NOT what I am speaking of. I did a light tracing on white voile over skirt. We have Baby Dedication, not christening, so they can wear a color or what they want. All three of my daughters wore this. Good luck dear-Toogie