My DD wants a christening dress .....OMG....is she crazy?
 

My DD just texted me with pics of the dress she expects me to make for newest granddaughter Willow. While I can make quilts, bags, table runners and lots of other things, but this dress scares me! I can't imagine spending the money for the fabric, and heaven forbid I should make an oops. Am I the only one who gets crazy requests like this?


oops, wrong pic....and now can't find the right one....anyway, the dress is all lace, beads, many layers.

Oh, yes!!! One thing to do is make the dress out of a less expensive fabric...you could probably use muslim or an inexpensive fabric similar to the fabric you plan to use for the final dress...make sure the pattern is correct and make any adjustments needed, then make the actual dress. If you have an embroidery machine or pleater you can do smocking. Haven't tried smocking myself, but I belong to a yahoo group that has tutorials/designs for smocking. And you can integrate embroidery designs into the smocking.

Good luck!!!

While I would be equally as scared, it's a better request than I usually get from DH. Those usually involve making fabric out of thin air! Or fixing boat covers or the like!

I enjoyed making my children's Baptismal dresses and my sister's wedding gown--the children's were made with fine muslin and my sister bought her own heavy satin and lace. If I got hit with a request I felt would be more agony than pleasure, I would find a pattern or picture of appropriate dresses I felt were in my skill range and give DD a choice. IMHO I could not justify hugely expensive material for a one-time event. (I made my wedding dress, too.)

If DD can't give up the fantasy dress, go to a thrift shop and look at wedding gowns to repurpose. We quilters DO know how to cut things out and sew them back together.

We get these crazy requests because our work makes us look so talented. My husband also is the worst at this "Make me a boat cover, seat covers, covers for my fishing reels, pockets inside my denim jacket, a hood liner for my Chevy truck for the car show, etc."

I have seen mother's or grandmother's wedding dress used for a Baptismal dress. Have fun!♥

A friend of mine just bought a gorgeous wedding dress at a used clothing store for $5. It would be perfect to use for a Christening Gown.

Funny you should mention this. I got a request from the woman I used to volunteer for at the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. I have made several things for the animals... squirrel nests, kangaroo pouches, etc. Everything I've made I've used scraps for and picked up material from clothing from the Salvation Army on their 1/2 off day. Now she's making a new website and wants me to make stuff to sell. I really don't want to do it. Making that stuff wouldn't be my idea of fun and they would have to be made from all new material. I told her I'd think about it but when she calls back I'm going to have to decline. That's a little over my head.

You can always say no. If it's more than you want to do can you find something else more to your abilities?

Good luck on your quest for the perfect materials and pattern for the christening dress.
I've just been asked to do a mermaid costume. Think I will have her find pattern and materials!

Enjoy the journey. The dress will be a treasured heirloom

Your practice dress could become the slip for the final dress. Yes you really can make it. The 'Simplicity' christening pattern is good but how old will the baby be when it get baptised? Babies gain weight really fast and change size. Practice on something from your stash.
Hope to see a photo of your practice dress and of course "The Final Production".

Good luck! I made a simple christening dress for my daughter 30 yrs. ago. I used a white fabric with and eyelet edge. It was very simple. I agree it will be a family heirloom. Lot's of good ideas here on the board. Just do what's comfortable for you.

as long as you add some pleats and lace, any fabric will look great. Good luck!! I watch this ladies show once in awhile. she does great dresses, blouses, etc. http://www.marthapullen.com/

I love love love to make little girl dresses. The worst part is all the gathering. It can be a pain in the neck, but it can also hide a LOT of not so perfect seams, etc. If something doesn't come out just the way you expected, hide it with another pc of lace. I have made a few christening dresses. They don't have to be made from expensive material. White cotton with a layer of lace or tulle. There is actually a tulle like fabric that I have used. Got it at Joannes, it has a shiney oyster shell finish. Long, lots of ruffles and lace. Make your own lace from the tulle, yea, I know, more gathering. I actually have a box of satin in all the colors. Yellow, green, blue, pink, I think 7 in all. They are the bridesmaids dresses for my DD's wedding that was cancelled at the last minute. There is a lot of that clamshell tulle, as well. Is she set on white? I would happily give you some of this fabric if it would work. I bought a bolt and a half of the overlay. We were going to use it for decorations. OK, I am rambling. I get excited. PM if you are interested.

I am in the process of making a second christening dress for my newest grandchild. The baptism was put off due to the availability of both godparents. One is a merchant marine and the other lives out of state. The original dress is for a newborn. The one I'm making now is a medium. The baby is now 6 months old. I make the christening outfits usually for a shower gift. They are 100% cotton. I don't play around with jewels as they could possible scratch a baby. I do use washable lace or trim. I'd give your daughter a choice, a simple dress you are comfortable that you can do successfully or she could possibly purchase one. Some of the Irish shops sell beautiful linen dresses. Don"t drive yourself crazy about it. You won't enjoy the process. Pick a simple one. Watch the Missouri Star quilt video demonstrating a skirt for little girls. She was a stage clothing seamstress and shows how to gather in a really simple method. Try it out first on a scrap. I'm going to do that this pm. I also suggest that you complete the top and then attach the skirt which has whatever trim you want to use already on it. It makes the whole process so much simpler. Good luck!

People know people. Ask in your area. Talk to your neighbors. I'm sure there is someone who could help you. Christening gowns can be passed on down through the family. Not sure what your date for the Christening is but hope you have more than just a couple of days. My neighbor took a couple little dresses apart added some beading and then just lengthened the skirt by about 20 + inches. Did the same for grandson just made it look more like a white papal gown.

I made a wedding dress one time and found 40 yr old scalloped Italian lace. It could only be cut in one direction so the scallops were on the bottom at the hem and the sleeves hem. The lace was $40/yd but they had it the in the store for so long they sold it to me at a discount = $20/yd. Still it was very intimidating to cut it...but the gown turned out beautiful. :thumbup:

Have you thought of visiting thrift shops and picking up a slightly used wedding gown? Lots of beading, satin, etc. I've made a lot of christening gowns using leftovers from wedding dresses.

For an acquaintance, I've made two Baptismal Gowns from the mothers-to-be First Communion dresses. Left the skirt length as it was; but used a pattern to cut the bodice; left it as original as possible, like the button down back, resized the fancy sleeves or lacey yokes.. Lots of work, but turned out great. Have one more to do once the daughter gets married and pregnant!!

Here is the dress
 

Looks like lots of improvisation and lots of $$$ for lace and beading.....and lots of time at the sewing machine!

I am making my latest Granddaughter's baptism gown out of my daughter's wedding dress... She said she doesn't plan on wearing it again! The fabric scares me because it is a washed taffita - I think that is how it is spelled - and it ravels very easily. My daughter does not want any lace just plan and simple. I think I will add some little pearl buttons out of Baby Fay's Great-Grandma's button jar however.

The Baptism is the middle of June and I plan on starting on it this weekend. Good luck to us both!

Martha Pullen has some wonderful patterns and also kits. The kits have all the needed material in them. You might want to check her products out on the internet. She is the one behind the magazine Sew Beautiful and has a lot of experience. I think you will find it is intimidating, but will be proud in the end.

If you can, do make it; our family's christening or baptismal gown is on its 3 generation and gets handed around to whoever needs it. I am the keeper of the gown until it is needed.

You must do a good job or your daughter wouldn't have ask for you to do it. That to me is the high test complement she could give. Just take a deep breath and dive in and make sure you show us a picture when you are finished. I bet it will be beautiful.

I just finished a christening dress for a pastor's baby daughter. I did English smocking on the front, lace insertion alternating with 5 pintucks just above the hem of the dress, and attached lace edging to the bottom. It had puff sleeves with ribbons around the sleeve band. I enjoyed doing it all. I would charge for making another one though. I bought several yards of cotton batiste fabric which wasn't very expensive. I also made a slip to go underneath and embroidered the baby's name and birth date on that slip. The parents were very happy with it.

Why not pick up a cheap wedding gown. AT the second hand stores they go cheap. Beads already on it.

That looks very similar to a vogue pattern (I think it's vogue) Made one 14 years ago- took 10 yards of cotton batise and it was beautiful.

I know you can make the gown. We quilters enjoy a real challenge. If I can, so can you.

I have made three for greatgrands. One thing I suggest you do as this gown will be an heirloom. Make a slip or petticoat and add a 1" hem before you add the lace to the hem. I did this and the baby's full name and DOB were written with the pigma pen on the inside. The gown stays with my grandsons or granddaughter to be kept for future baptisms and additional names can be added to the hem with each baptism and keep a history of each baby who wore the gown at baptism.

One more thing. Using a double needle, make rows and rows of pintucks which are easy and look great. Just make the first row straight and then just butt the next row against the first. Good luck and be sure to show us photos (with baby, of course), when you are done. We are all cheering you on.

I made one over 20 yrs ago for my best friends son. It too, was cotton batise, & took yards of fabric. It had tons of tiny pin tucks. I was never so glad to be done with that gown. It turned out beautiful, but I said never again.
The next one I did I crocheted out of a pearl cotton thread (not yarn). It had matching booties & bonnet.
I enjoyed making that one, but did not want to do anyone like it either. They were a both labor of love.
Good luck if you take on the challenge & try to enjoy the process.

Oh! the request we get from others only because we sew. I don't have grandchildren and don't think I would ever want to make a Christening dress. You might check on line for patterns to help you out. Good luck, show us pics when you get it finished.

How about going shopping with your daughter for a vintage baptismal dress? You could add some beads and bows to dress it up the way she wants.

I too made my wedding dress then I used the skirt of it to make my daughter christening gown.

I feel your pain! I, too, would be intimidated by this request and I have made Jeep "rag" tops and boat covers. I am about to have a new granddaughter this summer, first one. Hope this kind of request doesn't come my way. I do like the idea of repurposing thrift store finds however.

I'm an heirloom sewer and a beginning quilter so christening gowns are close to my heart. You can use heirloom techniques and not have a tremendous amount of money tied up in the gown. Of course you can also go way over the top and have lots tied up in lace alone. Think about tucks (traditionally in 3's) or puffing which I think is lovely. Spechler-Vogel makes Imperial Batiste which is a cotton/poly blend, very nice to work with and pleats well for smocking if you're interested in that. Don't let smocking scare you, it's really quite easy especially if you're doing a geometric design. If smocking, you might also think about incorporating pearls into the design which has a very elegant look to it. A simple bishop dress can be a christening gown simply by adding length to the bottom with lace, swiss insertions (like an embroidered eyelet strip), puffing or tucks.
Don't be afraid...if you can quilt, you can make the gown. Have fun and best of luck.
Marthapullen.com is a good resource

I did make a christening dress for one of my grandchildren and have enjoyed embroidering her name plus two more who were also baptized in the same dress. I guess that's how heirlooms begin. Must admit, it gives me a good feeling. That said, however, I do think people sometimes expect more than we can (or want to) deliver. Just say no. Be sweet and be nice, but be definite. Don't invest time and tear your hair out to do something you really, really don't want to do.

Remind yourself and daughter that a baptism is a promise to God to raise your child in a Christian life/way. The outfit is secondary... Why not buy a premade dress and add embellishments? Life is too short to stress over this stuff. Btw, I make good money and my boys were both baptized in khakis and a dress shirt (nice handmedowns).

By all means go for it! I can't tell alot of the details from your picture but it looks beautiful. I made baptism gowns for 3 of my 4 DDs(eldest wore mine) the first one I made I used eyelet with a scalloped edge, I added ruffles, lots of eyelet and a full slip. I learned to smock after DD2 was born so the youngest 2 got smocked bishops, complete with pearls and lots of lace. Never regretted the time it took. Now i'm smocking an outfit for newest grandchild to wear for baptism. I feel honored to be asked

I would do a test run with cheap fabric...That way you will get a feel or the pattern....Good Luck...

My husband's great grandmother had a Christening gown made for her in the 1800's by her grandmother. They were Presbyterians, so the babies were Christened. My husband's great grandmother, grandmother, both his Dad and uncle were Christened in the gown. All four of my husband's siblings and he, along with his 3 cousins were Christened in the gown. His four nieces and nephews, along with their eight cousins were Christened in the same gown. Our daughter, Rachel, wore the gown when my husband I were dedicated in the Church to raise her as a Christian in the Baptist Church where we attended and were members.
This doesn't have to be a one-time event gown. It could be treasured for generations!

I would just say..."Nope...I can't make anything like that." Especially if was a demand and not even a request.