Dedication Gown

 The dedication gown that I have been working on is finished and waiting for the big day.  I have waited to post photos until my daughter could see the finished project. Since tomorrow is the service, I think it appropriate to post just the dress. Photos with Emma later.

This project has been such an enjoyable one.  When my daughter asked me to make Emma's gown, I was overjoyed.  What an honor to make my granddaughter's Dedication gown.  All my years of embroidery, sewing, and lace work, were to be used in one special gown. 

A few close ups are below so that you can better see the actual embroidery.  Yes, I embroidered it all by hand, and designed the embroidery as well.  We wanted it to be similar to the antique gowns from Great Britain in the 1800's.  I have used some elements that are not true to the period but the overall gown is very close.  The bonnet is the typical style but the ribbons are not.  I also have never seen one that had points on the skirt from that period.  If someone has knowledge of that, please let me know.  There is an under-slip that buttons on the shoulder.    I also made a lace hanky for Emma to carry.  She loves lace pieces.

                                                                                     

In the above photo you can see the lace work with the ribbons. The bonnet has a lace flower with a tiny satin rose in the center. It is attached on each side of the ear where the ribbon ties join. Most of the lace work is done on the machine.  The flowers are stitched by hand and attached with needle and thread.  There is also a lace flower on the yoke of the dress.  It has a few ribbon streamers.

 This is a close up of the bonnet lace work.

   

There are twelve panels on the skirt, 6 godets and 6 gores.  The six godets have the hand embroidery that includes; trailing, eyelets, shadow work, and seed stitch.  The lace work on the godet is simple,  an insertion  lace and an edging.  The 6 gores all include lace work and pintucking by machine.  The center panel is the only gore with embroidery.  It has some shadow work on the tail of the Firebird. with satin work on the head.  My daughter is an artist and has painted the baby's room with a Russian fairytale theme.  She painted a beautiful firebird in brilliant colors on the wall.  My whitework firebird is my interpretation of a firebird also.   The Russian fairytale is a story of rebirth.  Below is a close up of the satin work.

 

This last one is a close up of the embroidered godet.  It is finished but not sewn into the skirt at this point.

I am adding a couple of photos of the firebird that my daughter painted on the baby's wall. 

For sure, this gown has been an exciting period in my sewing projects.  As I have said before, I love sewing children's clothing and this one gave me many hours of sewing pleasure from the planning, to the designing elements, the embroidery work and the last hours of sewing it all together.  Thank you, Cynthia for trusting me with such a special treasured time in your life and in mine.