Christening Robes

Alexander's Navy

In 2006 Alexander's Navy was awarded a blue ribbon at the Smocking Arts Guild of America's Design Show and even more exciting was that it won the "People's Choice" award. It is featured in "Sew Beautiful", May 2010.

I was inspired by the beautiful blue/grey silk shantung to make a colourful christening gown for a boy that even the most manly father would approve of!

The kit instructions for Alexander's Navy assumes an intermediate level of heirloom sewing and construction experience.

The pattern supplied is sized 3 to 6months and is based on a basic square yoke pattern. The patterns for the sailor collar and pleated sleeve are included together with templates for the lace shaped scallops and boats.

Kit includes:

Silk shantung fabric including prepleated front skirt, French laces, cotton bobbinet, ribbons, Mother of Pearl buttons, Cascade Stranded Silk embroidery thread, Mill Hill Beads, piping cord, smocking needles ( #8 crewel, #7 Darner and slimline #9 Darner), Ribbon Weaver, 4 spools Mettler 60/2 machine thread (blue and ivory), pattern (3-6 month) with lace templates and pictures.

Basic kit comes in blue/grey silk with ivory embroidery thread.
The gown can also be purchased in white silk shantung with white laces etc and blue embroidery thread.

You will need your own 60/8 universal machine needle and also twin needle size 1.6-70

Kit Cost:

For all Australian and all credit card orders $215 which includes pleating and postage

Embroidered Netting Bow Christening gown

This beautiful gown of Embroidered English netting with a bow and floral garland design ( 5143/8 and 5143/30), features a double layer skirt with the bows staggered, beaded smocking and a bodice overlay. Silk organza is placed behind the two skirt layers for the smocked bodice and all three layers are pleated together. Sleeves are also smocked but without silk organza behind. The pattern supplied is sized 3 to 6months and is based on a basic square yoke pattern. This gown will require a slip as the skirt is quite see through.

Kit includes:

Embroidered English netting including prepleated skirt front and sleeves, cotton bobbinet placket and neck binding, ribbon, Mother of Pearl buttons, 2 Cascade Stranded Silk embroidery thread, 2 pkts Mill Hill Beads, smocking needles (#8 crewel and slimline #9 Darner), spool Mettler 60/2 machine thread #703, pattern (3-6 month)

You will need your own 60/8 universal machine needle.

Kit Cost:

For all Australian and all credit card orders $295 which includes pleating and postage

Floral Embroidered Netting Christening gown

This beautiful gown of Embroidered English netting features a floral skirt (2667/30) and is fully lined with silk organza. A matching floral netting (2667/2) is joined to the bottom of the silk organza underskirt and peeks out from beneath. The skirt is pleated through both layers of netting and organza and is smocked with a beaded design in Cascade silk embroidery thread. The bodice features an overlay of 2667/8 which is also used for the sleeves. Sleeves are smocked and the silk organza lining extends down to the smocking (pleated again through the two layers). The pattern supplied is sized 3 to 6months, and is based on a basic square yoke pattern. This gown may require a slip as the skirt has one layer of embroidered netting over silk organza.

Please note that the netting on the skirt in the kits is the same design as that in the photo but now comes with a 50cm (20") depth of embroidery (#2667/30) whereas the netting in the photo only has 25cm (10").

Kit includes:

All embroidered English netting including prepleated skirt front and sleeves, silk organza, cotton bobbinet for front and back yokes and placket and neck binding, ribbon, Mother of Pearl buttons, 2 Cascade Stranded Silk embroidery thread, 2 pkts Mill Hill Beads, smocking needles (#8 crewel and slimline #9 Darner), spool Mettler 60/2 machine thread #703, pattern (3-6 month)

You will need your own 60/8 universal machine needle.

Kit Cost:

For all Australian, and all credit card orders $295 which includes pleating and postage

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