old fabric for new gown

My mother cut up her 1950's wedding gown a number of years ago and saved the satin. I was thinking it would be nice to use it for my next DD's christening (I'm due in August so, christening won't be until September sometime). My mother is very pleased with the idea, and I'll be taking a look at it this weekend when we visit for Easter, but from what I remember when last I looked at it about 10 years ago, it was in ok condition with only a few spots and slight yellowing. I would like to do the Vogue 2675, but I'm not sure about embroidering on this kind of fabric. Does anyone have any advice for working with older pieces of fabric, specifically satin wedding type fabric? And, for the embroidery, should I try to use a color close to the satin color? This is something I probably will have to test once I have the fabric and if it looks like I can use it. I'm thinking that white embroidery on an older satin fabric might look wrong. Any thoughts are welcome! TIA,

-j

Reply to
julia
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I think this is a lovely idea, and will give continuity to the family. Look at the fabric, see if there is enough in good shape, and then check the shades available in embroidery threads. I would try to match the shade of the satin, myself, and remember that you can cover some spots with embroidery fill. Robison Anton, for instance, has Ivory, Bone and Eggshell among shades of white. There may be more.

Reply to
Pogonip

Pogonip wrote in news:4075a781$ snipped-for-privacy@news.bnb-lp.com:

There is probably going to be just enough. I guess I didn't remember that it was in panels, so cutting out the pattern is going to be very tricky. It looks like there should be enough for the gown, coat and bonnet. One front panel of the old dress is exactly enough to make the front panel of the new coat (I took that as a good sign). The satin that my mother saved is only from the skirt, and since she was (and is) only about a size 4, it's not as much as I thought there would be. It's a beautiful pearly ivory color now, so I will try to match that color for the embroidery. The only spots are on the train. Apparently, she lent it out to a cousin shortly after her own wedding, and the cousin never bothered to have it cleaned, so the stains set because the cousin took forever to get it back to her. I think I can just squeeze out all the pattern pieces, except for the underslip. I might have to either see if I can skip it (the satin is mid-weight, so it's not see-through, but it's also not too heavy) or get something to match it. I'm not looking forward to putting scissors to this satin, but my mother is very happy that something nice is being done with it, so I've got to go through with it now!

-j

Reply to
julia

Be brave! It's a touching project. DGD was christened in the gown her mother (DDIL) and two aunts had been christened in, with a slip that had been mine as an infant. Got both sides of the family in there!

You might want a fine cotton underslip--more comfortable than satin.

Jean M.

Reply to
Jean D Mahavier

What would be wrong with doing a cotton batiste underslip for comfort?

Reply to
Melinda Meahan - remove TRASH

James wore the one my grandmother made for my mother, and worn by her brother and sister also. It has been as far as Australia and back for family christenings. This one was made of pre-embroidered cotton Broidery Anglese panels.

Reply to
Kate Dicey

"Jean D Mahavier" wrote in news:fZAec.16005$ snipped-for-privacy@bignews5.bellsouth.net:

I just have to remind myself that my mother has already cut up the dress! My first DD was christened in my old gown, which was a present from my godparents. I thought it would be nice for my 2nd to have her own and that's when I thought of my mother's dress. I didn't think about a nice cotton for the slip, but that would probably be the best choice. I guess I was just focused on simply trying to figure out how to divide up the satin! I have to get some batiste or another really nice cotton anyway because I've just promised to make a christening gown for my good friend who just found out her adoption will be coming through this summer and she could have custody as early as June. So it'll be a baby-filled summer this year!

-j

Reply to
julia

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