This is a christening gown made from the liturgical lace netting of a priest’s alb that is over 80 years old. I inherited it many years ago. The heavy liturgical embroidery on the ethereal netting waited a long time for just the right use. My pattern is partly  “Antique Lace” from Australian Smocking and Embroidery #74. I changed a few things in an effort to utilize as much of the lace as possible and as wisely as possible.  The gown is lined with silk dupioni in an off white. The neckline has a frill made from the lace netting. The yoke is piped. The smocking is beaded with tiny pearl beads. The sleeves are gathered by silk ribbon woven thru smocking. I remember smocking those sleeves and getting very frustrated. It felt like I was smocking air! All of the details are in ecru, including the floss.

 

As far as construction, the skirt lining hangs freely. The bodice lining is treated as one with the lace. The back closure is three buttons and the actual lace edged opening of the alb. All seams are French seams. The armscyes have their seams trimmed and bound with dupioni. The major challenges of the construction were optimizing the available lace and layout, and stitching that felt like I was smocking on steel wool. The pleats were done two layers together, the dupioni and the netting. The netting must be extremely durable as it certainly is rough to stitch on, very deceiving! 

 

This garment was made as one of a pair of non-matching Christening gowns for twin babies. Using this lace inheritance in a manner worthy of its provenance was something I thought of for years. I am glad it was used in this manner.

Launch Gallery