About the service
I design and hand-finish christening gowns for babies being baptized, built from the ground up as a piece that a family can keep long after the ceremony is over. Every gown starts with a conversation about the child, the church or venue, the season, and any fabric or lace already in the family — a scrap of a grandmother's veil, a swatch of a parent's own baptism gown, a button saved in a sewing box. When there is a keepsake fabric, I work it into the bodice or hem panel so the new gown carries a physical thread back to an older one.
Construction uses breathable natural fabrics — fine cotton batiste, cotton lawn, or silk-cotton blends depending on season and budget — chosen for softness against an infant's skin and for how well they hold a hand stitch over decades. Seams are French-finished or flat-felled so there is no raw edge anywhere near the baby, and closures are simple snaps or ties rather than anything fiddly for a nervous parent mid-ceremony.
The embroidery is the heart of the commission. I hand-stitch heirloom techniques — pulled thread work, shadow embroidery, French knots, and fine satin-stitch monogramming — rather than relying only on machine work, so the piece reads as handmade up close. A monogram is almost always included: the baby's initials, full name, or a short phrase such as a baptism date, worked in a script the family chooses from samples I provide. Lace is added as heirloom-style trim at the hem, sleeves, and bonnet if one is ordered, either sourced new in a cotton or silk blend or incorporated from lace a family already owns.
A typical commission includes the gown itself, a matching slip if the fabric is sheer, and a small bonnet or cap; a bib and booties can be added. I take detailed measurements or work from a growth estimate for gowns commissioned before birth, and I build in generous seam allowances so the gown can be let out slightly for a slightly older or larger baby, or handed down to a sibling later.
Throughout the process I send progress photos at each major stage — fabric cutting, embroidery in progress, and final construction — so parents can see the monogram and lacework taking shape and request small adjustments before anything is finished. I also provide simple care instructions for hand-washing and storage, since a piece meant to be kept for future children or grandchildren needs gentle handling long after the christening day itself. Turnaround depends on the complexity of the embroidery and lace, and I always confirm a delivery date that leaves room before the scheduled ceremony.
Construction uses breathable natural fabrics — fine cotton batiste, cotton lawn, or silk-cotton blends depending on season and budget — chosen for softness against an infant's skin and for how well they hold a hand stitch over decades. Seams are French-finished or flat-felled so there is no raw edge anywhere near the baby, and closures are simple snaps or ties rather than anything fiddly for a nervous parent mid-ceremony.
The embroidery is the heart of the commission. I hand-stitch heirloom techniques — pulled thread work, shadow embroidery, French knots, and fine satin-stitch monogramming — rather than relying only on machine work, so the piece reads as handmade up close. A monogram is almost always included: the baby's initials, full name, or a short phrase such as a baptism date, worked in a script the family chooses from samples I provide. Lace is added as heirloom-style trim at the hem, sleeves, and bonnet if one is ordered, either sourced new in a cotton or silk blend or incorporated from lace a family already owns.
A typical commission includes the gown itself, a matching slip if the fabric is sheer, and a small bonnet or cap; a bib and booties can be added. I take detailed measurements or work from a growth estimate for gowns commissioned before birth, and I build in generous seam allowances so the gown can be let out slightly for a slightly older or larger baby, or handed down to a sibling later.
Throughout the process I send progress photos at each major stage — fabric cutting, embroidery in progress, and final construction — so parents can see the monogram and lacework taking shape and request small adjustments before anything is finished. I also provide simple care instructions for hand-washing and storage, since a piece meant to be kept for future children or grandchildren needs gentle handling long after the christening day itself. Turnaround depends on the complexity of the embroidery and lace, and I always confirm a delivery date that leaves room before the scheduled ceremony.
