My first Enid ...

I thought it about time I introduced myself. My name is Carol and I live near Byron Bay. I joined this blog some months ago with the intention of showing my Enid Gilchrist handiwork. I made this dress in August and am only just now getting around to posting it.

The dress came from this book, which I bought at an op shop in Mullumbimby for 20c last year. I've also drafted a jacket, a long coat and two dresses from the same book, which I will make in the coming weeks.

I'm so thrilled with this book and I hope to find more. This must have been a godsend to women in the 60's. There is almost every style of garment a girl could want in this book. Thanks for allowing me to join in.

Cool Dress

Here is my second Enid Gilchrist creation - the "Cool Dress" from the 'Play Clothes' (pink cover) publication. I'm a little surprised that so much time has past since my first go at drafting and sewing one of Enid's fine designs. As with my first Enid, a Matinee Jacket, the actual sewing of the garment was relatively easy. I have however not followed Enid's pattern exactly. This garment was my first ever attempt at doing gathering. When I spotted the material that I liked for the bottom of the dress I didn't know exactly how much material I needed so I guessed - thinking that I had overestimated. When I drafted the pattern I kept thinking that I had done something wrong - the size of the skirting looked like it was almost big enough for me to wear. When it came to cutting the material I realised that I didn't have enough material so I reduced the width of the skirt - there was so much material there already how could it be a problem? So, this little frock isn't as full as it should be and sits perhaps a little bit "puffier" as a result.

The yoke, made from vintage material, is lined with the same. The pattern calls for bias under the arm pits. It took a few cups of tea umming and arrhing to decide if I should make the bias in the contrasting vintage material or not. In the end I thought the contrast would make a sweet effect - what do you think?

Pattern: Cool Dress
Book: Play Clothes (p16)
Size: 9-18months
Fabrics: cottons

Matinee Jacket

This is my first ever Enid creation - the Matinee Jacket from Clothes For Your Children (p20).


The size is described as "infant". Perhaps I was too generous with my seam allowances but this jacket would certainly be too large for the average newborn - it fits my seven & half month daughter beautifully.

Pattern: Matinee Jacket

Book: Clothes for your Children (p20)

Size: infant

Fabric: tracksuit fleece

Baby Raglan Gown

Pattern : Raglan Baby Gown
Book: Baby Book
Fabric: Cot sheet bought from Op-shop

The sheet is well washed and beautifully soft.

Construction Details:

• French Seams
• Binding at neck.
• 1/4 Elastic sewn to sleeve.
• Lace insert at center tie
• Placket at back.
• Pleat at back.
• Snaps to fasten

Babies first gown

Pattern: Baby's first Gown
Book: Baby Book
Fabric: Fine poplin.
Embellishment: Embroidered Lazy Daisies.

Construction Details:

• French seams.
• Bodice is gathered to a yoke.
• Raglan sleeves
• Binding at neck.
• Hand hemmed.
• Shirred at wrists.
• Grown on facings which I interfaced with iron on interfacing.
  
• Snaps at Center back.

This design is in many of the baby books.

More Enid Pinis

Both of these are made from vintage tablecloths. The green one is a buttery soft linen. The cloth was circular so I managed to fussy cut it with the lace edging. I have enough of the cloth left for maybe a skirt, but that's all.























The second is the regular sized pini in the same fabric as the one shown earlier but with green commercial binding. I love them both. I hope to downsize the pattern to fit my nearly 2yo. I have a little of the yellow rose fabric left.

An Enid Gilchrist Pretty Pini from Play Clothes. This is my favourite I have made of these so far. I used a vintage tablecloth which I have been hoarding for absolutely ages, waiting for the perfect project. I really love how it turned out with the print placement. This is a size 5-7 I sized up and I have another waiting binding in size 2-4.


Now I will be scrounging for more tablecloths. I have another different one on the cutting table now.

This bib is from Enids baby book ,it should keep Susannahs clothes nice and clean when she starts eating solids

Blouse with Shirred sleeves sz2-3 (giveaway)

I finally finished one of the Enids. This is the shirred blouse from a Play Clothes edition. I'm not sure which one as it had no cover.
It is made from a light spotted blue floral voile with poly cotton poplin collar, resin snaps.
It has some issues but I just wanted it finished. It wasn't difficult, I just had to get a new machine half way through, and have been busy and not well.
The shirring was a lot easier than I thought but I am not sure how to adjust the tension of the bobbin in the new machine, then forgot to leave adjustment so it ended up being a bit tight for my DD across the front.
I used snaps at the back of course being a buttonholephobe lol. There is a small square of interfacing between the layers to reinforce the snap area. Being all muddle headed with a cold I put the snaps on before putting on the collar ribbon facing so it is not perfect above the snaps, but not disastrous, and just stitched the ribbon down without turning under. A soft binding would have been better but I was working with what I had. I shirred across the front instead of just using gathered stitches as I was worried they would break after I did it. I carefully unpicked it from the light voile before shirring 2 rows in the same position.
I will make this again however, I think I will make it a bit longer and maybe also use the basic pattern to do a simple peasant top without the collar and back opening. The collar is sweet though. It is sz2-3 but I think it is a little on the short/small side.
Excuse Pearl (23months old), she was grabbed straight from the trampoline for modelling. Lucky she loves having her photo taken.





































As this is a bit small for my big bellied girl, if someone has a little skinny minny 1-2yo and would like this blouse, please leave a comment and contact me and it is yours. Australia only, unless you want to pay postage.

Jacket Number Two

Nice and snuggly for those wooly winter days I really love this pattern - and I got the collar down pat this time.

Pattern: Enid Gilchrist's Baby Book
Garment: Jacket for Those Cooler Days pge 46
Size : 9-18 mo
Fabric: Kaufman Cord - Strawberries Black with Faux Fur Trim.

This jacket is for Susannah my Gd , its from the baby book

The Duffle coat is for GD Isabel ,she is 4.1/2 , it should keep her nice and warm at Preschool in Albury

and this pinny is from baby book as well

Monika

here are some pictures of my new Enid creations

the duffle coat is fromKindergarten set . I changed the hood , Its for my grand daughter Isabel she is 4,1/2, they live in Albury .the Pinny and Jacket are the same pattern as my last creations , out of Baby Book made for my youngest grand daughter Susannah ,

sorry for the quality of the pictures .

Monika

Enid Sew a long Creations.

Dress

Book: Toddlers Clothes

Size: 2 1/2 - 3 1/2 years

Fabric: Velour

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Back-Wrap Dress
Book: Toddlers Clothes
Size: 2-3 years
Fabric: Cotton fabric from Craftymamas.

Monika's Enid Sew along creations

Pettis, Popovers and Jackets

Book : Enid Gilchrist's Baby Book
Garment: Pettis, Popovers and Jackets
Size : Infant to 9 months
Fabric: Vintage sheet, stretch knit

Vintage sheet, very soft, perfect for a newborn.
I used commercial bias to finish the edges.
The gown fastens with snaps at one shoulder.


The fit on a doll approximately 6 months in size.

I altered the pattern as directed in the book to make the jacket.

I adjusted the neckline up to on the back and added overlap on the front.
I made this one with knit fabric.
I turn the edges and finished them with a honeycomb stitch.
The snaps are reinforced with cotton tape.

Something For The Cooler Weather...

I have made this little garment as my piece in the Enid sew-a-long over at Crafty Mamas. I chose it because this winter I am mad about coats and jackets for the kids and thought this a lovely little sweet number for Lainey.


Book : Enid Gilchrist's Baby Book
Garment: Jacket for Those Cooler Days pge 46
Size : 9-18 mo
Fabric: Pink baby cord and Maroon cord.

I liked the sizing on this and did not have to take any of it in. I found the collar a challenge but only because this is the second one I have ever done! I used a snap instead of a button (thank goodness for snap presses!) and I used satin ribbon instead of bias binding because I didn't have the right size!

Overall I liked this pattern and thought it can come out very smart or very casual and cozy. I would definitely make it again, this time maybe in a more casual fabric like flannelet.

My First Enid!

Well I have finally made my first item from an Enid book...only took me about 12 months! I just love Enid's work and after seeing Tracy and some other clever mamas making theirs I thought I needed to jump on in.

Book : Undies, Beach and Sleepwear
Garment: Nightgown for Tiny Tots
Size : 1-2 years
Fabric: Flannelet cot sheet from Op Shop 50c.

I chose this as my first attempt because the pattern is all one piece. It was easy enough to draft although I had some issue with the neck. But after fiddling with it it came right. I had to take quite a bit in on the sides and shorten the sleeves. Lainey is 20 months and I think a little on the shorter side of average so some patterns do need adjusting. The garment still sits a little big on her but I could not take any more off as it would distort the final garment. But it is a comfortable fit and to me, that's what you need at bed time.

The pattern calls for lace around the neck and sleeve ends but I omitted that because I think that would irritate me so I left it off for Lainey too.

The final product looks great on her and I made sure it was full length to keep her legs warm. I think its so girly and its so nice to see my daughter in something so feminine.