Christening gown

Familiar thread

If embroidery brings back memories of your grandmother, you are not alone. Until the 1960s, many women embroidered christening gowns and other garments for babies and children as part of their daily routine. Like treasured family heirlooms, these skills were passed from one generation to the next - sometimes long with the christening gowns themselves.

Yet not all embroidery was created equal. This christenting gown includes a panel of Ayrshire whitework embroidery, a style originating in Scotland during the 18th century. Look once, look twice - in the best Ayrshire embroidery, no two fillings are alike. This needlework is so intricate it looks like fine lace.