Friday, August 01, 2008

A Helga Smock for Daisy


The Composer's German grandmother was an exquisite seamstress who sewed for her daughter Helga, who was an exquisite saver-of-things. In a trunk of carefully packed treasures I found a fabulous smock in navy and orange fabric from about 1937. I laid it out and traced it to recreate it in fresh fabric for Daisy.


It has unusual facings that are sewn on the outside. If you think to yourself, "That's a lot of top-stitching!", then you would be correct. It has little side ties and tiny pockets.

It's very sweet, and I'm calling it the Helga smock. Daisy *says* she wants to keep it, but I'm betting it will end up in the shop very soon.


I love how these two fabrics go together. Or don't. Or do.

37 comments:

Polly said...

They do!

And Daisy is perfectly adorable in her Helga smock-n-jeans combo. And her hair--so long!

Anonymous said...

oh, now that is SWEET. I love those fabrics together. And I love topstitching - I'd like to see a close-up of the facings.

Kate said...

Where do you find such wonderful fabric and notions? Please share.

YayaOrchid said...

Daisy looks adorable! IMHO she is really starting to look very much like Clara.

The smock IS lovely with such pretty clean lines. I think the fabrics do go good together.

Krista said...

Wow! Look at the way the plaid and the flowers line up! That is amazing!! If I were making that smock, I would not even have noticed that I COULD line those up...and there you go lining them up. It's a gorgeous job you did.

Anonymous said...

Wow! Daisy really grew over the summer. She is starting to look like a big girl. Time flies.

mrs boo radley said...

What a cutie. I love the unmatched fabrics!

Anonymous said...

It's darling! The fabrics DO go together. Could be made into a jumper too. --- Gilda

lera said...

Ooh! I love this smock! The fabrics look perfect together.

Anonymous said...

Love the smock..the total look.
Daisy is a perfect model for the Helga smock.

Ms. Dale

Elisabeth Black said...

I really, really love this smock.

Daisy said...

I love the way you lined up the diagonals on both patterns, and the way the colors match exactly... it is very pleasing to the eye, artistically. I can't believe how old Daisy looks, she really is growing up!

Daisy said...

PS. I really wish I were the "Daisy the smock was for! I would love one for each of my girls!!"

Martha said...

How adorable. I love it and she is too cute.

fourkid said...

It is adorable! Do you plan to market the pattern? I would be interested!
Patti

Anonymous said...

OH, they do, they DO!

Wish I could sew for my little Laura...not so little any more.

I want one for myself!!

Alice

teacakebiscuit said...

Oh that' just beautiful! The fabric is simply gorgeous, congrats :)

Anonymous said...

I've been lurking (and occasionally commenting) for a year or so. She's certainly growing up!

AnnaVallance said...

Daisy looks so sweet in that smock-what a treasure!
I just made your schoolhouse coffee cake for tomorrow's breakfast-thanks for the great recipe.

Serena said...

That is so cute. The fabrics are wonderful together. I really, really want a copy of that pattern!

Sarah said...

What an adorable little smock! The fabrics really make the design pop.

TheFiveDays said...

gorgeous! daisy AND the smock!

Anonymous said...

I'm not always a fan of smocks; I don't like the criss-cross style one usually sees in the back but this smock is perfect!

It's beautiful.

Susannah said...

Really beautiful...I love the way you've put the fabrics together.

Lill said...

Hi Anna,

I don't know you, but I'm a huge fan of your blog. I've been wanting to ask you where you get your adorable fabric. I can't seem to find anything quite like it. Where did you get Clara's skirt fabric? I adore it!

Anna said...

Lillie, I didn't make Clara's skirt. It's from Boden! The smock fabrics came from a quilting fabric boutique outside of Philadelphia. I do almost all my fabric shopping in real stores, waiting til I'm in a big city, as well as picking through the offerings at Hancock's when I make it there every few months--our small town store closed a couple of years ago.

Thanks everyone for the smock love!

*emilie* said...

how adorable ! i love the fabric combo !

fourkid said...

{{{ anna said... (snip)
I just made your schoolhouse coffee cake for tomorrow's breakfast-thanks for the great recipe.}}}
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My curiosity was piqued, so I had to dig this recipe out of the archived entries - and I have it whipped up and in the oven right now. It looked amazing going into the oven - I am sure it will be great with our breafast - a nice way to start the work-week.

I would never have thought of the oil instead of butter for the streusal topping - a great idea.

Thank you Anna for this great blog - I read something here almost every day - even if there isn't a new entry posted - I just dig into the archived posting.
Blessings,
Patti

fourkid said...

Update (you probably knew this was coming!)

The coffeecake is waaaaay better than I imagined it. This one is a keeper - and I can hardly wait to serve it to friends in the future (they can't have any of this one!!)
Blessings,
Patti

Anonymous said...

They do...it's very cute! :o)

Brenda

Lill said...

Thank you Anna. By the way, I think the fabrics match perfectly. Daisy is a doll!

The Litter Box House said...

Absolutely adorable (how many people have already used that word...).

Especially combined with those jeans. Did you do the repairs - at least I think I see things going down the pant legs... I'm still trying to figure out how to repair jeans in a cute way. I wish I could see it close up...

andrea

Anonymous said...

Is there any way that you could pass on the pattern in the form of a tutorial or however you want to post it? The smock is just SO cute and darling.....please share =)
blessings.....

Daisy said...

I live outside Philly-- what fabric store boutique?

Anonymous said...

I want one! Too cute. I hope you make more of these and sell them because they are so adorable!!!!

i'm B. said...

Do!!!

Karen at A Glimpse Into My Reveries said...

I've recently found your blog through Mary's (at Owlhaven ) post. I am enjoying jumping through your archives, gobbling up everything I see!

Did you ever make this pattern available? It's wonderful!

Related Posts with Thumbnails