A Prized Possession

I have been meaning to share this little outfit with readers, as I thought you might like to see something that was made for me by my grand mother [maternal].  She had twelve children, and to be honest I forget how many grandchildren, in the vicinity of sixty!!  She didn't do a lot of varied crafts, but one thing she excelled at was crochet.  I think my mother told me that she made a little three piece outfit for each and every one of her grandchildren - to be worn at their christening.  This one in the above photograph is mine, made almost 59 years ago.

She didn't 'read' crochet patterns as such, often making up her designs as she went along.  This little matinee jacket is more like a batwing edge to edge coat, fastening with a ribbon tie at the neck.  I've tried to fan it out and place the little cap sleeves so you can get an idea of the design.

The crochet in itself is very simple, and seems to be done in a type of shiny rayon thread.  I remember the term Fibrone Silk being used when I was younger.  Just recently I noticed you can still buy something like this, and the description on the packaging says 3 ply rayon.  The little embroidered 'grub roses' were done by my mother I believe, Granny didn't embroider.  

The little booties are so tiny.   Bonnet and bootee design have a little more shell-like pattern.  I am the second in a family of four, and each of us have 'our set'.  All of our own children have worn the garments on the occasion of their christening.

My mother used to make lots of these outfits too for friends or family, often starting with a length of chain and working away down the the garment from the neck.  She could work that bullion/grub/roll stitch, something I've not tried in earnest, but I really must keep at it until I have it mastered.

I hope this little bit of vintage crochet is of interest to some readers.  Thank you all for popping in to prop me up after my knitting disaster.