Gemma Hope's little dress pattern

I scoured the internet for the pattern that was used to make the little gown that was gifted to Gemma in at the Hospital. Since I was unable to find the exact pattern I recreated the pattern myself.

Gemma Hope's Dress Pattern (click)

Download and print pattern pieces. Make sure to print it as Actual Size and not Fit to Page or the pattern will be to small. The center panel will measure 11-1/2" long if it is printed in the proper size.

1) Wash and dry fabric of your choice. Using light cotton or flannel fabric in neutral colors. Lay out pattern pieces, pin and cut fabric. You can use a second color for the center panel if you like. 

2) Use a 1/4" seam allowance throughout. Take both back pieces and fold over once and iron along the long straight edge and sew.

3) Sew ribbon or lace to the front right and left panels. Sew the ribbon just a little to the inside of the 1/4" seam allowance. You don't want the stitching to show on the front side after attaching the center panel. I used my blind hem stitch presser foot to get even distance along the edge. (Ribbon is not use for a little boys gown. You could also leave the ribbon off and embellish the front with a bow or cute buttons.) 

4) Pin and sew the center panel to the right and left front. Right sides together.

5) Trim all seems. I don't use a zigzag to finish the seem. You want to reduce the bulk as much as possible. Creating a soft dress the lays smooth and will not dominate the appearance of a small and fragile baby.

6) Sew lace to the cuff of the sleeve. Making sure to not stretch the lace. It can cause the fabric to pucker.

7) Right sides together sew sleeves to front panels.

8) Right sides together sew sleeves to back panels.

 

9) Pin and sew side seams and sleeves together and trim seam allowance.

10) Trim up the bottom hem if needed and attach lace.

11) Cut a piece of small ribbing about 1" x 7". Fold in half and pin to right side of neck line. 

12) Sew about an 1/8" seam along neck line. Sewing a deeper seam may cause the sleeves to pucker under the seam. Trim and clean up the seam a little bit. Iron it for a nice flat front. Then you can attach lace to the neck line if you like. I attached lace to the neck line of my little gowns to hide an uneven seam. Make sure it is small soft lace if you do. Back is left open.

13) Run a lint roller over the front a back of the dress. To remove and dog or cat hair if needed. (maybe  that's just me)

You should have a very cute little gown that will be treasured forever.

Give it a hug and a kiss. It is now ready to donate.

Gemma Hope's Crossed Heart Angel Pocket

                                      

Crossed Heart Angel Pocket

Yarn: 

Light Sport Weight # 3 soft yarn in a neutral color like white, cream or yellow. These color can be used for either a baby girl or boy and are flattering to a little babies skin tone in photographs. I used Bernat Softee Baby. 

Crochet Hook H/8, I use a crochet hook one size larger that the yarn called for. It gave the blanket a nice soft drape that was not too stiff.

Makes size: 6st = approx 1"

14" x 14" sq = 86 stitches = For the tiniest angels 12 - 15 weeks

16" x 16" sq = 98 stitches = Micro 16 - 19 weeks, 1lb

18" x 18" sq = 110 stitches = X Small 20 - 23 weeks, 1-3 lb

20" x 20" sq = 122 stitches = Small 20 - 23 weeks, 1 - 3 lbs

22" x 22" sq = 134 stitches = Medium 24-27 weeks, 3-5 lb

Loosely Chain in multiples of 3 + 2

Row 1:

Skip 6ch, 1dc in next ch, ch1, 1dc in 4th ch from beginning (crossing over the 1st dc),

 *sk 2ch, 1dc, ch1, 1dc, in 1st of the skipped ch*) 

1dc in last ch, ch4, turn

Row 2: 

Skip 2dc, 1dc in next dc, ch1, 1dc in second skipped dc, 

*sk 1dc, 1dc in next dc, ch1, 1dc in skipped dc*, 

1dc in 3rd ch of turning ch, ch4, turn

Repeat from Row 2 until blanket measure square. Bind off

Begin Shell Edging-

Attach yarn in contrasting color at corner. 

Sc in same st as attached yarn, *skip 2st, 3dc in next st, skip 2st, sc in next st* to end of row. Work corners with 3dc in corner. 

Weave a long ribbon along edge of blanket. Leaving long tails to wrap and tie around blanket.

I created this pattern using a crochet stitch called Cross Stitch. As I was creating this blanket I noticed how each little crossed stitch looked like a heart. It gave me great pleasure to create such a sweet little blanket for other babies and their parents.

In Honor of Gemma Hope

                             

Dear Friends and Loved Ones,

     In honor of little Gemma Hope's due date February 3, 2013 Destry and I are making a donation of a little Angel Pocket, gowns and hats to our local hospital. This is where little Gemma Hope was born and where we received amazing comfort during an incredible challenging time. 

     It was heartbreaking when we were unable to buy a tiny dress for our precious daughter when she needed it most. When the nurses presented Gemma to us in a beautiful gown made by a generous volunteer our hearts were beyond grateful. She was so beautiful. Our hope is to bring that comfort to other parents in their time of need.

     We would like to invite you to join us in honoring Gemma Hope. In the links below you will find patterns for much need tiny gowns and angel pockets to make or buy. Your local hospital will surely welcome your donation. 

Knit Angel Pocket          Knit Preemie Hat 

Crochet Angel Pocket    Crochet Preemie Hat

Sewn Angel Pocket        Sewn Lily Wrap

Sewn Gown                               

 Gemma Hope's Dress Pattern (I will post a tutorial for this gown tomorrow)

 Gemma Hope's Crochet Pocket

If you want to make a donation, but might not have the time to handcraft an item. You can make a donation with the purchase of these wonderful Lily Wraps.

Lily Wraps

We love you so much baby girl. Now and forever.

With Love,

Rachel and Destry

For more information on how to volunteer:

Care Wear

The Preemie Project 

Mikayla's Grace

Chance's Clothes Project 

For those of you interested in donating to the hospital where Gemma Hope was born. Their Perinatal Loss Program is in immediate need of: Angel Pockets all sizes, little hats all sizes from golf ball and tennis ball size to bigger.

Send items to:

Kaiser Sunnyside Labor and Delivery
C/O Theresa Gibson
10180 SE Sunnyside Rd.
Clackamas OR 97015

Until We Meet Again.....

Gemma Hope

10-11-12
23 weeks, 4 days

So Perfect....Yet.......

Mama, 5 months, 1 day

Looking like a candy corn and feeling like eating candy corn.

(I feel much bigger than this picture make me look.)

18  weeks 

Little hands and cute cheeks.

20 weeks

Pretty, pretty face.

20 weeks

Profile with arms and hands.

I cried off and on all day before our big 20 week ultrasound appointment. We were going to find out if little Gemma Hope's heart was formed properly along with other organs. I just get a little anxious anticipating what we will find out at these appointment, yet I can't get enough information and facts about Gemma. I want to know everything about her whether it is good or bad.

We watched patiently as the technician did her job. Watching the red and blue flash on the screen not really knowing what any of it meant. Did blue mean bad, did red mean bad? Then she explained that red meant blood flow in and blue meant blood flow out of the heart. She then told us she did not see any obvious defects in Gemma's heart. The Dr. told us the same thing. Gemma has all of the indicators of healthy organs. Her brain, bladder, heart and kidney's. This was great news to us. They only bit of good news we have received in the past 5 months. 

We pray that Gemma's Hygroma and Hydrops will start to heal and go away everyday. Knowing for Gemma to grow and develop properly she needs to start getting better. This is not the week Gemma has begun her healing. Gemma's Hygroma has doubled in size in the past two weeks, her hydrops has taken over her chest cavity. Her heart is compressed and her lungs are tiny when they should fill her chest cavity. My amniotic fluid is less than it was two weeks ago. Despite my attempts to increase it by drinking tons of water. Turns out that does nothing unless you are really dehydrated. We saw all of this on the ultrasound screen. I never ask for those pictures. I don't have to. The image in ingrained in my brain forever. 

We believe we still have time for a miracle. Riding that wave between being realistic and being hopeful is a real crappy ride to be on. I am knitting a baby blanket and filling out my FMLA paper work  simultaneously just in case I find myself in the hospital at my next appointment.

I love Gemma and have loved her from the first second I knew about her. Then I loved her more. One day a wave came over me and I just fell in love with her. I just loved her all the way to the depths of my sole. I new right then and there that she was in me forever. That if something happened to her I would not be okay. That having her, loving her and loosing her would forever change me. I also know that I will be okay. That people go through really tough things and they are sad and they are okay, just different.

There was a time not long ago when I thought infertility was one of the worst things anyone could go through. Then I learned that it could get worse. So know matter what happens, I will always know that things could be worse. I won't make it hurt any less but I will be okay.

Babies First

Dr. Leigh must have communicated with Dr. Kennedy our confusion and displeasure with her bedside manner. Our last visit was a real pleasure. Dr. Kennedy sat down and took more time than she needed to with us. She even asked what we needed from her. I really just want to know the truth and the facts about our baby. She acknowledged that this must be so hard and that we were very brave. They know I will be asking for extra ultrasound pictures and took the time to get some special ones for us. Turns out they were even worse that last time. The pictures are barely recognizable and not charming in the least. She explained that the baby does not have as much amniotic fluid needed to swim around and get good feed back from the ultrasound. Great? I have been drinking tons of extra water and laying on my left side, doing everything possible to increase my fluid. At 19 weeks I am so close to being 5 months pregnant. I can't believe how fast the time is flying by and how amazing it is I have made it this far. Everyone keeps asking me if I feel the baby moving yet. I should be able to start feeling her any day now. While I have not, I am ever hopeful she is strong and able to move and I will feel her any time now.

I keeping thinking about the baby preparation I would have started doing by now but have been putting off until we "know more". Like painting the baby room, stroller shopping, crocheting her baby blanket and buying her little tiny clothes. Then I realized if did not do those things or buy her anything I would have real regrets if something happened to her. How sad I would be if I didn't have anything positive of her to reflect on. There is no going back now. My life is forever changed. No matter the outcome I will forever be the mother of little Gemma Hope. She is forever in my heart.

Destry and I agreed that we would buy her her first little outfit. We stopped at a little antique store while on a weekend drive. When I found this little vintage dress I new this would be our first baby purchase. I just fell in love with the pink and polk-a-dots. She probably won't even be able to wear it until she is two because she will be so tiny. I got tear in my eye when I made this purchase. I just could not help myself. That same weekend we found a fancy little baby boutique so we could get our hands on all the fancy strollers they have these days. We were surprised how lacking many of these strollers were and that there is only one real clear winner. To bad the colors are so lame. Seriously pale colors you know will get dirty right away. No deep plum, turquoise or deep apple green. I also took some time to order some skeins of wonderful soft cotton yarn so I could get started on her little blanket. One of my favorite things in the world is knitting and crocheting little baby items for my friends and family. Now that I can do that for my little baby I am not going to miss the opportunity.

Babies First Dress

Babies First Gifts from Grandma & Grandpa

Dr. Leigh is Good to Me

I had a dream last night that I was in labor... all night. Julia Roberts & Howard Stern made and appearance in my dream. I even got mad because I had to clean the house while in labor before I went to the Hospital. These pregnancy dreams are really weird. To say the least, I did not get a restful night sleep last night. I can still feel the pain of labor.

With every new Dr. appointment I feel a sense of anxiety waiting and wondering how the baby is doing this week. I was excited to talk to Dr. Leigh and I was not disappointed. First she wheeled in the little ultrasound machine they have and we had a look see at the baby. She is getting big and almost filled the whole screen. I was at a funny angle and could not see the screen very well so I propped up my head and then asked her to raise the machine up because I could not see through her arm. She offered to just cut it off so I could see and  I was fine with that. We could see the baby move her little arms and legs, when Dr. Leigh said it was cute my heart just melted. It was cute. I am not sure why we have not seen much movement at our other appointments but she was really moving around today.

After we saw the baby was doing well and was OK I talked to Dr. Leigh about how I felt working with Dr. Kennedy. She said maybe I didn't understand what Dr. Kennedy's roll was in my pregnancy. She told me that Dr. Kennedy was there to consult with me during the initial diagnosis and if there are any changes in the future. Dr. Leigh is still my Dr. for this pregnancy. When Dr. Kennedy told me I did not have to come back it was because there have been no changes and there is nothing for her to consult on me with. Now, I did not know this. Dr. Kennedy is a high risk pregnancy Dr. I thought that meant me. It really means high risk mothers. She is a Dr. to women who have health problems that pregnancy could put them at risk. 

I have asked twice about my pregnancy plan and what my appointment will look like in the future and I was not clear how this was going to work. Maybe nobody new how this was going to pan out in the next few weeks, so nobody really new what the future was going to look like. Little Gemma has made it farther than expected since her diagnosis. So now we all can settle into a future plan and see how it goes.

The nurse gave me the paper work on how to get a social security card, birth certificate and stuff like that for the baby. We also were given a manual breast pump as part of the new health care initiative. I was not expecting these thing so early in the pregnancy. When the nurse left the room I started crying. I could not even look at them. When Destry asked me what was going on I choked out that we might not even need those things. It is really hard to be realistic and remain hopeful and positive at the same time. We are doing the best we can. Dr. Leigh said we don't know what will happen with this pregnancy. It is true. We don't know. She said she has seen all sorts of good and bad outcomes where Dr. Kennedy just see's the bad. I felt Dr. Leigh was really optimistic and I was so happy to find that she was still my Dr. and I would be able to continue to see her.

We left Dr. Leigh's office feeling really good like always.