Fine Irish Baby Christening Outfits, Gowns and Rompers
How to Make and Personal a Christening Gown for Irish Babies

When shopping for fine Irish baby christening outfits there are several things that you should look for.  Fabric is the first concern even more important than a pattern.  Irish linen of the highest quality is a necessity so that your christening dress can be kept and preserved for future generations. 

The color of the fabric is important as well. Most parents prefer to use linen of the purest white. The Irish christening outfits should be embroidered with fine hand-stitching and luxurious heirloom quality lace added to the matching slips, bonnets, shoes and caps. Even 100% cotton and certainly not polyester blends will be acceptable for heirlooms that you plan to put in the memory box!

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A long white dress trimmed in satin ribbons and lace calls not only for the perfect pair of dainty, matching slippers but a cap for a baby boy and a bonnet for a baby girl. If the material of the gown is sheer a slip may also be required which, if impossible to find, a white, cotton onesie will do.

How and Where to Store Irish Baby Christening Outfits After the Ceremony

Vintage Baby Christening Gown Used As Nursery Wall Decor

Many parents wrap the christening gown in acid-free tissue paper and store it in a special clothing chest where it will stay until the next baby in the family wears it for his or her baptism. It might be stored in the baby's memory box or put on display as part of the nursery's decor when there are no such plans to pass the gown to another child.


An antique baby christening gown framed in this fashion is a welcome addition to the wall decorations in a vintage nursery theme where there may be antique baby furniture and other family pieces on display.

Embroidered Christening Gowns

Many Irish baby christening outfits feature a family crest or monogram embroidered as a medallion on the bodice or on the hem. On Celtic christening gowns there may be an intricate Celtic knot or Celtic Cross.

For masculine christening sets or a baby boy's romper, Trinity Knots might be embroidered across the chest directly under the collar. Attention to detail will be what makes the outfit special.

Moms that are just learning the craft might consider using one of these free Celtic embroidery patterns to personalize a ready made gown or those of you who are handy with a needle might consider trying your hand at Irish Mountmellick Embroidery, which is a white on white style of hand-stitching, that is traditionally seen on christening gowns as well as home decor features designs inspired by plants growing along the Owenass River bank.

The ladies of long ago would embroider blackberries, acorns, dog rose, ivy and oak leaves, barley, woodbine, wild clematis flowers or butterflies, seashells, birds and their nests, basically scenes from nature that surrounded them on a day-to-day basis.

Proper Placement of Embroidery on Christening Gowns and Rompers

There is no more fitting decoration for Irish baby christening outfits than shamrocks but where should they be stitched?

A tiny shamrock might be placed on:

• The collar
• Shirt sleeves
• The side of the matching christening bonnet for a baby girl
• The bill of the matching christening cap that comes with most masculine christening sets.

If you sew, knit or crochet we have some recommendations for free christening gown patterns. But even if you buy ready made christening gowns you can personalize your Irish baby christening outfits with some fine Irish lace or a wee bit of sewing that you can do yourself!

Here are some Irish baby gift ideas for the little one that already has a gown:

• A personalized christening blanket
• A personalized photo album
• A lace handkerchief to match the christening hat or bonnet

Visitors to Unique Baby Gear Ideas are invited to upload pictures of vintage baby christening gowns so that others can see examples of patterns they might use to make their own outfits.