Live Chainstitch Embroidery at a Parisian-Themed Philadelphia Baby Shower
Tiny onesies, French poodles, croissants, and a whole lot of love....Oui, oui!
I had the absolute pleasure of bringing my chainstitch embroidery machine to a beautiful baby shower for Jas Hamilton at Chef Michael Solomonov's Jaffa Bar in Philadelphia's Fishtown neighborhood. And let me tell you, this wasn't your average baby shower!
The theme was a Parisian farmer's market, complete with fresh fruits and veggies, flowers, baguettes, and custom tote bags. It was like stepping into the cutest little French market, except everyone was there to celebrate a very loved baby girl.
And instead of traditional baby shower games, guests got to create something extra special for the mama-to-be!
A Parisian Farmer's Market, Right in Philadelphia!
Jas's mother-in-law, a retired event planner and true hostess with the mostess, dreamed up the most incredible celebration.
The entire event was designed to feel like a charming French market, with beautiful displays of produce, flowers, bread, and all the little details that made the theme come to life.
I mean, imagine getting to do your grocery shopping while attending your bestie's baby shower?! Efficiency!
I absolutely love working at events where the host has put so much thought into the guest experience, and this one was no exception.
My role was to bring a little handmade magic to the celebration with live chainstitch embroidery, giving guests the opportunity to personalize baby items for Jas's little girl.
The Sweetest Little Embroidery Station
Jas's family provided an adorable assortment of blank baby items for guests to customize, including onesies, bibs, burp cloths, blankets, and hats.
Before the event, we collaborated on a special embroidery menu inspired by the Parisian theme. Think French poodles, croissants, little kisses, and other sweet designs that would look right at home on tiny baby clothes.
I set up my embroidery station at the back of Jaffa Bar, ready to take orders from guests throughout the party.
Everyone could select a baby item, choose their customization, and leave it with me to embroider while they enjoyed the festivities.
It's such a fun alternative to traditional baby shower activities because guests get to be creative without having to stop everything else they're doing.
They can mingle, eat, celebrate the mama-to-be, and contribute something personal to baby's wardrobe all at once!
A Little Planning Makes a Big Difference
Here's where my love of organization comes in!
With lots of guests customizing different items, I wanted to make sure every order stayed organized and that Jas would know who had created each gift.
So, I prepared order forms in advance to make the customization process simple and straightforward.
Once guests made their selections, I attached their order form to their chosen garment with a clothespin and hung everything on the sweetest little baby-sized clothing rack.
Not only was it adorable, but it kept all the orders organized while I worked my way through the embroidery.
And because we kept each order form with its item, Jas could see exactly who had personalized each piece for her baby girl.
I love little details like this!
My background in project management definitely comes in handy when I'm planning live embroidery events. Even something as sweet and intimate as a baby shower benefits from thinking through the logistics ahead of time.
From developing a menu of designs to managing guest orders and keeping track of finished items, my goal is always to make the experience feel effortless for the host.
More Than Just a Baby Shower Favor
One of my favorite things about this event was seeing how personal the embroidery requests became.
Guests weren't just choosing cute designs. They were adding little messages, inside jokes, and thoughtful details that meant something special to Jas and her family.
I love imagining Jas reaching for a onesie months down the road, recognizing an embroidered message from one of her friends, and smiling at the memory of her shower.
There's something so lovely about that.
Unlike a traditional party favor that guests take home, this was an activity where everyone got to contribute something meaningful to the guest of honor.
And the finished pieces weren't just keepsakes — they were useful baby essentials that could be worn, loved, and eventually tucked away as memories of such a special time.
Why Live Embroidery Is Perfect for Baby Showers
If you're planning a baby shower and looking for an activity that's a little different, live chainstitch embroidery is such a fun option!
Guests can personalize baby clothes, blankets, accessories, or other items with names, initials, meaningful words, or designs inspired by the party theme.
And because everything is embroidered on-site, there's a little entertainment built into the experience, too. Guests can watch their customizations come to life right in front of them.
It's interactive, personal, and a wonderful way to create lasting memories without adding another traditional shower game to the itinerary.
When I work with families or event planners, I'm happy to help think through the embroidery options, which items are best suited for customization, and how to keep the process organized so everyone can enjoy the celebration.
A Little Love for Baby Girl!
I was so busy stitching throughout the shower that I hardly took any photos myself!
Thankfully, Jas, who is not only a Labor & Delivery nurse but also a Philadelphia content creator, documented the festivities beautifully on her Instagram and TikTok.
I'm so grateful to Jas and her family for inviting me to be part of such a thoughtful celebration. It was a beautiful reminder of how meaningful something handmade can be, especially when it's created with love by the people closest to you.
Planning a baby shower, sprinkle, or special celebration for a little one?
That Crafty One offers live chainstitch embroidery for baby showers, private parties, and special events in Philadelphia and beyond. From custom embroidery menus to personalized baby gifts and organized on-site customization, I'd love to help make your celebration extra special.
Let's plan your live embroidery event!
Being so busy stitching, I hardly captured pictures! But since Jas moonlights as a Philadelphia influencer in addition to her full-time job as a Labor & Delivery nurse (YES!) she documented the events to perfection in posts on her Instagram and her TikTok.
