Wardrobe Update

Yesterday P decided that SHE wanted to make something for her doll. We settled on a simple waistband with gathered skirt. We measured the doll, did some math, (2.5 times the waist size for the skirt piece) and cut out two rectangles of fabric.I helped with cutting and pinning but she did all of the sewing. P thought the magic of pulling gathering threads was pretty cool.I showed her how to hand stitch the inside of the waistband.She got the hang of it pretty fast.Just look at these tiny little stitches.She was tired of hand stitching after sewing the waistband down and opted for a machine stitched hem.She thinks the skirt looks great with the sweater I made last year.We were both pretty thrilled with our afternoon time in the sewing room.P says we need to make the panties today... 

A New Wardrobe in the Making

My friend, and knitting partner, Adele came for a quick visit not too long ago. She brought P amd me some goodies. P got a doll that she LOVES and we also got a dressmaking book for dolls.P and I looked through the many designs in the book and decided on our first project, a pretty simple dress with bodice. I wanted to make sure the pattern size that we had chosen would fit the doll.Then we made a pinafore to go with the dress.I have to say that this book, The Doll's Dressmaker: The Complete Pattern Book  by Venus A Dodge, is pretty spectacular. It has basic pattern pieces for all of the dresses in five different sizes. It gives good directions for choosing the right pattern size and how to make adjustments. There are also directions for making MANY different styles of dresses from the basic pattern pieces and lots of ideas for dressing them up for more grown up dolls and making them simpler for baby dolls. The possibilities are endless. There are a few simple styles that I'll let P try too.The book also has shoe patterns, hat patterns, and directions for other doll accessories.I think we'll be using this book a lot. P has marked a lot for dresses that she likes.Next up, panties - because every doll needs some panties. And then a slip, and a bonnet, and a dress with some lace....Thanks Adele. We have been enjoying our time together in the sewing room!

Breaking the Rules

I told myself that I wouldn't start any new projects until I had worked my way through some projects in the UFO pile. Well that didn't last long.P's new baby doll was cold so what is a grandmother to do but make a socks and a hat for the baby.I am OK with my rule breaking for the following reasons:1. It used up all but about 8 inches of the yarn left from Petunia's Rose Dress. (cleaning up the slow way.)2. The project was finished in a couple of hours and did not add to the UFO pile.3. The baby is no longer cold and Petunia is happy with the new items for her doll.4. The little socks are just too cute not to like.P still wants more items for the new baby's wardrobe but for now these are enough. She has discovered that the new baby can also wear clothes from her other doll. They are a tiny bit big but they work. I also could not believe that in my huge collection of doll clothes sewing patterns I did not have a single one for a 12 inch baby doll. Not a single one. How did that happen?

Dolled Up

P's doll has a new dress. I finished this last night and am pleased that the dress fit the doll perfectly when worked straight from the pattern directions.  P wanted sleeves that went all the way to the wrist so I just made them a little longer.The pattern is F in the picture below. I used the self patterning sock yarn instead of knitting a two color design. P is thrilled. She has put in an order for a pink version of dress E,  a pair of underpants like those on the line, some socks, and a snowsuit.We shall see.I am off to spin some more yarn to make sleeves for the cable doll sweater I am knitting.