Using Technology When Sewing For The Dolls

 I made the 2nd pair of gloves and used the "stretch stitch". It wasn't as stretchy as I had thought but it certainly does stitch the gloves solidly together. 

I will be making more in the future for other outfits. I want to make them wrist length also. My next pair will be made with the lightening stitch as it is more stretchy. I may only do the hem with it and the other stitch for the gloves. 

I have been thinking about what I would love to have in the sewing room to help me when I'm sewing doll clothes. At this time I'm thinking of a Cricut Maker. It is on my want list. While I wait to see if it is what I want, I have been playing with the Cricut Design Space app. 

I started off with reading about the machine from Oh Sew Kat. It got me thinking and I searched for a video to help me with the process. I found this great video which I've watched several times. Once to see if it was what I wanted and twice to help me with the process. 

I downloaded the app and got started. I chose a skirt that had 4 pieces and 3 of the pieces had to be duplicated and flipped. What a huge learning curve as I wanted to be able to cut it out on a 12 x 24" mat. After several attempts I got it. 

Later on I did a top which needed to have the front duplicated, flipped and welded together. The back needed to be duplicated and flipped. I got it to fit onto the 12 x 12" mat.

Lastly I did the Plain Jane shoes. When doing the snapshot of the shoes, I got writing which I didn't want to deal with in the app. I fiddled around using Preview and got most of the unnecessary marks gone. When doing each step in the app, it was easy to get rid of the few remaining marks. The shoes and soles have been flipped, combined and put onto the 12 x 12" mat. The soles are separate to cut out of chip board and foam. I felt really successful as I didn't use the video at all for this pattern. 

Cricut's app can be annoying as you can't save the svg files to put onto another computer and try out a machine. The files are well hidden in the app. I really wanted to try cutting out one item on a friend's Cricut as I think she has the one I want to buy - Cricut Maker. This machine was recommended by a doll sewer on a forum I belong to. 

I may have to visit my friend and talk to her about the machine once again. Though on sale at the moment, I will not be buying it at this given time. I want to look in the stores at the machines and accessories in the stores also. 

Happy Doll Sewing..........................................................

Gloves For The Regency Era Outfit

I am now slowly working on completing the Regency Era Dress so it is another complete outfit. 

The pattern is Simplicity 9438. I made a pair of shoes to go with it which I put on tear drop pearls. They were the third pair of shoes I made. They aren't perfect as I've figured out a few more tricks since then. 

When done, I knew I wanted to add more to this outfit so it was complete. I am on a mission to have a stole, parasol, gloves, and pantaloons (not era correct). I did a lot of searching and found a pattern for the parasol. I started it and there will be more on it later. 

The next search was for gloves and I found them here. I had to figure out how to get them to print at 100% as the square was 3/4" in size not 1" when printed. I enlarged the pattern to 115% when printing and then 104% (twice) at the printer to get the correct size. 

The designer has a video on how she makes them which is at the bottom of the pattern. Video 3 tells how to make them with stretch fabric. 

I bought children's size knee high socks for the fabric. I spent a couple of weeks thinking about sewing these socks as I had other commitments and needed to think what I would use for a needle and thread when making them. I finally made them yesterday. 

    Use a 60/8 microtex needle. These are sharp and great to sew knits with. 

    Use a good quality thread. I used Glide thread but other brands can be used. I wouldn't recommend cotton thread but I would try silk thread. 

    I cut the cuff off the socks I bought and then cut the length to 6". I then cut the tube open so I had a piece of fabric. I put the right sides together after sewing down the hem and pinned the pattern on with 6 pins. I removed the pins and put them back in after I stitched an area to keep the pattern secured on the fabric.

    When sewing down the hem, I turned 1/4" under and stitched in the middle. On the next pair, I will trim the raw edge back to the stitching. The hem did stretch and I steamed it so it would shrink back into shape. It sort of complied. 

    I did the first pair with just a straight stitch and would recommend you use a stretch stitch. Though I had no skipped stitches I was worried about the thread breaking when putting on the gloves. If you use a straight stitch, sew the seam twice for extra strength. I didn't and I'm now worried about the seam coming open as I take them off and put them on the dolls. 

    Sew slowly around the pattern as she shows in the video. I started at the hemmed edge and worked to the thumb. It was easier for me. I spent a lot of time on the curves taking 1 -2 stitches and adjusting the foot so I was close to the pattern. Trim as the designer shows on the video. 

    When turning the glove right side out, I used the rounded end of my bamboo turning tool to smooth out the hand and the pointed end for the thumb. 

A couple of good chuckles has ensued. While looking for a stole pattern I discovered the pattern I used for the dress has both the stole and gloves patterns included. I may trace the gloves onto paper and try them at a later date. Searching for the gloves allowed me to see how one designer made her gloves. It is a good tutorial and gave me the confidence to make these gloves. I'm ready to make the second pair this afternoon. 

I will be making the stole a bit later on as I have other sewing to do. I'll be using the Simplicity pattern for it. The parasol has been started and set aside as I'm testing a pattern for a designer and have socks to finish. I'm not in a rush to finish this outfit as I'm enjoying the process. 

Happy Doll Sewing................................................