Modern Out Completed

The doll's outfit is completed. It started out with this idea. 

I did a design board which I normally don't do. I usually put everything onto the cutting table and work from there. But this was fun to create and I may do it again. 

The end product was as good as I had visualized it to be. A few things changed along the way which is bound to happen. I made the purse out of fabric as I didn't want to use leather for the first try on that pattern. I'm glad I didn't as it would have been a waste of expensive leather. I added a hat to the mix as I thought it would be a great addition. 

I had a great time sewing up each piece. The end result was like I had envisioned. 

I had issues with the thread coming out of the hems on the gloves. This thread is slippery and if you don't back stitch, it give you fun and games. I decided to use some embroidery thread that is white with a silver thread and back stitch the hems down. Perfect for these gloves. 

The purse is really cute also. I took a picture of it alone to show the rick rack and the button I put on to look like a closure. 

The top was an easy sew until I got to the ties. Then it was hard due to the lack of instructions. But the concept of how the tie works kept me going until I figured it out. 

I have decided that September's sew will be a sweetheart top using the blue flower print and a jean jacket using the blue fabric. This will complete the outfit and challenge me to sew a doll size jean jacket. 

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

Progress On The Modern Outfit

 Progress has been made on the doll's outfit. The accessories are completed and they are so cute.

The outside of the hat has the blue fabric as I wanted the print to frame the doll's face. I hand sewed rick rack on to the crown and added a button for a bit of detail. 

The purse was also another small item I made to accessorize the outfit. It was more fiddly than hard. I had to buy the silver grosgrain ribbon for the strap but the button, snap, and rickrack came from the stash. 

I chose to start the blouse as it has the most pieces and looked like it would be hard to make. I was fooled as the pattern is well drafted and went together so nicely after I rethreaded my sewing machine. 

The sleeves have little pleats at the bottom. I drew in the lines and took my time sewing them together. Though a bit fiddly, they went together easily. 

I am ready to serge the side seams of the top and insert the sleeves. Once that is done, I can add the tie to the bottom and it will be done. It will take a bit of figuring out but I am sure it will go together fairly easily. It calls for lots of top stitching but I am going to do a lot of hand sewing. This outfit does not call for a lot of top stitching as it is suppose to be a dress up outfit. 

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

A New Outfit Started

 I have started the next outfit for the dolls. It consists of

• wrap front blouse that has a tie closure
• simple gathered skirt with waistband
• silver leather shoes
• wrist length gloves
• floppy summer hat

I started the outfit by making the silver leather shoes. I haven't sewn leather for 12 years. It was similar to learning something new though I had a few techniques I knew would work. Teflon foot, longer stitch length and using a pressing cloth when pressing leather.

I did line the shoes as I like the finished look but not a lot of designers line leather shoes. I did add a bit of trim to the soles but would like to use a larger trim the next time. 

The next item I made was wrist length gloves. I used the feet of 2 socks (legs can be tights). With this project I found that using the walking foot fed the knit fabric through nice and even with little to no stretching. When sewing around the pattern piece, I used a small stitch (2.0 on my machine). I did sew slowly and they turned out fine. 

I couldn't find the hat pattern but on the 2nd look it was in its proper envelope. I was able to cut out the skirt and hat lining carefully as I need enough fabric to make the bag lining and a top for another project. The skirt is simply gathered onto a waist band. 

And the hat lining. I did have an extra crown interfacing which I will use. 

The blouse pattern is rough cut and the bag pattern is printed ready to rough cut. I will be cutting out today as it is too wet to work outside. My vision is coming alive as I work on it. 

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

Looking At The Doll's Stash

 I have the next outfit on the cutting table. It is only pressed. The patterns are on the table also. I am working on other projects this week and I hope to start the doll's outfit next week. 

I spent almost an hour cleaning the closet. This closet is dubbed the doll's closet as most of what is in it is for the dolls. 

I have way more than what I need but I was going to make doll's clothes for sale. That is not going to happen now for several reasons. The main one is that I don't sew fast enough to have a lot of stock on hand to sell. The other reason is I don't like sewing single pieces I like to sew outfits and sometimes detailed outfits. 

I spent an afternoon with the two tubs full of cottons sorting through for the outfit I am wanting to make next. I pulled every single piece of fabric out and looked at each piece. I put aside about 12 meters which I have donated to a quilter's guild to use in charity quilts. What is left is still too much but there is sentimental attachment to most of it. I had the "I need to make this and this from these fabrics" syndrome. So they all went back into the tub. 

As I cleaned out the closet and handled the tubs I had to come to terms with this stash. I made an agreement with myself that I will continue to sew from these tubs until December 31 2024. After that, I will purge again and see what remains. I do know that the scraps of cotton fabric left from the sewing will go to the quilter's guild. That is a given. 

The trims and notions are not being purged at the moment. I am using them up when I sew. I haven't bought any trims or notions for well over a year. I dig until I find something suitable. I do buy thread in small spools and buttons if I need to. I'm okay with that as long as I've looked in the stash before I buy. I will probably purge the buttons and toss what I can't give to the thrift shop. 

I love to knit items for the dolls and have been using up what I have in the yarn stash. I'm okay with knitting expensive yarn for the dolls. It is slowly being used up. I knit more in the cooler weather than I do in the summer. I haven't bought a pattern for knitting for a long time as I have plenty of them on the iPad. When I knit the last of them, I will look at a pattern or two to keep me interested. 

I haven got a few doll patterns but mostly ones that are free. I am trying to sew up the patterns I have on hand (both pdf and paper). I may buy a few later on but I am refraining for now. 

The doll clothes I have made and kept will be looked at once again. I don't think there is much to purge but I do need to divide the outfits up either into eras or for each doll. I want each of my dolls to have a wardrobe as I may sell most of the AG dolls (I have 3 I want to keep). I will keep the Gotz dolls as I love them. But a doll purge won't happen until late 2024 at the earliest. 

Here is the fabric for this month's outfit. I truly do love it and am looking forward to starting it next week. 

And the shoes will be silver leather. This is real leather not faux leather. 

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