Playing With Pictures

I have been suffering from exhaustion. Cause unknown but it has passed. I've been busy since then sewing a test pattern. I have also been learning new things also this summer. More to do with pictures rather than sewing.

Collage Maker

One of the programs I learned about on Ravelry was Collage Maker. I used it when I wanted to put together Kit's wardrobe in one picture rather than loading up a bunch of pictures. 

I also did one with just 6 pictures. 

As I am only using the free version, I have limited graphs to choose from. I am sticking with the ones that allow me to showcase the dolls without a lot of cropping. Playing with the program allows you to group your photos in one picture. 
A few things to remember:

• If you have played with the program or done a collage, you will be asked if you want to start new or continue editing. I usually start new. 
• For a new graph layout, go to the third icon on the left hand side. Go to grid to choose what layout you want. 

• I have a selection of pictures already and I hadn't joined until today. If I want more pictures, I select computer and choose what I have. 
• Once you have loaded your pictures, you can put them into the grid to get the look you want. Just click on your picture and drag it over. Click on the picture in the grid and move it if you don't like the position it's in. 
• At the top center is Open and Save. I save to my computer but you have other options. Once saved, I can use the collage picture as I need to. 

Lunapic

Another site I found on The Sewing Place was Lunapic. I haven't joined this site yet and am learning it. People are using this site so their pictures don't end up sideways on a discussion thread. 

I have this photo of Kit in the bodice of the test pattern. 

I wanted less showing on each sides of her arms as I can see doll hair on one side. I started off clicking on Upload on the right hand side of the page. 

The picture is huge as the info states. I did crop first and got the picture to look like this.

It is still a large file but over 50% less bytes than the first picture. I can reduce that by changing the jpg quality to 70%. It has reduced it by more than 50% less bytes. Still good quality for online showing. 

I am still looking forward to learning more on this site. 

Have fun playing with these two sites and learning more things. 

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

Up To Take 5.3

It has been awhile and life got in the way. Between having the deck repaired and health issues, I had to put pattern drafting to one side. 

The Hack

In the last post I showed this picture of the surplice bodice. 

That design went downhill rapidly and I tossed it into the garbage. I went on to design #2. It was better but was going downhill with the adjustments I was making. 

And then on to design #3. I decided to go back to a basic bodice and get it to fit properly around the arms. I did the drape method using industrial paper towels and then worked on adjustments. Much better for me. 

I am ready to do the next muslin and if it fits well, add the seam allowances to the neck and armholes and start the surplice bodice once again. Don't ask how this take is 5.3. Take 4 must have been the first take on the basic bodice sloper.

American Girl Surplice Bodice

I did a muslin and it fits perfectly. 

It is ready to be sewn in good fabric with a skirt attached. Jennie is asking for it in a fun fabric. 

Anna's Wardrobe

Before stopping sewing, I made Anna a princess dress for her wardrobe. I used a bodice from the basic dress a friend designed and another friend's idea for the skirt. 

I did pin tucks on the bodice as I wanted to use the pin tucking foot I bought years ago. 

The only thing I did wrong was to have two green panels meet at the center back. Anna likes it but I must try to remember to do it correctly on the next dress I make for one of the other doll's wardrobes. 

It will be back to pattern drafting which could happen as early as this afternoon. I am looking forward to doing working on the bodice design once again. 
PS - My health issues have been high blood pressure and poor kidney function. I am working hard at trying to fix it but in the mean time I rest when tired, drink lots of water, and move forward. 
Happy Doll Sewing..................................

Muslin #1 Adjustments

I decided to start with the Gotz doll pattern hack as I need it for Anna's wardrobe. It is also the hardest to do adjustments as the Gotz dolls have a tummy to deal with. 
Though I am not showing it, I traced the pattern onto tracing pellon and cut it out of a scrap of broadcloth. I sewed it up and tried it on Anna. Right now, I am working on the fit. And I needed to get the fit right. 

• The arm holes hung down too low by 1/4"
• The back was too long ??
• The front surplice fit perfectly. 
• The fit around Anna's upper torso was great.

After a couple of minutes thinking, I grabbed the shoulder seams and pulled them up. I put in a mark and pinned in place. This is the amount that needs to come off the top of the pattern at the shoulders.

This immediately made the armholes fit perfectly. 

It also shortened the back up to a better place on her waist. But it made the front too short. 

Her belly is showing. To correct this, I did the following

• Added about 1/8" to the front side seam
• Added about 1/2" to the center front
• Curved the line down from the side seam to the center front. I curved it back up to the surplice but want to make sure it is correct by folding the bodice at the center front and cutting correctly. 
• Add about 1/8" to the back side seam and blend it up to the center back length. 

I will take a picture of the adjustments as I drew them on the pattern. I will then draw a new pattern, true it up, trace it onto the tracing pellon and make muslin #2. 

While I am doing this, I will do the American Girl pattern to see what needs to be adjusted on that pattern. 

I may or may not get the two muslins made today but I am certainly working on this project while it is fresh in my mind. Hopefully there will be more to report tomorrow.

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

Collage

Making A Surplice Top Pattern

Though it took some time to make the surplice bodice pattern, it was fairly easy to do. 

Supplies

• Tracing paper
• Pencil
• Eraser ( I use a white vinyl one)
• Curved ruler if you have one. 
• Bodice pattern (Butterick 6265 is a good one for American Girl type dolls. Mine is for a Gotz doll).

Procedure

Trace the pattern onto tracing paper so you have a full bodice. Trace the stitching lines and notches Make sure you have drawn in the center front line. I had to go back and draw in the notch though it wasn't really important. 

The stitching lines at the neck-shoulder seam intersection and the waist are important as we work using them, not the cutting lines. 

As I have this curved ruler, I use it for the slight curve in the bodice. can draw it freehand also. With the ruler, the 24 goes at the shoulder and I lay the ruler so it lays at the stitching line at the waist and side intersection. I'm using an old picture to show you what I did. 

The new pattern with the curved line. Instead of going to the seam allowance on the other side, I drew this line 1 1/8" to the right of the center front line. 

 I then measured 1/4" out from the curved line and drew in the seam allowance. 

I didn't have to adjust the back piece at the shoulders as we didn't cut anything away at the neckline. I also drew in a straight of grain line using the center front line prior to erasing it. I left a bit at the waist as it will become the notch to align the two fronts together. When I cut the pattern out roughly, I will match the shoulder seams at the stitching line to make sure they fit correctly. I still need to label the front and back pieces. I also erased all the unnecessary lines. 

I then decided to make the American Girl sized surplice bodice. I used Butterick 6265. I didn't draw all the lines onto the tracing paper. 

But I did draw in the stitching line where I needed it. I also measured 1 1/8" to the right of the center line. 

I drew the line in and finished it like I did previously. Also all unnecessary lines were erased. 

I copied both top pieces (the back got cut off but I have it already). I have the back pieces ready to trace onto pellon. 

Next up is sewing the muslin.  

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

This And That

I'm not lost but have been busy outside doing yard work. It is an ongoing process that will take us several more weeks to complete. 

Hacking A Pattern

I've been playing around with hacking a bodice pattern and making it into a surplice bodice. I have one version done but want to fix up the process so it is easier to understand. It was my learning curve. 

I also want to do it again where the surplices cross over before the side seams. I have some measuring to do and then I will photograph the process for that. At the moment, I am pleased with what I've done. 

Sewing

Two years ago, I bought Simplicity 1086 as it was recommended by a friend. 

I made a dress out of it and set the pattern aside. I was doing some research on 1940's clothing and this pattern popped up. I dug it out to make Kit a wardrobe. To date, I have made both the tops, the capris, and the shorts. The tops are more intensive sews but the skirt, capris, and shorts are easy to make. 
The tops and the skirt are lacking buttons. I had to add elastic to the back waist band so the skirt fit Kit snuggly. 

The capris are adorable and were so easy to make. 

And the shorts were just as easy to sew. The top of this pattern as more difficult but the other blouse was a bit harder as the collar was hard to fit onto the neckline. 

I want to make the shorts again in the check fabric and then put the pattern away. I've got my money's worth out of this one. 
To finish this part of Kits wardrobe, I've knit a plain white sweater and have a jacket and hat to add to the mix. I'm calling this her summer holiday wardrobe. She does have a dress to add to the wardrobe just in case she needs one. 
Have you ever used a pattern to its fullest? This is a first for me as I usually make one or 2 items from a pattern and move on. 
Happy Doll Sewing......................................

Hacking A Pattern

Feb 2019, I took Pattern Academy and thoroughly enjoyed the fast paced class. When our basement flooded, I put the course away and found it again a few days ago. It is in a mess as I vividly remember picking it up off the desk and stuffing it into a binder in no given order. Though distraught at the time, I'm going back through it once again with a plan of having fun hacking purchased patterns and designing my own from the slopers.
I am going to start off with a bodice. I spent a few minutes choosing two ideas from pictures I stored. It sort of goes with what I had planned last year. 

Idea 1

Pintrest with no credit found as I didn't save it

I love the surplice bodice and the idea of attaching a skirt to it makes a cute top. I have all the skills to make this top. 

Idea #2

Sold out at Jaypore

This one is a bit more difficult and will take some thinking to accomplish. I would start with attaching the skirt to the bodice and then slash the bodice to make the box pleats. This will be a work in progress until I get it correct. 

Thoughts

I will show how you can use a simple bodice from a dress pattern to get the same results. I hope to document it here so you can try it at home also. The surplice bodice will be the first one I will hack.
Happy Doll Sewing..............................

Mary Laura Dress Complete

I finished the dress and here is the final result. 

The back has buttonholes and buttons. All but the top one turned out good. The top one decided to not cooperate twice. Yes, I ripped out the first try. 

I did a rolled hem on the serger for the hanky. I folded it and put it in the pocket. A cute addition. 

Though I'm sad it is finished, I'm thrilled with the end result. 
Happy Doll Sewing....................................