Brown dress for Tonner 10" Sophie

I think this dress turned out fairly well, but there are enough mistakes, which I mentioned in the last post, that I am not completely happy with how it turned out. But I have learned from it, which will help with next time. I do think the fabric choices look fabulous with Sophie's coloring.

Meh

So I did get the dress done, and... I'm not impressed with it. There were places where I made mistakes, such as not getting the sleeve cuffs lined up perfectly when I sewed the sleeves shut. But the biggest issue is the fact that the skirt is just too full. I was hoping that the extra weight of a full skirt with a double-folded piece of fabric for the hem, plus the rickrack trim, would weigh the skirt down, but it didn't. Unfortunately, I find too often when I use doll patterns that I have not created, that there is some sort of problem. In this case, I really see no reason why the skirt was made so extremely full.

In good news, the neckline looks a lot better than I thought it might. I used the thinnest white batiste fabric that I had to underline the top, but I was afraid that white was going to show too much around the neckline. Somehow when I got the top all assembled and the dress on the doll, it doesn't look so bad. On the other hand, I have an awful time getting the two collar pieces to meet up nicely in the middle. I try basting the collar pieces on before I sew the fabric and underlining, but they still end up to far apart, to my eyes. Oh well.

I will possibly post pictures of this dress tomorrow, when I've gotten over my disappointment, and the lighting is better. I'm also starting fresh with a new pattern for a different doll. I'm so over this pattern for now.

Coming Along

I've been struggling with an Ann Estelle/Sophie sized dress for a while, but I think I've gotten it to the point where I can finish it and move on to something else. At the moment, I'm sewing rickrack trim on the skirt, which is really perking up the look, and encouraging me to get this done. I've ended up having to hand sew the trim, because it's not working with my sewing machine. My only guess is that the rickrack and the serged finish of the two fabrics on the underside is too thick overall. I even tried moving up to a size 90 needle, but it still didn't work out.

Here's the skirt in progress:

Ironing Things Out

I finally arrived at the point where I really needed a doll-size ironing board. Ironing miniature necklines was the point where my regular-size ironing board just wouldn't cut it anymore, although I imagine I'll find more uses for the mini one also. Mr. BTEG was kind enough to make one for me, and I used cotton batting and muslin to make a cover for it. I based mine on the example shown here. It didn't turn out exactly the way I wanted, but it's very good for my first experience ever making any size ironing board cover, without a pattern. It's definitely good enough to use. A little more progress.

Here it is, with Tonner's 10" Sophie doll modeling with it.

Success!

I have achieved a pattern that I can work with and made a trial dress. Now to get creative and see what kind of things I can do with the pattern.

The light is not very good for this picture. It's very gray and rainy here today.

Progress of a Sort

I have discovered that the armscye of a dress for an 8" doll is not really suited to being finished by a conventional serger. I have experienced the same problem sewing for the smaller dolls before, but I'm stubborn and like everything finished by serger. However, I took a good look inside all the dresses by Tonner for his Kripplebush Kids that I own, and only one is serged on the armscye. The rest are finished by a double row of stitching. I will probably use a zig-zag stitch. Hoping to finish a dress this week! Sunday is usually a day of rest, after church.

Still Sewing, Different Doll

Well. This past year has been a ride. Health issues, unemployment, a move forced upon us. I was suffering from so much depression that I didn't get much sewing done in the old place, and we moved to the new place right before Thanksgiving and the long parade of holidays (and in my house, birthdays.) It took a while to even get a functional sewing area set up here, but I am thankful that I am still able to have one!

Once I got back to sewing for dolls, I had a different inspiration, to sew for Robert Tonner's 8" Kripplebush Kids. I have spent many hours tweaking a pattern and I think I have finally come up with something that suits. I have had no formal pattern drafting training, for either little people or big people, so I have had some difficulties and setbacks. However, I find that I prefer my own doll patterns rather than other people's. Too many of the patterns I have tried do not fit the doll for which I am sewing properly. Others online who sew for dolls have said that a pattern must be slightly fixed for every doll. Well, if I have to do that, I'd just as soon work on my own pattern, however long it might take me. Besides, like many stay-at-home moms, I have more time than money. :)

This is not meant to disparage any particular pattern or pattern maker. If you design patterns, please do not assume I mean you and get angry at me. Everyone has a different experience, your mileage may vary, etc.

Now that I have a working pattern, I am hoping to get a new dollie creation up here very soon!

Watch This Space

After a lot of the usual trial and error, I think I have created workable patterns for Robert Tonner's Alice in Wonderland. Now I need to create clothes for her that are not muslin test pieces. Pictures will be forthcoming as this happens. I'm looking forward to the fun part of doll costuming now that the pattern design appears to over.