A Doll Dress Experiment

Granted, most of what I sew for dolls involves at least a little deviation from the patterns I use, varying all the way to "Pattern?  For this?  Pfft."

But this one

This one was a combination of an on-the-fly alteration of an existing pattern for the bodice, complete improvisation for the skirt (albeit based on the idea of a 1983 Barbie dress), being inspired by a Japanese doll magazine project for the head band (the cover project on Dollybird vol 15), and making a video of the whole dress-making process

It's an hour and 40 minutes long, as I share my rambling thoughts about (almost) every decision made and technique used.  My long doll videos are always intended as background noise that other doll people can play to keep them company while they do their own hobby things--if I can share any sewing tips that anyone else can use, that's a bonus.

Another Button-up Shirt

This one, though, is for dolls

Specifically, for a 1961(ish) Ken

 

Halloween Patchwork Shirt

 Finally finished!  I took the first photo of this project

on October 7.  I finished it on October 27.  That's nearly three weeks.  The lined patchwork blazer I made last year, using a pattern that was entirely new to me, took five days total.  And the first Halloween patchwork project I did was acknowledged as a distraction tactic (and also took five days.)  This year's project did not distract from...potential upcoming events...and in fact that uncertainty is probably what dragged this project out for so long.

But it's done!  And it's cute!

 

 

Tree Test Shirt

Still working toward making this year's Halloween Patchwork Project, and I decided I do not want to make darts in this potential shirt, especially not the extremely deep darts of the proper...well...modified Burda7831 that I usually use.  So!  Time for more modification!

I traced the front pattern piece and swung the dart roughly closed, then used the side of the back piece to flatten out the front of the side a little.  I decided to also modify the front edge to allow for no exposed band (because I learned from the mistake I made in that direction), as well as leaving marks on the center edge of the pattern so I could still fold it appropriately if I do want to make "band: yes; darts: no" versions in the future.

I started laying out the patchwork pieces, then had the thought that I really should test these changes before committing to cutting into the not-yet-constructed patchwork.  I poked into my fabric stash and found a small amount of a print that I had, for years, thought would make a nice shirt, but the colors in it always had me passing over it for other prints.  Well!  Now would be its time.

I easily cut everything from the limited yardage, including re-cutting a sleeve because the first one had a small stain and the way the print was going to repeat around the shoulder seam did not make me happy, especially after I took the time to pattern match across the front opening.  Construction was fast and easy and lengthily interrupted by my period and 'going someplace' and the weather turning abruptly cool, which did not encourage the idea of a short sleeve cotton shirt, so it took a while to actually make.  But, made it is!

Another Reroot

I have the fabric picked out for this year's Halloween Patchwork Project, but I veered off into a productive procrastination project instead: rerooting a reproduction Francie head

This was originally Smashin' Satin, a reproduction of a no-bangs Francie in blond.  I used hair from a Monster High Rochelle, and I include reroots on this blog because I use an anchor thread reroot method, so it's kinda like sewing.

I've had this head and this hair picked out to go together for years, along with a stack of other dolls awaiting reroots.  Honestly, if I could convince myself to do only one reroot a month, that would still clear out that stack a lot faster than...well...than they've already been waiting...

The Quick & The Vest

I have the fabric and pattern picked out for this year's Halloween Patchwork Project, but I don't quite have the drive to start working on it yet, so I decided I'd do something fast and easy yesterday.

I was initially going to use the purple sequin fabric to make a cardigan, but I didn't like any of the rib knits I had in combination with it.  By the time I admitted the cardigan wasn't going to happen, I was committed to using some of the odd areas of the purple sequin, and settled on a vest.  I got a lovely reddish purple lining fabric last time I visited the craft thrift store, but I was already starting to feel ambivalent about this project and didn't want to use part of a larger piece.  I poked around my lining fabric stash and found a small amount of thrifted dark wine...acetate?  It did have a bit of that distinct acetate smell (along with a lingering hint of cigarette.)  I had thought of using it for a vest years ago that never got made, so it seemed right to use it for this vest that was going to get made, whether I wanted it or not.

Purple Glitch Shirt

It's another McCall's 6613, again modified and all directions ignored, and again in an obnoxious print for The Child.