Last Big Project of the Year

Not 'complicated' big as much as '90" square big, plus matching pillow shams' big.

So.

Many years ago--but I'm not sure exactly how many, because I seem not to have taken a photo of it when it was completed--I made this patchwork bedspread and matching pillow shams for our bed

 And I still like it!  And it is mostly still in good shape...mostly.

Fashion Doll Shawl Collar Coat Pattern (with optional lining)

I have been in a "too much doll stuff, gotta get rid of some of it" mode for the last few weeks (this seems to always strike when winter daylight is at its lowest...)  A result of this is that I have been digging out dolls I've wanted to do more things with, and...doing things.  Like sewing.

I started with making this coat

It's a thing I sewed, so it's going here

purely as a matter of record

I had a bit of thick foam left over from a long-ago project, and the kiddo loves pillows, so I sewed...uh...this

More layering pieces: Black & Spiderweb Edition

I used the same old hacked pattern that made the leggings about a month ago, but, since the knit this time is four-way stretch, the fit is very different.

They look just as unimpressive in the hanger, though

 I did deviate a bit and used bands to finish the hems, and that turned out nicely

They are excessively long, unlike the gray pair, which are calf-length.  Both are good.

Like the gray pair, these were made from a mill end precut from Walmart.  This precut was only 2 yards, so there definitely wasn't as much to play around with after cutting out the leggings.  I was determined to eke out a long-sleeved shirt to use for layering, and it didn't take too much finagling to do that, ending up with this

Another "quick" project

Among the many textile things the friend brought over the summer were many pieces of partially dis-assembled clothing, including a purple tiered skirt with the waistband cut off.

  I had it stuffed in with my fabric for a while, and finally decided to make a quick bodice to sew it  to, to make another under dress.

Of course things didn't go as quick as they could have.

Apple Thanks

Made a zip pouch as thanks for something the kiddo's teacher did.  The apple/ABC/123/gingham stripe print is something from a thrift store grab bag, and I held onto it because I think it could make a cute EGL dress for dolls.  But...considering there's a good chance I'll never actually make such a thing, I figured it wouldn't be a problem to go ahead and use a bit for the teacher thanks thing.

When I was picking out the prints, I grew keenly aware that I have very few "modern" prints in my calico/doll clothes stash, which I suppose is a natural result of thrifting so much cloth.  (The ABC/123 print had a 1995 copyright on the selvedge.)

 Normally I don't think twice about lacking trendy prints, but I did have a bit of "will this just look incredibly out-of-date?" with this project, since it would be a gift for someone I barely know (and the school has a website with a "here are all the teachers/staff and lists of their favorite things" section...which this teacher is missing from, since she was added last minute, so I couldn't even look up her favorite color.  I have a vague memory of her sending home a sheet listing those things at the beginning of the year, but...uuuhhh...where is it...)  Anyway.  I chose these coordinating prints hoping they would flip the whole thing from "out of date" to "vintage retro."

 I know my idea of How A Zip Pouch Should Look has been influenced by following s.o.t.a.k. handmade and her love of low volume neutral designer/handmade prints + Quilt As You Go, none of which are me things, but they are fun to watch other people be happy with (I have that attitude toward some popular kinds of dolls, too)--I just have to remember that I know I wouldn't be perpetually happy with those things, if I did join in on the fun of them. (I have to perpetually remind myself that customizing Furbies is something that does indeed look like fun, but, once I was finished with the custom, I would be finished with the Furbie, so it's in my best interest to just...not.  I have plenty of other things to use my time and resources on!)

The apple appliqué is from a 1990s craft panel print--something that my "mostly thrift" fabric acquisition habits hadn't realized that wasn't a thing anymore, until, when I went through a period of making doll clothes from them (including the instructions), I found I had to explain what a craft panel print even was.

Ah, well--I hope this project conveys my thanks!

Multiplaid

Many of the pieces of fabric that the person brought from the relative's destash over the summer (thanks again!) are very loud and very out of date, and both of those aspects in a way that appeals to my sarcastichild.

So, today I used KwikSew 1650

I don't think I mentioned in the last post that the moto jacket pattern was the first KwikSew pattern I'd used that was printed this century?  It was weird, using a KwikSew pattern that was printed on something lighter than copy paper and had 5/8" seam allowances.  KS 1650 here is from 1987 (which the pattern envelope renders in Roman numerals) and is on relatively stiff paper with tiny seam allowances, which I still feel is what a Kwik Sew pattern should be.

I made view A, omitting the shoulder details (unlike last time) and here we are