New - Doll Clothes Pattern for a Complete Outfit

I have had so much fun making this outfit.
I saw a photo of a model dressed in these very trendy cropped flares and a long sleeve knit top that had those ridiculous too long sleeves young people seem to be able to wear and I knew I just had to create that look for the doll.

The outfit consists of the cropped flares, the knit top, a scarf and a hand bag. I have kept the price down because I used my basic patterns to create the look.

If you have a flare for designing things I have been building my pattern stock with lots of basic patterns such as the pull-on pants I used as the sloper for the cropped flares and the classic knit tops pattern that I used to make the knit top with just a few adjustments to the sleeves and neckline.

Not everyone wants to draft patterns so I have put this outfit together for my shop.

I love creating and I hope to create a few more I'm 17 outfits in the near future. I also want to make some I'm 7 and I'm 12 outfits too. There are so many possibilities.

I used black denim for the pants and grey knit for the top but blue denim cropped flares are also popular with cream or white tops, t-shirts and tank tops.

The hand bag is designed for fabric that doesn't fray. I have discovered the amazing properties of scuba knit fabric. It is fairly expensive but so easy to sew and looks fabulous.

The studs for the bag handles I bought from CHSupply on Etsy
I have bought a few things from this shop. The service is good.

The scarf is just the right length and width to complement the outfit. She could also wear it as a hair ribbon. You could make an infinity scarf instead, using the free pattern on my Free Patterns page.

You can find the outfit pattern bundle on Craftsy or Etsy. Just $5.50USD

Happy Sewing,

Val

An Up-Do for the doll - an easy hairdo for dolls with long hair.

 

I saw this method on Team AG video. It was a video hosted by a very accomplished young girl, showing how she did her hair for ballet and cheer leading.

About 3 mins into this video she does her hair thing.

Here's how my Lea got the look.

Put her on a desk and make a pony tail.

Plait the pony tail and put another band at the bottom.

Twist it around to make a nice bun and pin it in place with some bobby pins. I used a big clip. Not ideal, but it was all I had.

It looks pretty neat considering how quick and easy it is.

Happy Sewing,

Val

Perfect Doll Post Cards and Goals for January

The little post cards are perfect 18" doll size.

You can see the bag is small.

Compared to the exciting find I had this morning my January goals are a bit boring so I will deal with those at the end.
I needed some nice paper clips so I lifted several boxes out of my cupboard so I could get to my stationery box. It was even fun to rummage in the other boxes as I got them down. I keep so much great stuff.

In the stationery box I pulled out an old Cavallini desk calendar. The exciting part is that it is perfect for doll post cards and doll wall charts or posters.

The front and back covers are nice sturdy card. The front has a full size image and the back has thumbnails from the whole calendar. These little images make great post cards. The paper of the calendar (in 2011 at least) was a nice weight and feel. All the pages are blank on the back as well.

The calendar pages (posters) next to two of the post cards.

With calendars 25% and 50% off right now one or two would be a bargain to add to your doll accessories. You can even use it for your calendar. Cut the front and back pages off now and add to the poster collection each month.

The 2016 calendars are mostly lovely vintage images. Vintage Australia is only done in a wall calendar but the back page probably has thumbnails that would make good posters. I don't know.

You will probably have to look around a bit to find the Cavallini desk calendars. They are full price 12.95 USD and 24.95 AUD.

You can see some of the calendars on their website.

I will be checking out my big newsagent next time we go to town. After finding my butterfly cards and charts I saw the new American Girl Doll of the year likes rain forests so my butterfly collection will be perfect for her back pack and office.

I have really been into setting goals lately so I was thrilled to work out that the empty desk calendar stand was perfect for a mini vision board.

If nothing ever changed there would be no butterflies

My short term goals for January are:

• Snack less to reduce my sugar intake. This one involves changing a habit.
• Publish 1828 and 1829 50s dress and jacket.
• Publish one more 50s pattern.
• Update two more of my older files to make them match the new files.
• Finish a series of posts about my first Wardrobe Capsule for doll clothes and schedule them for Feb.
• Add two more images to my Gallery page.
• Add one more free pattern.
• List two sets of doll clothes in my Etsy store.
• Work on the doll hand bags patterns.
• Meditate 15 mins every second day. This one involves building a habit.
• Finish the jigsaw on the coffee table.
• Make a start on some digital books and papers for 18" dolls.

I have lots of other short term goals on saving and exercising and sewing written in my special journals. I also break them down into daily and weekly goals to go on my week at a view desk pad.

Fingers crossed the list of goals achieved at the end of Jan will look just as long.

Happy Sewing,

Val

The Bag Collection - For Dolls Of Course!

I love Rebecca's modern look with her new tote bag.
I have been drafting and sewing bags for the dolls the last week or so. I have a collection of photos of ladies bags and I am just working through them. I love this patchwork one but the next one is owl shaped and so cute.
The patchwork tote is bag number 3 so far. Patterns and instructions are in the works. I am thinking that I might release them one at a time for free for a limited time then put them together in collections of 5 and put them in my shop. Two more to get my first 5 done.
So, look out for the free patterns coming soon.

Tiny patchwork pieces. I will include the seam allowances on the
final pattern.

Happy Sewing,
Val

10 Minute Doll Necklace (Halloween Charm)

Make a cute doll necklace in 10 minutes from a a few easy to find craft shop items. No special tools. Just a pair of pliers and scissors for the fine chain.

I dabble in a lot of crafts. Beading and making jewellery is a lot of fun. When I tried the square neckline witch dress on my doll I realized she needed a necklace.
I went to my stash and found several metres of silver chain with fine links that need to be cut with scissors and a pair of earrings with owl charms that I bought at Melbourne Markets to use as zipper pull charms.
I have more packed away somewhere, but we are in the process of moving so I don't know where!
Off to Flash Harry's to get some supplies. Flash Harry's is what I call a junk shop. Everything is new but not everybody wants it. They do have a good lot of craft supplies.

I bought some jump rings, some parrot clasps, some key charms, some cord ends and some joiners. These cost me $10 for the 5 packets. The necklaces were 3 for $2.

This is what I made.

It is easy to do.

I cut 8 1/2 " of chain for the owl necklace. Opened and closed the jump rings with the pliers on one side and my fingers on the other.
Parrot clasp - jump ring - slide on owl on a jump ring - jump ring on the other end.

I cut my ribbon necklace in half and used the parrot clasp end. Slide the key charm on, on a jump ring. Gather the ribbon ends in the cord end and squeeze the little arms closed with the pliers. Add a jump ring and an adjusting chain. I had several of the adjusting chains in my stash. You don't really need it but it looks nice.

The key charm hangs a bit lower than the owl so I cut 7" of chain for that necklace.

Cheers,
Val

Lots of doll tote bag ideas

I love doll tote bags and I have lots of ideas for different looks.

These are just a few that I have made up from a basic design. 

Look out for these designs in my newsletter. I usually offer them for free to my subscribers first, then I put them in the Etsy shop.

You can subscribe using the form on the right.

See more tote bags and purses in my Etsy shop

Happy Doll Dressmaking,
Val