50s Styles from Human to Doll Clothes

Translating the 50s style to doll clothes.

When I started looking for doll clothes ideas in the 50s styles of patterns like Simplicity and McCalls and Vogue I was a bit concerned that the tiny waists of the 50s models would make it hard to translate the design to the American Girl Doll or the Australian Girl Doll. Clearly these dolls have the figure of a child with very little waist definition at all.

This is how the style looks in human proportions.

Surprisingly I have been able to design for the doll and get a very good approximation of the human style. It doesn't look quite as elegant and doesn't seem to stand out as being a 50s style but I am pleased with the look I have achieved.

Here is the style in doll proportions.

The little unfitted jacket seems to give the illusion of a little waist when it is worn with the dress.

The dress by itself also looks nice because the darts seem to give the doll more of a waist.

I am having a lot of fun designing the 50s outfits. If you have a look through my 50s Style favourites on Etsy you will see what I am using for inspiration. I love all the little jackets as well as the coats. I think I like the Misses patterns more than the Children's patterns but I may do a few of those along the way this year.

I am very close to publishing the pattern for the dress, which includes a separate skirt and blouse pattern as well. It will be 1827. The jacket will be separate and will be 1828.

I have been playing with doll jewellery the last few days and came up with this cute key laniard. I think it makes her look like a teacher.

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