Finished!

The doll outfit for my granddaughter's doll is done.  Now I can mail it out to her and hope it arrives in time for Valentine's Day.  Here it is:

One thing I discovered in making the little blouse -- I hate working with knits!  I used to sew knits all the time.  Remember Stretch n Sew??  I loved sewing with knits then.  But I don't like it now.  Hard to handle on something so small.  And my poor old fingers are not as agile as they used to be.  The tiny snaps on the back of the jumper were a major pain!  The blouse has a velcro closing -- but I sewed it on wrong the first time.  Anyway, it is done!  Now to wrap and mail it off tomorrow.

Making doll clothes again

When I was 11 or 12, I don't remember exactly, my mother and grandmother got me interested in sewing.  My sister and I had been given Vogue Ginny Dolls for Christmas.  Of course, we wanted nice wardrobes for our little dolls.  So, since we didn't have spending money to buy new (new outfits and accessories were gifts for birthdays and Christmas), I learned how to make doll clothes (by hand, no sewing machine) from scraps in my grandmothers sewing basket.  I must have had patterns because the little clothes did fit the dolls.

This is my Vogue Ginny Doll in her original outfit and several outfits that I made for her.  She has been safely kept in the blue trunk since I gave up playing with dolls 50+ years ago.  These days little Ginny is showing her age.  She needs to be refitted with strings or bands inside so that her legs and arms are secure.  She is not for play.  That is why I still have her instead of giving her to my granddaughter, Kara.  Kara is 6 1/2 and has a little brother who can be rough on big sis's toys.  Perhaps when Kara is much older.

Anyway, for Christmas last year I bought Kara an American Girl doll and matching pajama sets for Kara and the doll.  So now I am jazzed about making doll clothes again.

My bff Joy loaned to me a bag full of American Girl doll clothes patterns.  She used to make doll clothes for her daughter's American Girl doll.

This is a big savings to me since patterns for 18" dolls range from $16 to $18 apiece.  I was suffering from sticker shock after I looked at all the pattern books in JoAnne's.

The circled pattern is the first one I am going to make.  Want to get it to Kara by Valentine's Day.

So I went shopping for fabric that has a tiny print and is in pink.  Kara's favorite color is pink -- so's mine!  I like to think she gets that from me!

I went to Zoe's Trunk in Chandler, AZ -- SW corner of Elliot and Alma School for those who live in the East Valley.  Zoe's Trunk is mainly a quilting shop, but it has lots and lots of fabric that is perfect for making doll clothes -- lightweight cotton or blends.  You see how this is wrapped?  That is how the salesgirl handed my purchase to me.  Loved this!!!

Here are the fat quarters I bought to make the doll clothes.  Think I will use the center fabric for the dress and the felt for the heart pockets.  I plan to make another dress out of the fabric piece on the left for Kara's birthday.  The piece on the right is for me!  Love the pink roses!!

So.  I will be getting the dress made real soon.  Will update you when it is finished and before I mail it off the Kara.