Pattern Review: Heritage Doll Fashions Panel Dress

 I have had this pattern for years, and have been waiting for the perfect fabric. 

Well, I finally went with "good enough." I was thinking of making it with the red and blue checked fabric, but I decided that with the curvy pattern pieces, this would work better with a less geometric print.

And I think I was right, because looking at this dress with the flowered print, I can't even see where the seams are.

The pattern pieces fit together perfectly, and they fit the doll perfectly as well.

I did one mistake, which was totally mine. I sewed the neckline shut before I added the collar. So I had to unpick it and add the collar. I think that the extra work was worth it!

Yes, I have been sewing for Julie a lot lately. I just have been thinking sundresses, and I guess that the 70s had a lot of sundresses? Or I am really inspired by that red and blue checked fabric. Either one.

Makena also got to have a turn at modeling the dress!

Julie's Fourth of July Dress

 I found this fabric at the thrift store, and it was giving me serious 1970s vibes. It reminds me of Julie's Patchwork Outfit.

I knew that I wanted to use it to make a sundress for Julie.

I have never smocked, so I wasn't going to imitate Julie's Patchwork Outfit in that regard.

I decided to use the Heritage Doll Fashions Wrap Top Dress pattern. I thought that it would work well with this print, and it is one of my favorite patterns.

I think that the result is very cute!

I may think about whether there is a more 1970s pattern that I can use with the same fabric, but this one is still a home run!

Here is another sundress that I made in this pattern.

Jess on the Beach

Jess is just a gorgeous doll, who looks good in everything.

Purple sundress, check. (Made from the Heritage Doll Fashions Wrap Top Dress)

Beach setting, check.

Jellies, check.

Wait. Jellies?

I loved jellies as a kid. I wore them all summer long. I was so happy to find these Our Generation jellies at Target.

I feel like the stripes on the bottom of the shoes don't really match.
But whatever.

I am so happy to have jellies in my doll wardrobe! Shoes are not usually my favorite, but I LOVE these jellies.

Patterns for Samantha Parkington

Samantha is of course very close to Rebecca's period. Samantha is living in 1904, and Rebecca is living in 1914.

Samantha belongs to the Edwardian period, which is from 1901-1910. Nonetheless, Samantha is often described as being Victorian, and Rebecca is often described as Edwardian. Neither of these is correct!

So deciding which pattern belongs to which doll may require some research.
However, if it is sleeveless, you can rule it out for Samantha. Grandmary wouldn't let her wear it.

A few patterns work for either doll. This includes:

Anne Van Doren Designs Edwardian Style Dress and Apron

Anne Van Doren Designs Victorian Style Underwear

Dollhouse Designs Victorian Underwear

Genniewren Designs Harriet Dess

Jen Wrenne FREE Sailor Dress Pattern

Keepers Dolly Duds Reefer Jacket and Hat

Keeper's Dolly Duds Simplicity 1179 Vintage Inspired Clothes

Bunny Bear's 1900 Sailor Dress Pattern

Thimbles and Acorns A Piece of History Dress

If a pattern specifically has a date on it that is 1910 or later, Samantha probably shouldn't wear it.

These patterns are specifically for Samantha:

Dolls at Hearts Designs Edwardian Day Dress

Dolls at Heart Edwardian Tucks and Lace Dress

Farmcookies Welcome Back Samantha

Flossie Potter Central Park 1904

Flossie Potter Duster Driving Set

Heritage Doll Fashions Samantha's Ice Cream Dress

Keepers Dolly Duds Victorian Christmas Caroler

Lincoln Mold 1904 Bathing Suit that fits American Girls Dolls

Lincoln Mold 1904 Undergarments that fits American Girl Dolls

Lincoln Mold 1904 Girls Coat and Hat that fits American Girls Dolls

Lincoln Mold 1904 Dress that fits American Girl Dolls Patterns 40, 41 and 42

Pleasant Company Samantha Patterns at AG Playthings

Wren*Feathers Edwardian Heirloom Pattern Set

Grandmary was so strict that Samantha could be wearing all or part of the Thimbles and Acorns Victorian Unmentionables as well.

Elsewhere on the web:

Fancy Frocks 1904 Sailor Dress

Fancy Frocks 1905 Sam's Winter Frock

Samantha's Cross Stitch:
Hodgery Podgery 1900s Style Historical Sampler

Okay, that's a short list.

Inspiration for further Samantha dresses can be found at The Bleu Door. This shows dress patterns produces for Bluette dolls, and you can search by year and decade. The earliest year is 1905, which is admittedly a year late, but still very close to Samantha's period. If you assume she got the dress after Christmas, it works just fine.

Pattern Review: Heritage Doll Fashions' Samantha's Ice Cream Dress

Next for the Secret Snarker Swap, I wanted to make a dress for Samantha.

Ludodactylus specified that Samantha needed more clothes for winter, so I decided to make Heritage Doll Fashions Samantha's Ice Cream Dress.

Heritage Doll Fashions Wrap Top Dress: Part Two

I made another copy of the Heritage Doll Fashions Wrap Top Dress.

You can see the first one I made here.

This dress is a bit more colorful than the first version.

The tops are "wrapped" different ways on purpose. I think it looks equally good in either direction.

I continue to enjoy this pattern!

Pattern Review: Heritage Doll Fashions Wrap Top Dress

I have wanted to make Kanani a sun dress from this fabric for ages.

I chose to use Heritage Doll Fashions Wrap Top Dress, available from www.pixiefaire.com.

Faithful Friends

These two dresses are both 1930s styles, and both made from the same fabric.

Yet they look so different!

Saige and Jess look like they are having fun together!

Pattern Review: Heritage Doll Fashions 1930s Gathered Dress

I like dresses that use two different fabrics. Part of the best part of designing a doll dress or a quilt, for me, is finding colors and fabrics that work beautifully with each other.

This time, I used Heritage Doll Fashion's 1930s Gathered Dress to make two different dresses.
The pattern can be found on Pixie Faire.