Pattern Review: About a Doll Flour Sack Dress

Again, I am getting back into sewing. 

I wanted to do a new-to-me pattern, but one that is not too difficult, and one that has sleeves.

I made About a Doll 18 Flour Sack Frock.

It only has short sleeves, but at least it is not sleeveless. It wouldn't be too hard to add longer sleeves.

I know, you can tell that I didn't iron this time.
I really didn't care, I just wanted to sew something and sew something fast.

This isn't my favorite pattern. I don't know what it is. The dress actually fits fine in person, to my eye it just somehow looks a little clunky and ill-fitting. Maybe I am just too picky.

Of course the bodice is actually kind of bulky. It has four layers of fabric overlapping at some points.
That seems like a lot.

I also wish that the pattern piece for the sleeves specified that you are supposed to gather them at the top. There are dots showing you where to gather between, but I would like a three word note that said "Gather between dots." It would save me from having to read the instructions.

The dress was a little more time consuming than I expected. It took about four hours, which is still not bad.

Kit is happy to have a new dress!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

The dolls did not want to pose for this picture, so though it is far from perfect, I have to share it anyway.

And a better group picture with fewer dolls.

I think there is a limit on how many AG dolls you can have in a picture and still get a good picture.

Merry Christmas!

Twas the night before Christmas

 Can you see the pickle ornament Anne is holding? It is a little clearer in the second picture, without the tree behind it.

The pickle ornament is a German tradition. The tree is decorated on Christmas Eve. On Christmas day, the first child to spot the pickle ornament is the first to get to open a gift.

Anne is putting the pickle on the tree before everyone goes to bed.

It's a very charming tradition. The problem is, I don't know any Germans who actually practice this tradition.

Nonetheless, I own a pickle ornament because a friend bought one for me, so when I saw this tiny doll sized pickle ornament at a Christmas market, I had to buy it!

Christmas for Stella, Melody and Addy

All the girls are so pretty, and they are ready for Christmas!

Christmas for Felicity and Samantha

Felicity and Samantha had to pose with the Christmas tree.

I know that Felicity wouldn't have had a Christmas tree, but doesn't she look pretty with it!

Samantha, of course, loves decorating the Christmas tree!

Christmas for Kit

Kit is ready for Christmas, and doesn't she look adorable!

Merry Christmas, Kit!

Posing in front of the Tree

St. Lucia Day is over, but Lily Rose wanted to take a picture of the St. Lucia dress in front of the Christmas tree.

Who could resist that face?

Not me!

Pattern Review: 123 Mulberry Street Baby Doll Dress

I wanted to start sewing again, and I wanted a quick and easy project. And as it is December, I wanted a project WITH SLEEVES.

Wanting long sleeves really narrows your choices down.

I decided to go with 123 Mulberry Street's Baby Doll Dress. It has a choice of short sleeves and three quarter length sleeves.

To my eye, at least, it looks like a cute, trendy dress, maybe slightly on the young side of the spectrum.

It would look trendier with leggings underneath the dress, but I didn't have to energy to hunt for any.

It could also easily be used for a 60s dress for Melody.

This dress was a joy to make. It took me two hours total, so I was able to complete it before work.

I did not even have to read the instructions, which I hate.

I was very happy with this for a quick sewing project!

I think it looks cute with Saige's boots.

Together Again

Here are Samantha and Felicity having a chat. I wonder what they are saying!

Anne's (er, Molly's) Christmas dress!

Here is Anne in her Christmas dress!

Yes, it's Molly's dress. Yes, I have a reason for this.

Anne is my 90s historical.

In the 90s, my favorite Christmas dress was a black velvet dress much like this one, but with a gold sash.

I always loved Molly's Christmas dress and decided that it was close enough for mine to stand in as Anne's dress.

These days, I could easily make a doll-sized replica of my dress. However, with Anne, it might make her look a little too much like Wednesday Addams.

I think Wednesday Addams would be a great idea for Anne's costume at Halloween, but not for Christmas!

Happy St. Lucia Day!

Today is St. Lucia Day!  Kirsten is on hiatus at my parents' house, so Lily Rose filled in for her.

Isn't Kirsten's St. Lucia outfit beautiful?

Sari wanted to join in, so I took some pictures with her too.

Happy St. Lucia Day!

BTW, here is the box that the wreath came in. Classic Pleasant Company. (I keep Felicity's tricorn hat in it as well as the wreath. They both fit perfectly!)

Felicity's Christmas Dress

Felicity is ready for Christmas!

Addy's Christmas Dress

Addy is ready for Christmas!

Kit's Christmas Dress

Kit is ready for Christmas!

Samantha's Christmas Dress

Samantha is ready for Christmas!

I am changing the dolls into their Christmas dresses, one by one.

Not all of my modern dolls have a Christmas dress, but most of the historicals do. All but Josefina and Laura, in fact.

Today, December 6, is St. Nicholas Day. It's such a fun day to celebrate! Happy St. Nicholas Day!

Memories

I have had some family members die this year who were very dear to me.

Luckily, I have some physical reminders of them that have always been special to me.

My great-aunt Ella Mae decorated this cradle for me. I believe that her son, who traveled a lot for work, bought the cradle at an Amish community. 

Ella Mae decorated the cradle with lace and ribbon and made a satin cushion that fit inside.

I know that she never had enough money to buy as many craft supplies as she wanted, so this is a very precious symbol of love.

My great-uncle Sidney fought in the army in WWII. He earned a Purple Heart.
He was also a deeply sweet man who fashioned this wooden carousel horse for me, and even painted it my favorite color.

These tokens of love have a special place in my collection and in my heart!

Pattern Review: Genniewren Mackenzie Dress

I really wanted to make Nisha a change of clothes from her meet dress, and here it is!

Jinjia Mixed Goods Celebrates!

Jinjia Mixed Goods is offering a free paper craft every day from now until December 25!

What a great way to celebrate!

They are being posted every five days, to be more manageable.

Check it out here!

Amelia wears the Warm Winter Accessories

Amelia wanted a shot at wearing the Warm Winter Accessories.

She is so warm and cozy! She approves!

Hearts for Hearts Hanging Out

Here is some eye candy of  three of my Hearts for Hearts dolls. They are so pretty!

 Consuelo

Shola 

Rahel

Group picture!

Felicity's New Outfit

The final outfit that I got at during the American Girl sale is Felicity's new meet outfit.

I have mixed feelings about it.

First of all, it is gorgeous. Oh, it is so gorgeous. I love it. I love the fabric and the color combination.

I have also been told that the bum roll is more historically accurate to her time period, so that is a plus.

I need to make a bum roll to go with the dress, but here you can see how there is fabric in the back of the dress to accommodate a bum roll.

And here is a rear view of the dress.

On the other hand, I am not sure what this dress is supposed to be in Felicity's wardrobe.
It's a fancy dress. Super fancy.
Wear it to the governor's ball fancy.

So is this supposed to be an everyday dress or a replacement for Felicity's ball gown?

I really liked it when AG made everyday historical clothing or even work clothing.
Felicity's rose dress that she originally came with looked like an every day dress. This does not.

I am sad that it is one piece. I am sure that this is cheaper to make and easier on the mothers of girls.
However, I loved that Felicity's ball gown came in two pieces and how that was historically accurate.

Thirdly, I wish that Felicity came with at least a shift under her gown and that you did not not have to buy that separately. That's just sad.

.....

On another note, this is not my Felicity in this picture. This is Astrid, my American Girl doll 61.

My Felicity is a chubby first run Pleasant Company doll from 1992. There is no way this dress could fit her. It was skin tight on Astrid.

I am thinking that Astrid can step in for Nan every now and then in this dress. I should take some pictures of the two of them together.

Still, this dress is so lovely that I had to buy it knowing that it would not fit my Felicity. That is some good design.

Melody's Christmas Outfit

In Melody's books, she is given this dress and the coat by her grandparents for her birthday on New Year's Eve.

However, American Girl calls this Melody's Christmas Outfit, so that is the title I am going with.

It comes with the dress, tights, shoes and headband.

I have had this outfit as long as I have had Melody, but somehow I never took pictures of it before.

The headband is basically a gold ribbon, but it looks nice in her hair.

The tights are basic tights.

The shoes are black flats with velvet bows. They do not match the dress at all. Come on, AG.

The dress is very pretty. However, the dress feels like plastic. I have said this about more than one outfit lately, but it is truer of this dress than of any other American Girl outfit. It feels like plastic tablecloth fabric, yet itchy.

I feel so sorry for Melody for having to wear a dress this uncomfortable!

Also, the sleeves are tight and limit her arm movement.

However, she looks flawless.