Nautical Dress for Melody

 I love nautical dresses, sailboats, canoes, kayaks, you name it.

I found this fabric at Joann's Black Friday Sale. It looked 1960-ish to me, and I immediately wanted to make Melody a dress with it.

I used the Keepers Dolly Duds Town and Country pattern. I have used this pattern before, but I always used the view that had a ruffle.

This time, I used the tab view with the collar.

I found three small metal buttons in a button collection that I got from my mom. They were perfect for what I wanted!

I was really happy with how the dress turned out.

When it's on Melody though, I feel like the round collar makes her look like she has no chin. 

I have noticed the same thing with the collar on the Eden Ava Couture 1930s Vintage Dress. I just feel that this collar is not flattering on AG dolls.

Overall, I am happy with this dress. If I make this view of this pattern again, I think I will leave teh collar off.

Melody's Christmas Dress

 I am a huge fan of Keepers Dolly Duds. Once I master one of her patterns, I want to use it over and over again.

So it is not surprising that I made a new dress for Melody and used the Keepers Dolly Duds Town and Country dress pattern. I have used it before.

AG has a lovely Christmas dress for Melody, but her grandparents technically give that to her for her birthday, which is New Year's. So I really see that one as more of a New Year's dress, and this one is more Christmassy.

I added long sleeves to the pattern and used the ones from the Keepers Dolly Duds Downtown 1920s dress. Melody lives in Detroit, so it's cold in December! Three quarter length sleeves might have been more trendy for the 1960s, but warmth is important too.

The funny thing to me is that the red ruffle blends right in with the stripes in this fabric.

I am really happy with this dress.

I love that Addy and Melody now have Christmas dresses that match, but are also appropriate for their respective historical eras.

Here is a link to a different version that I made of this same pattern.

Melody's Bingo Set

 I bought Melody's Bingo set a while back. This is the first that I have taken pictures with it.

Bingo is an important tradition in my family. My cousin has a bingo set that was bought by my great-grandmother in the 1930s, and we play a game with it every year.

That made me want this set every much, so that melody can enjoy the fun with her family and friends!

Here is Melody with the Bingo wheel and a Bingo card. This set really works, and it feels so heavy and real. 

There are lots of small pieces, and I was afraid I was going to lose one in the grass!

The set also comes with some doll food. I probably would have preferred that the food be sold separately, but I don't have much doll food, so it it is good to have some.

Melody is enjoying a cherry pie and ginger ale while listening to the radio in this picture. 

The radio is from her bedroom accessories set.

I thought that this is a really cute set, and it was well made. I am very happy to have it.

I was also very pleased with the pictures that I was able to get.

Here is a bonus picture of Melody on a bike!

1963 Skipper

My older cousin gave me her vintage 1963 Skipper. 

My cousin was married when Skipper came out, and I think she was hoping for a daughter. Skipper has a wardrobe that my cousin sewed for her and her original swimsuit. I had no idea that my cousin was so good at sewing. The clothes she made are better than what I could make. I have serious respect for this.

I promised that I would take good care of Skipper. We both had tears in our eyes. 

I have paired Skipper with a modern Made to Move Barbie that I thought matched her coloring well. That way she has a friend to hang out with.

I am proud to be trusted with this very special doll.

Pattern Review: Simplicity 8314

This is not the first dress I have made from this pattern, and it will not be the last.

This is the first version of this particular design that I have made.

The pattern comes from Simplicity 8314, which is designed by the ever wonderful Keepers Dolly Duds.

It looks complicated, but it was very simple!

I timed myself and it took me 40 minutes to sew this dress. That does not include the time that it took to cut out the fabric and iron it.

I don't usually time myself, but it was close to bedtime.

The fabrics in these dresses are probably not very authentic to the 1960s. I just wanted to make something for my cousins and use what I had on hand, and not use my more expensive fabrics, either.

I used two different color combinations so that the sisters can tell their dresses apart.

I like the purple one best; my best friend likes the pink one best. Something for everyone!

I was pleased with how cute and easy this dress is.

The other dress that I have made from this pattern was my Wednesday Addams dress.

Sewing doll clothes is such fun for me, and I can't wait to see how my cousins like the dresses!

Wednesday Addams Dress

Happy October 13th!

When thinking about making Halloween costumes, Wednesday Addams was one of the first things that jumped to my mind.

It turns out that the Addams Family TV show started in 1964, so it makes a perfect costume for Melody!

I used two Keepers Dolly Duds patterns for this dress.

I used the Simplicity 8314 pattern for the main dress and the Supplemental Collar pattern for the collar.

I did lengthen the pattern piece for the sleeves and make my own pattern for the cuffs.

I am getting more confident at altering doll clothes patterns!

To be exactly like the 1964 Wednesday Addams dress, I need to add a row of buttons down the front of the dress.

I don't have any on hand, so I left them off for now.

I think it's a cute and easy Halloween costume!