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!

Pattern Review: Bunny Bear Endless Summer Sundress

 This is the second dress that I have sewn for Julie from the same fabric. 

For the first one, I used the Heritage Doll designs Wrap Top Dress pattern. 

I knew that it reminded me of Julie's Patchwork Outfit.

So I decided to sew a version that was even more similar to her original outfit by using the pattern Bunny Bear Patterns Endless Summer.

I really like this pattern! It's elegant, and the fit is perfect.

It was also very easy to sew.

Next, I want to make an all-white version of this pattern for Kavi. I think it would be cute on her.

Here are Julie and Evette modeling their "matching" dresses!

It reminds me a bit of the Beverly Cleary book Ellen Tibbits, where the moms sew dresses for their daughters from matching fabric.

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.

Pattern Review: Keepers Dolly Duds Home Room

 I made the Keepers Dolly Duds Home Room pattern.

What I love about this pattern is no button holes. It has buttons, but they close with loops. Hurray.

It's a really cute pattern.

I seem to have somewhat messed up by not placing the collar where it is supposed to be on the pattern.

But it looks good. I don't really mind it.

The problem that I am having is that my laptop at home isn't working, so I can't read the pattern instruction as I sew. I feel like I am doing really well without being able to read the instructions.

I found this fabric at the thrift store, and I think it's perfect for the 1970s! It might even be from the 1970s, ha.

The small print is good for doll clothes.

Here are the other Keepers Dolly Duds 1970s patterns that I have made:

Keepers Dolly Duds Sweet Seventies

Keepers Dolly Duds Study Hall

Happy New Year!

 Happy New Year!

I hope that we all have a great one!

This new dress for Julie would work as a New Year's dress, right? She lives in California, where it's WARM.

I made the Keepers Dolly Duds Sweet 70s dress. 

I used an upcycled blouse from the clothes by the pound thrift store. I bought it because I really liked the print. However, when I got it home, it was very contoured and there weren't a lot of big pieces of fabric on it. I thought that I might need to use it for clothes for a smaller doll, instead of an American Girl doll.

When I was looking at this pattern, though, the skirt was in SIX pieces. So I didn't need big pieces of fabric. The blouse worked just fine.

The things about this pattern is that the skirt is not gathered. The hemline of the blouse and the skirt need to be the same size for this pattern to work.

I did not have any problem with this, but if you are a beginner sewer and you aren't very exact yet, you might want to wait on making this.

The pattern has two different collars and sleeves, so you can get different looks out of it.

I think it's a very pretty dress, and I like it better than I like most 70s looks.

Pattern Review: Keepers Dolly Duds Study Hall

 I made the pattern Keepers Dolly Duds Study Hall Pantsuit and Jumper for the first time.

It's a really versatile pattern! There's a blouse with two sleeve options, pants, and a jumper with two length options.

You can do a lot of different looks with this pattern!

This look shows the jumper and blouse. I made the longer version of the jumper, so it can stand on its own without pants.

Here are the blouse, jumper and pants all together.

This look shows just the blouse and the pants.

The pants have that perfect 70s look. 

I love the mix and match potential from this pattern. 

I used elastic in the pants waist, but I hate using elastic in doll clothes. Eventually it will give out.

Instead of using elastic in the wrists of the blouse, I used sleeve bands to make the blouse more durable.

I am not a fan of 70s fashions, but I think that this is a very versatile pattern if your Julie and Ivy need new clothes!

Julie's Calico Dress

 I found Julie's Calico Dress at the thrift store. It was being worn by an Our Generation doll. Doll and dress cost $6.

One of my friends has been wanting an 18 inch doll to use as a sewing model, so I gave her the doll.

I am really pleased with myself to have recognized the dress.

Julie is pleased as well!

It worked out very nicely.

I have been so lucky with the thrift store, and I am very grateful. It's an upside to living in a smaller town. I am sure in a bigger town, it would have been snatched up long before I got there.

Vintage Toys- Missouri History Museum

I was lucky to be able to visit the Missouri History Museum, which was having an exhibit on the toys of the 50s, 60s and 70s.

It was so great! I went with a friend and her parents, who remembered many of the toys there fondly.

1950s Christmas tree with appropriate toys underneath

I focused on the dolls of course, but I took many pictures of non-dolls as well.

This is going to be a long post!

I did my best to note names of toys and get decent pictures, but did not always succeed.

Patterns for Julie Albright- 1970s

Now that I have Julie Albright, the 1970s American Girl doll, I have to think about what I can sew for her. That means it's time for another loooong list of patterns!
*waves arms like Kermit*

Wait. The Muppet Show ran from 1976-1981. That means I can make Julie a Muppet fan, right?

I don't care if Julie is supposed to be from 1974- MY Julie is  now officially a Muppet fan in 1976.

This is a live blogging doll personality update, people!
(possibly from the planet Koozebane. We can neither confirm nor deny)