Pattern Review: Keepers Dolly Duds Side Collar Dress

 I made the Keepers Dolly Duds Side Tie Collar.

This dress has an asymmetrical bodice. I remember hearing people complaining about it when it came out.

However, I didn't have any problems with it.

It was quite tricky turning the ends of the collar inside out. I also found it hard to get the collar tie to lie nicely, and I can't tack it down because that's where the dress opens.

It has the option to add sleeves or sleeveless. I always prefer sleeves!

Pattern Review: Keepers Dolly Duds Christmas Concert

 I made the pattern Keepers Dolly Duds Christmas Concert.

I think that this look is 1950s. The website just says mid-twentieth century, so that's about right.

This is not my favorite look. I don't know why. It's a perfectly fine historical dress pattern. It just doesn't appeal as much to my eyeballs.

I decided to make it a totally different color profile from the version on the cover of the pattern and see if I liked it anymore. Just because she named the pattern Christmas Concert doesn't mean that it can only be used for Christmas clothes.

So I made a pink blouse and a purple and white jumper. These are two separate clothing pieces.

And the verdict is... it's just still not my favorite look. 

But that's okay!  I made a new pattern, and that's a good experience to have.

I guess I could split them up and see if I like the jumper better with a  different blouse, or the blouse better with a skirt or something.

It was a straightforward pattern to sew, especially if you have made patterns by this designer before. Nothing really to discuss.

Well, the one thing is that I try not to use elastic in doll clothes, because it gives out. So to make the ruffle on the sleeves, I sewed a ribbon to the underside of the sleeve instead of elastic. I made sure that it fitted over the doll's hand. It worked just as well as elastic.

Autumn Leaves

 I took some dolls outside to have pictures in the autumn leaves. I was in a highly visible spot, and I got a bit worried about being out in public with so many dolls. I wasn't very creative with the posing, but the pictures are cute!

Anneliese

Evette

Mara

Evette. She looks quite startled in many of the pictures for some reason.

Anneliese

Mara

A Reading Binge

 Here is Anneliese with all of the books that I got recently from Laura's Little Loot!

I love reading, and I am so excited to have these favorites from Laura's Little Loot.

Most of her mini books are first editions that include full text, when permissible by copyright laws.

All the wonderful books!

I will likely never own a L. M. Montgomery first edition, but thanks to Laura's Little Loot, I own three first editions from the Anne series in miniature! 

I always preferred A Little Princess as a kid, but now that I have a garden of my own, A Secret Garden is becoming more of a favorite!

And Fantastic Beasts, with Harry's signature on the front!

I am so happy with these books.

I don't take pictures of my mini books as often as I should, but they make me so happy.

Thimbles and Acorns' Chemise a la Reine: Pattern Review

Today's blog post is brought to you by Marie Antoinette and Elisabeth Vigee Lebrun.

No, seriously.

I became obsessed with the idea of reproducing one of Marie Antoinette's most famous, or infamous gowns, the Chemise a la Reine. This dress was designed by Marie Antoinette's dressmaker, Rose Bertin. It appealed to Marie Antoinette, who was unhappy with the deep formality of the French court. She was painted wearing the dress by Elisabeth Vigee Lebrun.

This dress caused a huge scandal when it was exhibited in the Salon. People thought that the queen had been painted in her underwear. It broke all off the conventions for portraying a French monarch. Vigee Lebrun withdrew the painting from the Salon and replaced it with a more conventional portrait of the queen.

I was inspired in my project by the Thimbles and Acorns Chemise a la Reine pattern.

However, when I downloaded the pattern, I wasn't entirely satisfied with it for my project.  Vigee Lebrun's portrait of Marie Antoinette does not show a split skirt with a colored petticoat underneath, as the pattern has.

Furthermore, the pattern has the dress tie shut in the front. This is historically accurate for some chemise a la reine gowns, but I wasn't convinced that it was accurate for Marie Antoinette's gown. I wanted the gown to close in the back with velcro so a seven year old could take it on and off easily. I also wanted to sew the sash on so it can't get lost, which would not be possible with a  gown that closed in the front.

So I used the Thimbles and Acorn pattern as a base, and changed the pattern so that it could close in the back.

I also altered the sleeves to look more like the portrait.

For the sash, I actually used two ribbons. I found a gold, see through ribbon, which was similar to what Marie Antoinette wore, but it didn't provide much color at the waist. So I used a solid gold ribbon around the waist of the gown, and sewed the see-through ribbon over it, with extra at the back so it can be tied into a bow.

I am really pleased with the finished dress. It is beautiful.

For anyone interested, some of the sources I consulted in making this dress include Queen of Fashion: What Marie Antoinette Wore to the Revolution by Caroline Weber and Mode Historique.