Thrift Store score!

 I had a lucky day at two thrift stores yesterday!

At the first thrift store, I got Honey the golden retriever for $1, and some fabric that is perfect for an upcoming project for $1.

At the second thrift store, I found a grab bag of AG clothes for $3! It included part of Kit's twin sweater set, Julie's white meet blouse, and Julie's pajama top.

I have some planned doll clothes projects that I am very excited about! I want to make a two piece Victorian Halloween dress with a striped skirt. I want to make a doll version of Emily Dickinson's iconic white dress. And I want to make several 1700s dresses from the movie Portrait of a Lady on Fire.

Writing these down helps me to remember my ideas, LOL.

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.

A New Dress for Julie

I guess I am on a roll! Here is another dress for Julie from Simplicity 8575.

This dress went together very easily.

I really like Peter Pan collars, but with this exaggerated Peter Pan collar, I did not want the collar and cuffs to be white. Boring.

I am really pleased with the color of the dress and the way the fabrics match.

The flowered fabric, for all I know, is actually from the 70s. I think my mom bought it at a garage sale. It is old.

But it worked perfectly for a 70s doll dress. I think it was meant to be.

Normally, I don't even like maroon, but it is so perfect on this dress, and it goes well with Julie's eyes.

This is another great fall dress, as well as a good back to school dress, and I am really pleased with it.

The flower Julie is holding is an actual sunflower off my sunflower plant. It's so small that the scale is maybe a bit small for a sunflower for Julie. But it is adorable!

I love all of these pictures of Julie wearing this dress and holding the flower.

Pattern Review: Simplicity 8575

Julie doesn't get much attention at my house. That's why she was over-the-top excited to get a new dress!

This is made from Simplicity pattern 8575.

Bad Doll Dress Purchase

My mom and I were driving in Illinois about ten years ago, and we stopped in Aurora, Illinois. 

Aurora is the home and Raggedy Ann and Andy. I am not really a Raggedy An fan, but why not.

We visited several shops, and one shop had these Amish inspired doll dresses.

It was only $10. I was not actively collecting at the time, but it was there, and I was impressed by the price tag.

I think I was thinking that maybe Kirsten could wear all or part of it.

Also, my mom sort of supported me getting it, which is opposite of her usual policy, so I got it.

Reader, I regret this.

This is the first time I have put it on a doll. It's been collecting dust for ten years.

It does not fit at all. The sleeves and skirt are too long, and the waist is too wide.

There is a huge gap of fabric on the bonnet that is not sewed shut at all.

But I am also older and more mature, and I now think it is icky to have doll clothes that are based on someone's religion.

Sooo, I have no idea what I am going to do with this monstrosity, but you won't be seeing it featured here ever again, unless it's to make a point.

Pussy Hats

My kindergarten teacher is more cool than your kindergarten teacher.

I know this for a fact, because she commissioned me to make a pussy hat for her granddaughter's doll.

Her granddaughter is about a year old, but she is determined that she should have the coolest hippie doll ever.

I am happy to help.

 I think this looks like a new group of super heroes. Wonder Woman better watch out, she has competition!

Julie at the Lake

Julie got to visit the lake! It was grey and windy, but it reminded her of the Pacific Ocean.

Sewing Mojo

I fell bad, but I haven't done any sewing in about two months. But I have been enjoying a great summer with friends and family! I've been canoeing and swimming every weekend. I've really been happy. 

I don't want summer to end, but I want more free time to sew without cutting into my summer activities!

But anyway, here are some pretty doll pictures!

Removing Toe Nail Polish from Dolls

So the next step that I needed in fixing up my garage sale finds, Kaya and Julie, was removing the nail polish from their toes.

For this, I needed two items: a toothbrush and non-acetone nail polish remover.

It was a simple procedure: I took off their clothes and scrubbed the toes with nail polish remover, using the toothbrush.

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)

A Lucky and Unlucky Day

I have a friend visiting for a week from across the country. We have been so excited and looking forward to this forever. 

We went to Chicago for two days and had an awesome time.

However, since we got back, she has been SO sick and has to spend her time in bed sleeping.

She urged me to go canoeing without her today. I was walking to the library to get the Freebie Friday pattern, when I saw a garage sale- with Steps High in the front yard.

I RAN back home, grabbed all the cash I had, and ran back. 

Guys, I got Julie, Kaya, Steps High and the tipi for $60.