Pattern Review: Keepers Dolly Duds Hooded Cloak

 I made the Keepers Dolly Duds Hooded Cloak pattern.

This uses only two pattern pieces, the hood and the body of the cloak.. The pattern piece for the body of the cloak is so big that it involves cutting out five different shapes on the paper pattern piece and taping them together.

I am really proud of myself because I made it this week after work, working on it little by little.

Usually, after work I am too tired to do anything except exercise. Exercising AND sewing can be one too many.

I made the cloak black and white with red trim and lining.

I was a little worried that is color scheme looks so modern. I don't really have a use for a modern cloak right now.

However, I have been told that houndstooth existed in Scotland in the 1800s and was known as Shephard's check or Dogtooth.

History of Houndstooth Link

History of Houndstooth 2

I was determined to do the trim. This is a little dangerous, because even if the sewing is perfect, imperfect trim can wreck my enjoyment of a project.

I used the pattern and a ruler to glue the trim in place with tacky glue. Then I waited for the glue to dry and sewed it in place.

The cloak looks pretty good! You can always leave the trim off if it makes you nervous. I saw a gorgeous cloak on Instagram lately that didn't have any trim on the outer cloak, but had embroidery on the lining instead. It was perfect.

I thought that the hood seems a bit tall for the doll's head. I like the look better with the hood down.

If you don't make the hood, then you only have one pattern piece to use!

The fit of this pattern is very good.

Can anyone explain to me why on many cloak and jacket patterns, the bottoms of the lining and the outer shell of the garment are finished separately and not sewn together? This doesn't make sense to me. It seems to me that sewing the two together would make the garment stronger. Especially on doll clothes where reducing bulk helps create a smoother look.

Pattern Review: Keepers Dolly Duds Isla Lass

 I made the Keepers Dolly Duds Isla Lass pattern. This pattern is an outfit for a 17th century Scottish girl.

The pattern has five pieces: the jacket, the petticoat, the fichu, the cap and the apron.

The fichu, petticoat and apron are all very easy to make.

The jacket is the most challenging piece. My jacket was made out of wool. I was able to buy a pair of wool pants at the thrift store for $2. I also found the perfect lace at the thrift store. This was a relief because the lace I was finding online was kind of pricy.

I would warn any sewists about the lining of the ruffle at the top of the sleeves on the jacket. It will be visible. I used white cotton as the lining to reduce bulk, and it shows. I don't think it ruins the look, since the jacket is dark grey and white anyway. But I would do it differently next time.

I was really impressed by the cap. It only has three pattern pieces, but the fit and the look is just superb. I love it. I thought it was not difficult to make, but it might be more challenging for a beginner.

I was trying to use only fabric that I already owned, so I didn't go out and buy the perfect plaid for the petticoat. I used plain red as a nod to the holiday season. I also used red ribbon as a tie to brighten the look a bit. Honestly, I really love this touch.

When I finish a new pattern, I want to make lots of variations on it in different colors if I enjoyed the pattern. That is definitely the case this time. The variations will have to wait, because I have lots of sewing projects planned!

More Doll Pictures

 Here are a few more doll pictures. 

I am trying to post for Doll of Color Month most days, if not all days. I rarely have Internet access to post on Sundays currently.

Meritaten and Angelica hanging out with their dolls. there's nothing like doll friends!

I have been meaning to take a picture of Samantha's lemonade pitcher for years, ever since I found it at MCM. I used a drop of food coloring to make it look like it contains pink lemonade!

Samantha isn't a doll of color so I probably won't post this picture on IG until October.

Kanani is so beautiful this dress.

I love this T-shirt. It's so perfect for Doll of Color Month!

Tiana Disney Bound

 I didn't think I would have time to sew doll clothes this weekend.

I had to sew a purse to be auctioned to benefit the Art History and Archaeology Department at my alma mater, and I had to clean house.

I did actually end up sewing this one doll dress.

Lately I have been doing about two dresses per weekend, so I was pleased to get this one finished on such a busy weekend.

This is a Disney bound for Tiana from The Princess and the Frog.

I had this green fabric for a while, and could not imagine what I would use it for.

It occurred to me, as I was making these Disney bound outfits, that this would be perfect fabric for a princess who turned into a frog!

So this dress is loosely based on Tiana's green ball gown, but also on frogs.

Frogs and water lilies would be good accessories. I LOVE water lilies.

I think this dress turned out very pretty, considering that I didn't know what I would ever use the fabric for.

Meritaten is my model for Tiana. Meritaten is a Cecile doll that has been customized with brown eyes.

I have put a lot of the dolls away for the moment, because I am expecting a guest.

So  I haven't made an updated group picture, but one of Meritaten as Tiana and Joss as Belle.

They look cute together!

I wish I had doll shoes that would better complete their Disney bound looks.

Snow White Disney Bound

Moana Disney Bound

Ariel and Belle Disney Bounds

Yellow Doll Coat

 This coat is inspired by the yellow Prada coat worn by poet Amanda Gorman.

I used Simplicity pattern 8111. You can see the other coat I made from this pattern here.

I made my own pocket pattern by tracing around a lid of a pill bottle, folding the circle in half, and adding a quarter inch seam allowance on top of the semicircle.

I had a remnant of some yellow satin-type material left over from another project, and used that to line the coat. It was very difficult to work with, but it gives the coat a very luxurious feel.

I also made a red headband to go with it.

To make the headband, I cut a rectangle of red fabric 11.5 inches by one inch, did a seam along the edge, turned it inside out, and closed it by adding a half inch of elastic to both ends.

This is such a beautiful, powerful look for the middle of winter. I am really proud of how it turned out.

Pattern Review: Keepers Dolly Duds Coat Essential Pattern

 I recently made the Keeper's Dolly Duds Coat Essentials pattern.

I wanted to make coats for my little cousins' dolls.

I try very hard not to make identical items for the sisters, so they can't fight over whose is whose.

So I made the same coat pattern in red and green.

My favorite part of the pattern is the pockets, which are elegantly stitched into the seams. They are so cute! Every doll needs pockets.

It's a nice pattern, but I felt that it was a bit loose in the front. This may be because I put in velcro instead of buttons. I know that the girls always ask their mom to help them change doll clothes, and I didn't want her to have to button and unbutton, haha.

I also thought that the collar should come just a tiny bit more forward on the front of the coat.

I think if I made it again without buttons, I would take about a quarter of an inch off the front of the coat, and that should fix the issue.

Looseness isn't a bad thing on a coat, though, because it can fit over layers more easily.

I know that my cousins will love these coats and not even notice the minor fit issue, haha.

More Dolls of Color Pictures

 As mentioned before, September is Doll of Color Month on Instagram.

Here are a few more pictures that I took for prompts for Doll of Color Month.

Beautiful Addy

Mara Frances

Josefina at her loom

Meritaten

Doll of Color Month

 September is Doll of Color Month on Instagram.

There is a new topic every day to encourage you to show off your dolls of color.

I am not going to follow every prompt, but I did try to follow some of them.

This led to taking some group pictures, which are very hard to do!

I am not totally happy with these pictures,but they do show the dolls I wanted to show!

All my dolls of color

Holiday Pictures

Here are a few of my holiday pictures of the dolls!

Tis the Season Part Dress

I have been wanting a fancy red dress for Meritaten.

When the Tis the Season Party Dress came on sale, I snapped it up.

For those unfamiliar, Meritaten is a Cecile custom, and in my house, she wears All the Fancy Things.

This is a very fancy dress.

To me, there is nothing that makes this dress specially Christmassy, except the colors. It's even short sleeved!

There is no reason you couldn't wear this to the ballet or the opera year round.

It came with snowflake shoes and a matching purse that do not really match the dress.

I put those aside.

I also ignored the bejeweled red headband.

I put some black flats on her instead.

I like this dress. I like the velvet, pleated skirt, the jewels on the bodice, and the sort of draped fabric on the bodice.

I am quite pleased with this addition to the collection, especially at sale price.

AG does need to make some green Christmas dresses, though. Just for a change of pace.

Introducing Meritaten

I am pleased to introduce a very special new member of the gang, Meritaten.

Meritaten is a time traveler. I have tried to get her to tell me which period she was born in, but she is being coy on that point.

Her parents are archaeologists who named her after an Egyptian princess.

She lives ruffles and pretty dresses. She is also an avid ballet dancer.

This dress is one I made from Melody Valerie's Bluebell dress pattern. 

You can read the blog post about it here.

Meritaten is a custom Cecile doll with brown eyes. She formerly belonged to greenchiligirl, Inky's mom.

Meritaten is a very special doll, and I am lucky to have her in my gang.