I have had a number of emails recently asking where I purchased the various tools or sewing materials that I use when sewing my doll clothes patterns. This got me thinking that there are probably tons more people who would like to know where these things are available.  So below is a list of various tools, fabrics and notions that I have had queries on.  I explain where I purchased mine and list some online stores that I found stocking these items.

BODKIN

Handy for threading elastic or chord through a casing and I know they are available at my local Janome store so try your local sewing machine store.  Online I could only find one that is a little different to mine although it does the same job.

• Joann fabrics  so you could probably purchase both the Loop Turner and the Bodkin online from Joann’s if you are unable to find them locally.
• Buddly Crafts  Found this one in Australia that is exactly like mine.  Click here.

CRAFT FUR

I use this to trim my Funky Fur outfit and Fur Trimmed Jacket.  I purchase my craft fur from my local Spotlight store and can buy a minimum of 20cm (approx 8 inches).  I notice that if you purchase online, they seem to sell it by the yard, if they sell less, that would be great, otherwise I suggest you check out your local craft or fabric/haberdashery store.  Below are a couple of sites I found when doing a Google search:

• Fabric.com (I think you can purchase ½ yard)
• Joann.com 

If you cannot find suitable craft fur, you can always use a contrasting color of the same fabric you use for the jacket and pants.

 FLOWER SEQUINS

I use these on my Fairy Costume and often as decoration on bodices or hems of  skirts.  I get mine from the local craft store in multi color packs.  Following are some links to sites I have  found online selling similar flower sequins, some are in the UK but I’m sure the postage on such a small and light item would not be much.

• Regal Crafts Click Here  these look interesting (I haven’t seen them before)

 LOOP TURNER

I absolutely love the Loop Turner (I call it ‘Looper the Trooper’).  They are an  inexpensive tool and I use mine all the time.  I purchased mine from my local Janome store but it should be available at any good sewing store.  Online I found it at:

• Joann fabric stores  Click here 
• Amazon.com  Click here
• Buddly Crafts Click here 

I hope this helps you find what you are looking for more easily and if you have found other great places to purchase these things from please let me know via adding comments to the blog so that others that are interested can source them too!

Happy Sewing

It is just over a year since I went live with Rosie’s Doll Clothes Patterns and it is with great excitement that I re-launch my ‘New Look’ website.  I have been absolutely blown away by the response from all my wonderful customers, the feedback and encouragement has been awesome – Thank you!

As with all new adventures, you find some things work really well, and some things need a little tweaking.  After listening to all your feedback, I am happy to say there have been some changes that I know you will love.

Firstly, I think you will agree, the site looks much prettier now and it is a little easier to navigate around and find the patterns that I have available – thanks Carolyn.

Secondly, you will notice the Log In area is much easier to find and hopefully much easier to use.  Changing those complicated passwords that are computer generated when you first become part of the Rosie’s Doll Clothes Patterns family can now be done the first time you log in!

And thirdly, I know many of you will be ecstatic to know that my How to Make Doll Clothes course will soon be available on DVD so you can keep it forever!!!!   Stay tuned for more info in the coming weeks.

‘Sew’ enjoy looking around my ‘New Look’ website and thanks again for all your support and encouragement over the last 12 months.

Happy Sewing

I love hearing from my customers and learning the tips that they have discovered whilst making my doll clothes patterns. I thought I would share one of those tips with you today.

Debbi emailed me with a great idea to make the straps on my Summer Nightie doll clothes patterns even easier.  Make the tubes and turn to the right side the same way I do then…

1. Sew two rows of stitching to make a casing down the centre making sure that the casing is wide enough for the elastic.

2. Thread elastic through this casing

3. Secure the beginning of the elastic with some stitches

4. Then pulling to the required length, secure the other end with more stitches before cutting the elastic.

Attach the straps and complete the summer nightie following my instructions.  The gathering will move along the strap a little with play but the effect is the same and may be easier for the beginner sewer.  Great tip Debbi, thanks.

Happy Sewing

Every doll needs a pair of winter pyjamas so this pattern is for all my customers who have been asking for my Winter Pyjama doll clothes pattern in the 18 ½ inch Cabbage Patch Kid size.  It includes a collared, long sleeve shirt with easy Velcro fastening at the front and long pants.   If you have just made a pair of pyjamas for your daughter/granddaughter, you may have enough fabric left over to make matching pj’s for her doll.  Wow, I can just see how excited your little girl will be going to bed with her doll wearing matching jammies!

Every doll needs a pair of winter pyjamas so this pattern is for all my customers who have been asking for my Winter Pyjama doll clothes pattern in the 18 ½ inch Cabbage Patch Kid size.  It includes a collared, long sleeve shirt with easy Velcro fastening at the front and long pants.   If you have just made a pair of pyjamas for your daughter/granddaughter, you may have enough fabric left over to make matching pj’s for her doll.  Wow, I can just see how excited your little girl will be going to bed with her doll wearing matching jammies!

Because this includes a pattern for long pants and a collared shirt, try making the pants in denim, the shirt using small check fabric and you instantly have a casual country outfit.  Use the patterns separately to make different shirts or pants for your dolls that can be mixed and matched.  Wow, with this pattern you can make lots of different outfits.

When you purchase my Winter Pyjama doll clothes pattern you get downloadable PDF pattern pieces, written instructions and LIFETIME access to my online video tutorials where I show you step-by-step how to make this great pair of winter pyjamas.   The tutorials are so easy to follow, that your daughter will be making them herself! 

Buy the pattern today and make it up in time for dolly to go to bed tonight.

Happy Sewing

I thought I might share another great tip that helps me when sewing doll clothes patterns and you may find that you can adapt this tip to use for your everyday sewing too.

As I have soooo many doll clothes patterns, just like we all do, I have found the best way for me to keep them all organized is to have a display folder for each doll size.  In these folders are plastic sleeves and I store one pattern per sleeve labeling the top right hand corner with the name of the pattern.  I have little sticky labels now that I stick on and write the name of the pattern on but in the past I have just used a Texta to write directly onto the plastic sleeve.

Organizing Doll Clothes Sewing Patterns by Label

Now that my patterns have the picture of the outfit on the instructions page, put this page on the top and you will have both a written description and a visual picture of what the pattern is and won’t even need to write on the plastic sleeve so you can rearrange the patterns easily at any time.

Organizing Doll Clothes Sewing Patterns by Picture

You may find that you have so many patterns that you need a separate folder for ‘Tops’ and one for ‘Bottoms’ or one for ‘Summer’ and one for ‘Winter’.  Having a different color folder for each size doll or type of pattern also makes it really easy to identify and access your patterns quickly.

It really doesn’t matter how you decide to categorize them, but using the display book and labeling each pages helps so much when looking for your patterns.

Happy Sewing

You asked for it and I have listened!  I am thrilled to announce that there are now photos of the outfit that you are making on my printed Doll Clothes Patterns instructions that accompany the doll clothes pattern pieces.  I must thank those of you who have taken the time to email me and suggest that these photos be included.

It is such an obvious think to do but something I had not thought about when first developing my patterns and instructions as I was concentrating more on the video instructions.   I understand how having these photos on the printed instructions makes it much easier to identify the patterns when sorting through the expansive stash of patterns we all have.

It is great to receive your feedback because it is from these suggestions that I am able to make improvements to my products.   We are currently in the process of making some other important changes to the Rosie’s Doll Clothes Patterns website and will let you know as soon as they have been completed.    In the mean time check out my awesome range of Doll Clothes Patterns that come with complete step by step video tutorials.

Happy Sewing

You asked for it, so I’m pleased to now have available my versatile Tights in the 18 ½ Inch Cabbage Patch doll clothes patterns size.

Essential to all girl’s wardrobes are great mix ‘n match pieces and the same goes for dolls too!  This tights pattern creates the perfect mix ‘n match basic for your doll to wear.  Wear them under a skirt, with a big shirt or combine with my One Piece Swimsuit pattern for a great ballerina leotard and tight set.  Make them shorter and they become ¾ length tights for the ‘in-between’ months or go shorter again and you have a great pair of bike shorts.

The combinations and variations are endless, so you can see why I’m so excited to be releasing these Tights doll clothes patterns today.  It is an easy to make, ‘must-have’ pattern to economically expand your doll’s wardrobe!

Remember, when you purchase my downloadable PDF patterns and written instructions, you also receive LIFETIME access to my online video tutorial where I show you step-by-step how to make this great doll clothes pattern.   Yes, all this online support absolutely FREE!

Enjoy sewing my doll clothes patterns and I would love to see your photos or videos and share them on my Blog.

Happy Sewing

I have received some great photos showing the wonderful creations you have been making with my doll clothes patterns and I thought it was time to share them with you all.

Kris makes her own beautiful dolls and dresses them in clothes made from my patterns.  Here her first doll is modeling a lovely dress made from my Summer Nightie pattern.   In the second photo her doll is keeping warm with a stunning leopard print jacket made from my fur trimmed jacket pattern.   The third photo shows her other daughter’s doll wearing the dress and jacket made from different fabric which matches perfectly with the cute highlights in her hair.  Kris has done a terrific job adjusting the patterns so that they fit her doll perfectly.

Cherylmaree has made a great mix and match wardrobe for her granddaughter using the free patterns from my How to Make Doll Clothes online sewing tutorials.  Her granddaughter is thrilled and much of the fabric that was used has been stored since her daughter was a little girl.  Notice the wonderful lace and ribbon trimmings that Cherylmaree has used to finish off the outfits.  She has even been daring and added top-stitching to long denim pants which makes them look just like real jeans.

Judy has been busy sewing for her many granddaughters and has sewn these beautiful  nighties from my Summer Nightie doll clothes pattern and even made these cute matching slippers.  Her granddaughers are super lucky to have such a talented grandmother.

There were lots of dolls dressed in Witch outfits this past Halloween if these photos are anything to go by.  Sharon has done a fantastic job making the costume on the left for her granddaughter and Gail has used my Halloween doll clothes pattern with some modifications to complete this witch ensemble (photo on the right).

It is fantastic to receive all these wonderful photos and hear of your adventures and success using my doll clothes patterns and video tutorials.  Keep sending your photos and stories in and may you all have many more hours of fun creating doll clothes for our loved ones.

 Happy Sewing

Well, I can’t believe that Christmas is almost here….only 6 more sleeps!  I think I am worse than the kids when it comes to Christmas but hey, who said Christmas was only for children?

It has been a very busy year for me with the launch of my new website and I can’t thank my wonderful family enough for the support, patience and encouragement that they have shown me.  I also want to thank my terrific customers (many of whom have become friends and shared experiences with me via email).  The feedback I have received from you all has been fantastic and has inspired me to continue creating and adding new patterns in the New Year.  The only problem is that I have a list of patterns I want to share that is longer than my arm (seriously) but I will just have to get through them one at a time.

I will be taking a holiday with my family over the Christmas and New Year period.  I have always wanted to spend Christmas with my family in the snow and I have set that as my goal for Christmas 2012 but this year we are off to the beach and we are all looking forward to some fun playing beach cricket, swimming, sleeping, eating, shopping (my daughter keeps reminding me that we have to go shopping), playing card and board games at night, sleeping, eating some more and maybe even a little bit more sleeping!  Whatever you and your family have planned over the Christmas holiday, I wish you a very merry Christmas, safe travels and may 2012 bring lots of joy and happiness to you all.

Happy Sewing

Here’s some more Winter 18 Inch American Girl doll clothes patterns and I love this Fur Trimmed Jacket pattern because depending on what fabric you choose it can be a stylish evening jacket or an everyday wear with everything casual jacket.  It can be worn over a dress, with a skirt, jeans or tights.  Why not make a casual jacket AND an evening jacket?

Some fabric suggestions and possibilities include suiting fabric, corduroy, polar fleece, denim or velour and if you don’t want to use the fur for the collar, just use the same fabric as you use for the jacket.  Leave the fur trim off the bottom and shorten or lengthen the jacket for a completely different look…. the possibilities are endless!

The Fur Trimmed Jacket pattern includes downloadable PDF pattern pieces and written instructions as well as LIFETIME access to my online video tutorials where I show you step-by-step how to make these great doll clothes patterns.   

My 18 inch American Girl doll clothes patterns range will also fit the Canadian Girl, Australian Girl doll, the Gotz doll and other similar 18 inch dolls.

Enjoy sewing my doll clothes patterns and I would love to see your photos or videos and share them on my Blog.

Happy Sewing