Rosies Doll Clothes Patterns Share and Tell April and May 2013

As usual, I am running late with my monthly ‘share & tell’ so please forgive me as I combine April and May together.

Firstly, Melanie has been using my patterns and making some clothes for her daughter Tahlia’s Cabbage Patch Kid.  Because this doll is 22” tall she simply enlarges my patterns on the photocopier (see my blog on resizing doll clothes patterns).  Melanie finds my ‘patterns and instructions were so easy to follow,,.but using denim for the dress was quite challenging, as the cotton kept breaking when doing the gathering.  I used upholstery thread instead for this part and it did the trick.’

Thanks for this tip Melanie.  I find the best way to prevent the thread from breaking when gathering thicker fabrics like denim is to loosen the thread tension on my sewing machine, I go down as low as between 0-1. This allows the thread to be pulled to gather the fabric much easier so you may like to give this a try next time.

Looks like Tahlia’s Cabbage Patch Kid doll is all set for summer with these cute summer dresses and summer nightie.

When Ruth is not looking after her 1 year old grandson, she loves to make doll clothes for her granddaughter.  Here she has made a lovely skating outfit using my one piece swimsuit pattern and some Lame for the skating skirt.  Ruth says, ‘I’m sure another knit would be better (for the skirt), but not as pretty’ and she also feels that there should be an opening at the back of the swimsuit to make it easier to dress the doll.

I find Velcro tends to pull the Lycra/Spandex thread really easily so prefer not to have the back opening but if you find it necessary to have the opening, this would be easy enough to do.  Firstly, fold the back pattern piece in half and add a ½ inch seam allowance along the straight edge, cut two pieces of fabric.  Sew part way up from the crotch and then join the front and back pieces together at both shoulder seams. Then add the elastic by starting and finishing at the back neckline, attach the elastic at each armhole and then stitch the crotch seam.  Lastly, attach the Velcro strip in the back opening.

Lynne is an Aussie grandmother who enjoys making doll clothes for her granddaughter living in the US.  She is ‘finding a lot of pieces of fabric from the “olden days” in the cupboard’ and has made this gorgeous little layered ‘party’ dress using my summer dress pattern and some broderie anglaise she has had since her girls were little.  Lynne also embellished it with velvet ribbon, sparkling button and a bow at the back.  To finish the outfit, Lynne made a headband and shrug for the ‘cooler days’.  She has also made some lovely summer capri pant and halter top sets….

 ‘American Girl is accumulating quite a fashionable wardrobe, perhaps I need my own “Girl”.’

Chris is a fellow Aussie who has just ordered herself an Australian Girl doll and has been busy sewing a new wardrobe for her while waiting for Belle to arrive. When making the halter top, Chris aligned the big flower so it sits in the middle and did the same with the other side but with a big light coloured flower which will make it great as a reversible top.  She also made a little over-shirt in case Belle gets a little chilly LOL.

My last ‘share & tell’ is from Katy who I have featured before.  Here you can see Kit’s latest ensemble – ‘I think she looks great in her sarong and crop top. All we need now is the summer weather to go with it…’

Katy has been enjoying working through my How to Make Doll Clothes course and making the bonus patterns and has now gained the confidence to branch out and start working with other patterns and says,

‘I don’t think I could have managed these projects if I hadn’t worked through your course – it really sharpened up my skills.  Thank you for making it available and I look forward to working with more of your patterns.’

To see Katy doll clothes creations and read about her experiences visit her new blog, ‘Kit’s Couture’

Thanks again everyone for sending in your photos and sharing your experiences sewing doll clothes.

Happy Sewing