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Tuesday, June 2, 2015

Doll Clothes On Display Summer 2015

My collection of handmade doll clothes is on display during the months of June and July at the Westwood, NJ library.  This is the fifth year that the dolls have made an appearance at an area library.  The collection features outfits that I have knit or sewn using patterns from the 1930's through those available today including several that I have designed.

Here's a glimpse at the display.

The 18 inch dolls including the American Girl doll.  There's more detailed information about her dress with the blue sweater and her purse here.








And the Green coat pictured below is posted here.
 The Barbie collection includes this simple knit dress pattern that is featured here.
 On the right is my Primrose.  The Book, I Learn to Knit to Dress my Doll Primrose is discussed here.  This book dates to the early 1940's.



And my Mary Hoyer Doll and her book of patterns.  This is a true source of inspiration for me.  Read about this in detail here.







It is my hope that the display will delight and inspire young people to learn to knit and sew and those that already do to share their skills with a young person.

Monday, March 9, 2015

Dressing Barbie through the Years



Barbie is celebrating her 56th Birthday today, March 9, 2015.  I've been making clothes for Barbie for almost that long.  I received my first Barbie as a young girl and it was always a treat to be able to purchase a new outfit for her.  Before long, I was sewing simple dresses for her and then knitting simple tube dresses too.

It's amazing how many patterns for sewing, knitting, and crocheting for Barbie have been published.  I have many of them and still love making clothes for her.  So many are outfits that I wouldn't be able to wear but it's fun to dress the fashion doll.

Here's a few of the outfits that I've made.





This dress pattern is featured here.






And a few patterns that I still want to create.






There are so many wonderful memories attached to dressing Barbie.  It has led to a lifelong love of knitting and sewing.






Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Spring Dress and Purse for My American Girl doll

My American Girl Doll is ready for Spring 2015 dressed in this blue flowered dress complete with purse and cardigan.  I'll be displaying my collection of handmade doll clothes at another local library in June and July and I'm busy making new outfits to add to my growing collection.



The dress is from Simplicity pattern #0107.  A plain shift that is made of just a front and back.  Double fold bias tape is used at the armholes and neckline.

  I used a zipper instead of velcro for the back closure. The hemline is detailed with a flowered trim.



 The sweater was a pleasure to knit.  The pattern is from a Plymouth Yarn book that is out of print.  It is called Dolly Mixture.  The yarn is Plymouth Encore DK.  One of my favorites for doll clothes.  I cast on with the white and continued to knit with the turquoise.  The buttons are 3/8 inch white by Blumenthal.

 

 The purse was fun to make.  I used felt and the purse pattern from Simplicity pattern #A2108.  This pattern is out of print now but I found it several years ago at a Florida Walmart.   I sewed it by hand using embroidery floss. The handle is ribbon and I accented it with the same flowered trim that is on the hemline of the dress.


Here's another outfit for my American Girl doll using the same patterns.  The details of this outfit are on my Knit n Sew Studio blog here.




http://knitnsewstudio.blogspot.com/2015/02/spring-outfit-for-american-girl-doll.html
These 3 piece outfits are now among my favorites.  Plans are swirling around for a few more color combinations and trim details.