top to bottom: linen, linen, wool, linen, linen, wool
I have a few go-to’s that I keep coming back to for doll bodies, Essex Linen, linen from Joann Fabrics and thrifted wool. Every winter I head to the thrift stores to see if I can find a tan or beige or cream wool skirt of coat. It’s not as easy as it used to be but most years I can find one or two.
I’m so excited to be a part of the first issue of Making magazine, no. 1 Flora. I received my copy in the mail a few days ago and it is such a gorgeous magazine, book really. There are so many wonderful projects included, not just sewing and knitting but also cross stitch and embroidery and recipes and floral design. Just gorgeous all around. Congratulations, Carrie!
A $2 faux leather purse from the thriftstore transformed nicely into a tiny pair of saltwater sandals for the latest Make-Along doll. I just need to make two more pairs in navy for the other girls now. Fun to have scraps of leather-like material on hand. I made a little bow barrette for Phoebe and am thinking the doll may need a little handbag as well.
I love this tiny delicate floral print from a vintage linen. It was stained but I was able to cut the pattern pieces out around it and salvage enough for the top.
I bought these awesome Zig Clean Color Real Brush Watercolor pens for my Make-Along pattern project and they are super fun. They even work well for cheeks! They’re a little less blendy then I imagined they’d look when dry but I think they look very cute. I’m going to try it again on my next doll and dilute a bit more with a Watercolor Brush.
While I’m enjoying working on these new patterns I have my horns hooked in an epic battle with May. May should be my favorite month. Spring is my favorite season and I’m so excited to hit all the nurseries and work on our garden again. I am reborn, but into stress. Soccer tryouts, ExploreMore Day, 100 other school events and parties. I am drowning in special moments. Tossing lunch out the door after Oscar when we realize we forgot before school band that starts up in May to get ready for the parade. My fridge looks like a college ride board the week before Thanksgiving. I bet that reference dates me, ha! I search every morning through the flurry of handouts trying to remember what snack/treat/costume/gift/form I’m supposed to be sending in that day. There is no time to catch one’s breath, to bask in Spring sunshine. And also a terrible time to be taking on a huge creative project like I am. But I feel the panic to get it done while kids are still in school because I have “free time”. Even though my kids are old enough to entertain themselves and Summer is not the death sentence of work it once was, it’s still a much less productive house June-August. So May is just a ticking time bomb. I have a theory that teachers and schools, in an effort to not lose support for our age-old system of Summers off, try to make school as painful as possible in May so that you’re begging for Summer. Well, I give. Uncle.
I have 5 new Make-Along dolls in the shop here on the site. So far, I have patterns for the first 3 of 12 outfits, the first outfit with petticoat, dress and jumper, the second is the Regency style dress and bonnet and the third is a dress with a ruffle collar and wrap up sandals. Next outfit will be pants and a little jacket since it remains stubbornly chilly here in Chicago.
I’m very excited about these girls. I’ve had this idea for so many years and am jazzed to be finally jumping in. If I were a girl this would be the most amazing gift for me, a handmade doll that I could make clothes for! I love the idea of inspiring kids to start sewing. I hope these dolls find happy, creative, playful homes💕
I honestly feel like I spend all my time organizing and planning and devising. I don’t know when I get any work done. All day I’ve been straightening, puttering and plotting for the next couple Make-Along dolls. By the time these are done I’ll have 3 outfit sets for the Make-Along subscription so I think that will be enough to launch that program on its own as well – exciting!!
Miss pink hair here will be in same outfit as our first Make-Along girl from the last post, petticoat, dress and jumper. Click over to instagram to see a little video that rotates through the three items.
Miss purple will maybe just be in this cute smocked dress with the patterns for 3 separate outfits included.
There will be two dolls in cheerful Spring Regency dresses and bonnets.
And this gal will be in outfit number 3 made from this amazing thrifted caftan.
Am I making any sense? I promise, it will make sense eventually!
A captivating gang of 24 huggable, lovable creatures to sew—from classics like Margot, a topsy-turvy doll, and the button-jointed teddy bear Bjorn Bjornson, to irresistible Evelyn, a wool felt inchworm decked out in mod glasses and a kerchief, and Koji, a fiercely cute spiked softie monster. There’s something for everyone here—from kids to grown-ups and from beginning sewers to advanced dollmakers. Published by STC Craft, August, 2010.
