I’m shooting for somewhere halfway between a custom doll order and a PDF pattern download and came up with Make-Along doll & pattern bundles to offer in the shop this holiday. The doll is already made, by me, and the complete pattern set is enclosed so you can sew up a wardrobe to outfit your doll for all occasions. Plus! bonus! extra! also included are little bundles of fabrics from my stash that I pulled out to make specific outfits.
Elsa has a new look this year! I’ve had this pattern in my shop for over 10 years now and she’s definitely a favorite of mine. I remember when I first started designing dolls how I was obsessed with trying to get a nice round shape for a head from a 2D doll and the lightbulb I had when I decided to just make her 3D with a gusset, ha! I wanted a doll that had a few shortcuts like the body fabric doubling as a dress and the hair being just sewn down around a cap so that it wasn’t as much work as a full head of yarn hair. The next iteration of Elsa had the full on yarn hair wig in braids and I loved how that looked too. But this new pattern has my favorite hair solution yet. The hair is done in wigs sewn on sewing machine with come together easily and quickly and then the braid crown is sewn down in place to keep the hair secure while also leaving it loose and flowy, best of both worlds. She also has some new quicker construction features for her body. She comes with new clothing items, a vest, skirt and boots. I hope you like her! She’s in the shop here.
Also, **bonus** the new Elsa doll fits into the Make-Along clothes rather cutely, sort of like a little sister in her big sister’s clothes
Want a shortcut to finishing your doll’s face? If you’re not making your toy for a small child (buttons = choking hazard!) you can save time by using buttons for the eyes. It’s tricky to get the look right but I find if you use a two-hole button you can sew through with contrasting thread to make a cute glint in the eye. Sewing onto a wider or offset circle of white felt can also help it read more as eye and less spooky raggedy ann doll that wants to haunt you.
I’m excited to be mixing it up in the shop in the coming weeks. I have a new Elsa pattern to release, new kits with the Elsa pattern in the works, ideas for bundles of already-made dolls + fabric for you to make doll clothes with and a sample sale of dolls that have been keeping me company this past year. Since I’ll be squeezing this all in between holiday merriment with the family I’m going to be just winging it and decided to dust off the mailing list for notifications. If you’d like updates when new items hit the shop please sign up here.
Here’s another set of custom Betsy, Tacy and Tib dolls I made for someone. This time dressed in everyday school outfits.
I did a little research on what a kid might have worn to school at the turn of the 20th century. Bows!
Drop waists and giant collars.
Here is what I came up with, a sailor collar, big sleeve ruffles, some lace trim, all with drop waists and Tacy and Tib in bows and Betsy in braids.
For Tacy, who is from a large Irish family is likely wearing a hand-me-down I picked a homespun flannel and aged lace to make it look a little worn.
Tib is the most well off and I remember the illustrations of her fancy dresses so I put her in crisp white ruffles with a pretty sage green print and of course a shiny satin bow.
The gal I made the dolls for said she thought of Betsy in a sailor dress and I agree it’s a perfect match. I had so much fun making these sweet girls.
Oh Clara. I love these ballerina dolls so much. They are so pleasing to hold. I always think of how Clara craddles the nutcracker in the ballet. That’s exactly how I want to hold these dolls, like a baby. They have a wonderful weight with the curls and heavy soft lace of the dress, somehow heavy and light at the same time.
If you’d like to just dip your toe in the water, the Make-Along patterns are now offered in smaller bundles. Check out the seasons packs on the shop. Fall is on sale now, and next, in a few months, Winter… you get the plan!
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.
