Category Archives: doll clothing and accessories

American Girls Doll Sundress

Posted on January 24, 2012 | 12 comments

This is my post for Freckled Laundry’s Air Your Laundry and Elizabeth & Co.’s Be Inspired Linky Party.  Take a look at all the great ideas.

Marie Grace is getting ready to sew. She has Mildred Turner’s book, Mimi’s Machine Magic for reference, patterns to study, fabric and lace swatches to audition and her dress form ready for fitting. She’ll soon need a cup of tea.

Marie Grace is getting ready to sew. She has Mildred Turner’s book, Mimi’s Machine Magic for reference, patterns to study, fabric and lace swatches to audition and her dress form ready for fitting. She’ll soon need a cup of tea.

The Custom Keepsakes Sweet Dreams sundress that I finished this weekend made my 7 year-old granddaughter very happy. The skirt is made of Liberty of London tana lawn and, like her Nana, Laurel looooooves Liberty. She can’t wait for her matching dress to be finished.

I selected a Liberty print that was small enough to be proportional to the doll. As Laurel browsed pictures of some of the other dresses/nightgowns in the collection, she declared that she would like one of each, please. As quickly as these are to sew, I might just stitch all six.

American Girls doll Marie Grace wore the dress to 6 year-old Robert’s football game and received a lot of attention from the sisters of several players.

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This garment was a real pleasure to make. Of course, because the bodice and pockets are made in the hoop with heavy water soluble stabilizer, it was quick and easy. Kathy recommends Vilene WSS but I didn’t have any on hand and used Sulky’s Super Solvy with very good results. Continue reading →

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Posted in doll clothing and accessories, machine embroidery

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Overtime in Santa’s Workshop

Posted on December 20, 2011 | 7 comments

I’m not sure if my Christmas workshop effort should be labeled overtime or overdrive, but I can tell you that I am working hard!  There is still so much that I want to make, but I have gotten some gifts sewn up.

Molly and her American Girl  sisters will have a new hand knit sweater.  I’d like to make more pants for the dolls, but that might have to wait until after Christmas.  The colors in the sweater embroidery will coordinate just about any fabric.The letters are the small Diva Dots from Five Star Font and the spray was taken from Amazing Designs Buttonholes 1 collection. Continue reading →

7 Comments

Posted in boys, doll clothing and accessories, machine embroidery

Brrrrr….Let’s Knit

Posted on December 1, 2011 | 1 comment

Scarf, hat and small square knitted by 7 year-old Laurel. Hand knit sweater machine embroidered by Nana. Jeans purchased on eBay.

Just after Thanksgiving, we drove to Asheville, NC, on business with our son and his family.  We planned to head to our cabin as soon as we finished.  But instead, we found ourselves stuck in Asheville for two extra days, due to bad weather.  Not only was the weather abysmal  in Asheville, but also in the High Country area, which was under a severe weather advisory.  With snow and ice, it would have been foolish to drive up the steep mountain roads.

So we passed time at the hotel while granddaughter Laurel, 7, took up knitting needles to make some things for her doll Molly.   Six year-old grandson Robert spent the time relaxing with a book or watching football. Continue reading →

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Posted in doll clothing and accessories, Kids Sew

Winners!

Posted on November 8, 2011 | 3 comments

1-Winners L dress

Does this child look excited or WHAT? Seven year old Laurel was thrilled beyond words when  she saw her polka dot A-line jumper had earned a Best in Show award in the junior sewing category.   The matching teepee bag is part of her “ensemble.” The matching, lined teepee bag is on the hanger with the ribbons.

 

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In September, after she had finished on a rainy day in North Carolina, she proudly checked it off her fair entry list. Continue reading →

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Posted in doll clothing and accessories, girls, Kids Sew, Nana fun, turn tube hem

Free Authentic American Girls Patterns!

Posted on September 26, 2011 | 29 comments

Back in the ’80’s  Pleasant Company offered pattern packages for their historical doll wardrobes.  Of course, the first dolls were all historical~Civil War era Addy, colonial girl Felicity, Minnesota prairie girl Kirsten, Victorian era Samantha, WW II Molly and 1824 New Mexican Josephina.   Each American Girl had a package with patterns specific to her period and culture.

At the time, the $18 cost for each set of patterns seemed pricey.  But the detailed patterns made it possible to authentically duplicate the original costumes, accessories, and available extra outfits for each doll.  So they were popular with mamas, nanas and aunties who were eager to please a child.

 

Molly in jumper which is a reverse match of Laurel’s. We’ve ordered a tee shirt for her to wear under this.

Continue reading →

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Posted in doll clothing and accessories

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Mountain Autumn with Grandchildren

Posted on September 22, 2011 | 4 comments

Grandchildren are God’s way of compensating us for growing old.
— Mary H. Waldrip

Laurel hikes the roads of Seven Devils Mountain.

We brought 6 and 7 year-old grandchildren, Robert and Laurel, to our cabin in the mountains of western North Carolina for some quality time, a taste of fall and the cool weather.  It has rained all day every day with only occasional breaks in the weather.  But that hasn’t stopped us from savoring every minute of our time here.  Frankly, with all the sunshine we get in Florida, these misty, rainy days are a rare treat.

The 12 hour trip from Florida was time well spent on what DIL Shelly calls “carschooling.”  Both Robert and Laurel finished a whole lesson from the Calvert curriculum they use–how’s that for using time wisely!  Shelly is one well-organized mama.

Shelly  “carschools” Laurel and Molly.

Continue reading →

4 Comments

Posted in doll clothing and accessories, Kids Sew, Nana fun

My First Needle Art~Knitting

Posted on August 28, 2011 | 6 comments

 

L knits

I know this won’t be a popular post.  But knitting was the first needle art I was taught and now my granddaughter wants to learn. So it’s what is on my mind now.

Most of us progress through many forms of needlework, ultimately focusing on a few with greater passion.  Seven year-old Laurel’s interest in sewing, quilting and now knitting gives me great hope that she will be knowledgeable and enthusiastic about a variety of needle arts.

About two weeks ago, when Laurel announced that she would like to learn to knit, she also confided that she thinks those ladies on tv who bang their knitting needles together are probably not  knitting.  “Show me how, Nana.”

I silently groaned, having recently donated my complete collection of knitting needles–all sizes, all length–as well as a few bushel baskets of yarn.  But not wanting to lose the moment, I pulled out a little  “craft” learn-to-crochet kit that included about 10′ of nasty red yarn.  With some rummaging I found  a set of size 7 circular needles that missed the clean sweep of  no-eyed needles.  And so we began….

It did not go well.

Continue reading →

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Posted in doll clothing and accessories, Kids Sew

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Rick Rack Smocking at the Beach

Posted on August 26, 2011 | 2 comments
three cousins at the beach

three cousins at the beach

 

Once again I share with you an upclose and personal view of Judy Day’s delightful creations  for her granddaughters. She never makes “a dress.” It’s always a complete ensemble for each of the two girls and their dolls, usually including matching hairbows for all and often coordinating flip flops.

Though the idea for rickrack smocking is not Judy’s original idea, her execution is always original and fabulous.  Enjoy Judy’s chronicle of the dresses.~~~~

 

Kennedy1

Continue reading →

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Posted in doll clothing and accessories, girls, Judy Day's creations, Kids Sew, smocking, techniques

Come See~~2nd Annual AG Tea Party

Posted on August 20, 2011 | 5 comments

Granddaughter Laurel’s Second Annual American Girls Tea Party is history. After all the preparations, as expected, it was a huge success. Last year the guest list was much smaller, but the past school year has brought a lot of new friends into my seven year-old granddaughter’s social circle.

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All the girls are enthusiastic owners of one or more American Girls dolls, all of whom were, of course, also invited to the festivities. As is so often the case, sewing projects played a part in this special event. Continue reading →

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Posted in doll clothing and accessories, Kids Sew, machine embroidery, Nana fun, party accessories and ideas, quilts, smocking, uncategorized

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Second Annual American Girls Tea Party

Posted on August 16, 2011 | 3 comments
Molly in her party dress, ready for tea

Molly in her party dress, ready for tea

 

Last year, my darling daughter-in-law hosted a tea party for her very own American girl, Laurel, , and some little misses in the neighborhood.  She even provided gloves and hats for dress up before tea.

 

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This is last year’s party, the first AG doll tea party. After plundering through the dress up box, they were ready for tea.

 

This week, by popular demand, the event will be repeated and likely will be remembered as  the Second Annual American Girls Tea Party.  Shelly and Laurel will entertain eight little girls and their dolls.

 

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When I asked Laurel what I could do for the occasion, she requested that I make these hats for party favors.  Of course, I jumped at the opportunity and tackled the task with the enthusiasm and delight that comes only from meeting a grandchild’s request.  I declare that child could ask for the moon and I would try my best to arrange for delivery, probably through Amazon. Continue reading →

3 Comments

Posted in doll clothing and accessories, heirloom sewing, Kids Sew, lace tape, machine embroidery, Nana fun, party accessories and ideas

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