Fun and Fashionable Doll Clothes

When your darling granddaughter asks for some doll clothes for the new 18" American Girl type doll she got for Christmas, how can you say no? I've been busily sewing for her ever since. 

McCall 6480

I used View B. For the skirt I selected some pre-ruffled yardage I've had for years and was thrilled to put to use. All it took was an elastic casing and a seam. The jacket fabric is from Jo-Ann's fancy fabrics and the silver dot t-shirt yardage comes from Hobby Lobby. I made the snazzy boots from some leftover vinyl. 

Small seams and tiny pieces can be challenging, but doll clothes are usually quick and this pattern was easy to follow. I always try to use scraps on hand, but even if you have to buy fabric, it's usually such small amounts they don't end up costing much. I've made several pieces from other views of this pattern, so it's a good value, especially when you buy it for 99 cents.  

My granddaughter was so excited when I gave the clothes to her and to be honest, I could probably make hundreds of outfits from my incredibly large stash, so I'm not done yet!

Beatrix Bunny with Case and Clothes

What do you call a rabbit with no clothes on? A bare hare.

A while ago I posted a stuffed elephant and trunk I made for my granddaughter's birthday. See here

When another granddaughter wanted a case like here sister's, I remembered Ruby Jean's Closet had a cute bunny too.

Pattern Here

I made Beatrix and the whole kit and caboodle.  

When sewing the case, pay careful attention to the application of the interfacing. It's probably the most time-consuming part of the whole process. 

The bunny is a made from a quilting cotton with faux suede for the nose and hand patches. 

I may or may not have wanted to pull my hair out during the construction process, but I've made four dolls and cases now and little girls love them. They're a great quiet toy they can take with them easily because everything is contained. All the clothes were made from scraps I had on hand, and that is never a bad thing!

Natalie Bucket Bag

A girl can't have too many bags! Right? This Natalie Bucket Bag by ithinksew was the perfect choice for a young friend's thirteenth birthday.

See pattern here

I loved the designer's leather accents, but opted for a darling printed duck fabric from Hobby Lobby. With a 40% off coupon, it was also a great economical choice. The bright pink lining pant-weight fabric I had on hand added a little spunk to the project.

I made the finished bag a backpack rather than going with the designed shoulder strap. That process was easy. The only thing I would do different would be to add a loop at the top for easier hanging.

For the adjustable backpack straps, I used two one inch Dritz D rings and two one inch Dritz slide adjusters. I cut two four by thirty-two inch strips and followed the steps below prior to sewing the lining and bag bottom.

1. Fold both strips in half and press. 

2. Open straps and press each side into the center and press.

3. Fold strap in half again and press.

4. Topstitch down both sides of each strap the entire length of the strap.

5. Cut a 4-inch piece from the end of each shoulder strap to attach to the D rings. Thread the backpack straps through the slider adjustments and stitch. Baste the D ring tabs to the bottom corners of the bag. The straps go side by side at the center top of the bag. Baste in place and continue to attach the bag bottom and lining as instructed.

If you decide to make your own Natalie Bucket Bag and have questions about the shoulder strap treatment, ask away. I'd be happy to help!

Girly Gathers and Ruffles Dress

I was looking for something to make for a baby shower gift and I found this darling dress pattern by Kwik Sew. 

https://kwiksew.mccall.com/k0198

The fabric was adorable in the sample on the pattern envelope and I really wanted a similar floral, but when I couldn't find one I liked, I went with a multi-colored dot I thought was fun! The yoke and panties have a coordinating gold dot.  

The pattern was easy. There were a lot of extra helpful tips along the way. I must admit that I struggled turning under the casing on the panties as instructed in the pattern. Though I tried and tried, I simply couldn't ease the edge enough without ending up with huge tucks. To resolve the problem, I took a smaller seam at the leg edges and tapered it into the seam. That did the trick. I added two cute buttons and a bow to the neck edge.

I made the dress for a friend who is having a girl after having five boys. I hope it's just right for her new pink bundle of joy!

Pajama Time

With little ones, isn't the best part of the day bath time and getting them ready for bed in a snuggly pair of pajamas? Since my children are grown, it would be weird if I did that now, but I still love a nice pair of warm pajamas. For Christmas, I used this pattern to make pajamas for my sweet granddaughters:

See pattern here

I thought the design was darling! As a bonus, it came with a pattern for the American Girl doll size. 

In my experience, pattern company sizes for children run a bit large compared to store sizes, so it's best to go by measurements when selecting a pattern size. My granddaughter is seven, but I made a size six and added some length. The pattern called for packaged bias tape to finish the edges, but I made a bias tape with a nifty bias tape maker instead. It's softer than bias tape trim and it also complimented the cuffs at the wrist and ankle. I skipped the interfacing in the cuffs. I actually tried it first as suggested in the pattern, but even a light interfacing made them too stiff for my liking. The flannel I used for the trim was heavy enough to hold its shape without the interfacing. I also reinforced the snap closures with some interfacing on the wrong side of the fabric in the snap areas.

The pattern also has a pair of pajamas that would be perfect for summer. I love how they turned out so much, I might just make another pair or two or three!

A horse? Of course!

My granddaughter Prentice loves purses and ponies, so why on earth wouldn't I make this for her birthday?

kwiksew.mccall.com/k3970

I have a stash of fabric the size of Texas and I'm pretty sure I could have found something there that was cute enough for the project, but when I saw Riley Blake's My Sunshine Paisley, I couldn't say no. It's not my fault that it was perfect for the main purse fabric. The cute pink and orange polka-dot for the purse lining, pony ears and accent heart came from Jo-Ann, as did the fur, trims and yarn for the tail.  

The pattern was simple. There weren't a lot of pieces. The instructions were straightforward and easy to follow. I wish I could remember how long it took from start to finish. I do have a habit of seriously underestimating the time any project is going to take, but sweet Prentice loved it, so that's all that matters. It's a fun project, so if you have a purse and pony lover on your gift list, you should give it a try!