Making doll patterns

     As an enthusiastic grandmother, with a granddaughter finally old enough to play with dolls...I reached out into the world of internet research and found the perfect doll.  Unlike the American Girl dolls which my own girls played with, this 18"doll is jointed which means her knees bend.  In my enthusiasm, I bought one on ebay and 4 on Amazon and anxiously awaited their arrival.  In the meantime I went looking for doll patterns.  There are some great ones at WWW.LIBERTYJANEPATTERNS.COM .The dolls I chose were BFC INK dolls - which I find out are now discontinued.  UGG.

Even knowing that fact, doesn't deminish their unique beauty and poseability.  In my continued research I found out there is this world of imported ball jointed dolls which are beautiful and expensive and not exactly something a 3 year old plays with.  The fashions, exchangable eyes, wigs and hands are amazing.  Take a look at the outfits that Martha Boers creates for these dolls made by Iplehouse at Antique Lilac.

Given my husband has argued that these dolls are really for me. (He's right), I couldn't dissapoint him and so they are now in need of a wardrobe for some kind of fanciful play.  But first I needed a sloper.  I couldn't find one in google search for this particular doll although there are lots for the American Girl Doll and others.  So here is a detailed explanation of how to make a paper bodice pattern with a dropped waist.



Wrap a paper towel around your doll and using small strips of packing tape, tightly wrap your dolls waist. Then continue wrapping tape as tight as you can covering her body.

 

 

Continue adding paper toweling over shoulders and continue taping as tight as possible.

When you have taped the toweling over the body, double check to make sure it is as tight as possible everywhere.

Using a fine tipped marker, draw the edge of shoulders, front and back princess lines, sides and bottom length.  Cut up the back with scissors and cut along the line for the shoulder seam.

Cut apart the paper-taped pattern along the princess lines and tape onto cardstock

Add 1/8th" seam allowances to your patterns and be sure to mark each piece with it's proper body location.  CB=center back, SB= Side back, etc.  Cut out pattern.

Using the pattern you have just created, cut out the pattern pieces in fabric and sew them together.

Because fabric has more stretch than cardstock, the center front and center back needed to be taken in an additional 1/8" to get a really good fit.  If you make any changes to the fabric fit be sure to mark them on your cardstock pattern.

Now I am ready to make my dolls into princesses? no I think maybe fairies. 

Moose Wayne and Tom

Taryn and I have been busy crocheting and stuffing our Moose Wayne (pattern bought at etsy): http://www.etsy.com/listing/62468788/moose-pattern-pdf?ref=sr_gallery_27&ga_search_submit=&ga_search_query=crocheis from the bookt+moose&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_facet=handmade
And Tom for my grand-daughter who loves the ipad game Tom Cat. (This Pattern is from the book: Hello my name is Amineko.  The Story of a Crafy Crochet Cat - by Nekoyama) I think I will be making clothes next.

Witch's Tea

My quilt guild had the best time at our witch's tea.  I had designed quilt blocks all year for poor Helga who died (liquidated) in a rain storm.  We 'charmed' her possessions onto quilt blocks for her prosperity to 'reanimate' at a future date.  Not all the quilts that were finished are shown here.  We had a 'horrible' time....

Arlene, Geri, Marie, Mylinda, Celeste and myself all show off our wonderful creations.  Everyone who made a quilt got a cute charm make by my friend Muffy Elder:

Below are more pictures of the coven:

Anne won the prize for best cackle, Vickie won for best dressed.  Allur winner got a handmade award:

Then we all made a cute witch shoe to take home. The pattern can be found at www.ellenhutson.com

Under Construction Baby Shower

I had a great time planning Mickel's Baby shower:

You are invited to celebrate the soon to be completed project:

Henry David Politis

created by Mickel and Luke Politis, inc.

We are happy to announce that he is on time and on schedule

for the January 2012 unveiling.

Babe Shoz

Aren't these just the cutest!!! I took a class at Pipers' Quilts and comforts ( www.pipersquilts.com) and had a blast! They make the best gifts ever, for my young mom friends and they love them!!

Just finished these orange socks for my neice. If I knit while I watch TV, then I don't feel quilty about watching as much TV as I do. I think I might have enough left over to make a matching granddaughter pair, like these cute blue ones on the right. The big pair went to my daughter in law. After one more pair for my dear friend, I think I can finally make some for myself.

I recently learned to knit

My friend Julia and I decided to go learn how to knit. I being a long time crocheter, wasn't sure I would be able to learn, but being the determined person that I am and struggling with my right brain learning disfunctions actually have made 3 pairs of socks. Pictured here are a pair I made for my daughter, Alexi. She loved them. I had enough yarn to make a pair for my grand daughter:

The first pair that I made cost about $120. Consider the cost of the class, yarn, a second ball of yarn so the socks can match, needles, a second pair of needles to work on 2 pair at a time, pretty jewel markers, a second set of pretty jewel markers, knobs to keep the yarn on the needles, a second set of knobs to keep the yarn on the needles and wow I had some groovy chic socks. My family has teased me beyond measure. But, I am still so very proud of the socks I have knitted and the new skills I have gained. Marielle was really patient teacher with all my return trips to the store for clarifications after her class was over. http://www.threewishesfiber.com/