October Craft Fair Sewing

I Must Sew Faster! I have 2 craft fairs this month!

Tewksbury is in Massachusetts in case you're wondering, a suburb of Boston, where the leaves and the acorns are falling and it's apple picking time. And it's craft fair season again!

The air is bright and cool - and my sewing machine is heating up. Today I cut out and chain pieced over 20 doll leotards. I need a hug.

You'll be seeing some pics of my offerings as the days grow short. Therefore, in no logical order here is today's outfit that I just completed, a Christmas outfit . . .

Sew - Sew - Sew

Meg

Liberty Jane Clothing Gymnastic Outfit

She'll Receive Lots of Compliments at the Gym!

 I love this sylish practice outfit!

Jewell Star Doll Clothes version of Liberty Jane!

Plenty of shine and fits like a glove!

Here is my first gymnastic offering, and I think it's very cute. Made of silver lycra and purple micro-fleece it is just begging me for a matching warm-up suit.

The Liberty Jane pattern was a snap to work with, although I did make one change in the pattern. Here is a tip - I added elastic to the waistband. My test piece made according to the instructions just didn't fit perfectly. The waist seemed a little low on the bum and loose, not too smooth. So I added a quarter inch to the top of the shorts pattern, made a casing for 1/4" elastic and sewed. I got the fit I wanted and now I am a happy camper!

Kit is having a fitting for her next gymnastics outfit. Here she is with her hair messed up on my equally messy sewing table. I don't think I combed my hair either. Her shorts are finished and she is waiting for me to quit fooling around on the internet and do something.

Have a wonderful day!

Meg and Kit 

American Girl Beauty

Awesome

I love designing doll gowns and this is one is especially pretty. She needed a crown, so I decided a floral wreath would be a lovely addition. 

Little gowns, when sewn, are just as gorgeous as real prom gowns and wedding gowns. They have that stiff hand that comes with fine fabric and careful lining and hand stitching, and they even rustle when touched.  

Sewing Begins Here

I learn about American Girl Dolls

First Sewing Project

It all began with this girl's skating dress that I made for an 8 year old this winter. She also wanted a matching outfit for her American Girl doll. And that is when I learned about the fascinating world of American Girl dolls.

I could not find a girl's pattern I liked so I combined a dress bodice with a very short full circle skirt. The bodice is fully lined. The sleeves have coordinating semi-transparent fabric and you can see the cap sleeves peeking through. The satin skirt is sewed to the bodice, making it a one piece outfit. The skirt has an overlay of sparkling blue sheer fabric, and underneath -although you can't see it- there is a full slip with 2 gathered layers of tulle to make it twirl!

Then I purchased a doll skating pattern at Joann Fabric's, borrowed a doll and set to work. I was hooked! Fun, fun and more fun. It turned out super cute.

My husband noticed how much I enjoyed the project. One day USPS came to the door with a package. Yippie! He actually bought me my very own doll, Kit!  I love you Dick Jewell! Maybe the happiest present ever! And I have been sewing doll clothes ever since.

Back of girl's skating dress, with zipper and sash

First Day of School in Tewksbury, Massachusetts!

Kit has a stunning new blue suit

Doll Clothes - The Final Product

I am so happy when they are finished, packaged and ready to go to a new home.

Sewing Doll Clothes for American Girl

Welcome my old friends from my retired Dolly Dilettante blog, and hello to my new friends who have come here to see the American Girl doll clothes I am creating!

This is my first post and I am a bit rusty on blogging, but with luck and a bit of practice I'll try to bring you into my world of sewing for American Girl dolls.. 

I am a little older and the font is a little bigger so I can read what I write, but I am hoping this will be a super blog.  This will stay simple for now as I'm on a blog learning curve. Although I may not be a great blogger yet, I'm a dedicated gal who loves to sew and create. 

I encourage you all to leave me comments and suggestions about how I can improve the blog.

Do Stay Tuned!