Happy Easter! New Spring Outfits for Dolls

I would like to wish all of my blog readers a very happy Easter! I have been very busy sewing with the extra day off that I had on Friday. I made two peplum tops, Capri pants, and a pair of shorts. I really like the peplum top pattern by Liberty Jane. The pattern calls for a zipper in the back, but instead I put a Velcro closure in the back. The Velcro closure is more kid friendly. It's easy to get on and easy to get off. Another feature that I really like about this pattern is the sweetheart neckline. 

Grace modeling the teal peplum top and yellow Capri pants

I made the Capri pants from the Cute and Casual pattern by Chris Lucas Designs. I chose a yellow cotton fabric. It goes well with the yellow in the top.

Mary Ellen modeling another peplum top and shorts

The second top was made from an aqua, pink and green floral cotton fabric. This outfit has a pair of green shorts made from the same pattern as the Capri pants. Both of these outfits are listed in my Etsy shop. Be sure to follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and sign up for my newsletter.

New Outfits for 15 Inch Dolls

I recently started adding more outfits to my 15 inch baby doll clothes line. The clothes I make are made to fit dolls such as Bitty Baby dolls. I'm hoping to increase my line of baby doll clothes and even include a whole layette set. One of the patterns that I really like is the romper dress pattern by 18 On Main. This pattern has two styles, a pleated version and a gathered version. So far, I've only made the gathered version. I love that the pattern is so versatile. There are so many possibilities with this pattern. You can find her patterns on the Pixie Faire website.

Peach and pink calico dress with matching headband

 The headband in the picture above is not included in this particular pattern. It is in the Ann Arbor pattern by MyGurls.

Pink and green owl print dress with white piping at the bodice

I added white piping to the bodice in the owl print dress that is pictured above. You can do so much with this pattern. Lace to the bodice or around the bottom of the dress would be a nice addition.

Cute watermelon dress

I found the cute watermelon button at a Etsy shop called Visions of Whimsy. She makes cute handmade buttons.  

Princess Seams

My latest outfit project was a sixties style dress from a pattern by Forever 18 Inches. I really like this pattern. It will be perfect for Julie and the new American Girl Beforever doll Melody who will be coming out sometime this year. I learned something that I had never done before. This dress has princess seams in the front and the back of the dress. Princess seams give a dress shape without actually having to make darts. When I first started to sew this dress, I got really confused on how to do these particular seams. I saw that the center front piece curved inward and the front side pieces curved outward. And I thought, this is never going to work! But I sat down and just started pinning one of the side pieces to the center front and I realized that what you have to do is to ease the curved part in. It also helps to hand baste the seam. If I had watched a You Tube video on it before I ever started it might have cleared things up a bit. Here is a You Tube video that I found on how to sew a princess seam. The directions would be about the same for this pattern except your seams are going to be 1/4 inch instead of 5/8 inch. The next time I make this dress, I will follow her guide and stay stitch the center front and back.

I have included a photo of the second dress that I am making by the Good Vibrations pattern. This is a picture of the front of the dress. I really like the finished look that it gives to the dress. I think that I remember my sister wearing a dress similar to this. I also love the bell sleeves. It's so sixties!

This is the wrong side of the dress. I pressed the seams in toward the center of the dress.

I really enjoyed making this dress. I hope that it will inspire you to try something new. 

Here is the final product. An orange paisley sixties style dress for 18 inch dolls.