Cloth Doll

I've been wanting to make a cloth doll for a long time, but  hadn't found a reason.  My niece turned two this past week, and that was the perfect excuse. 

I love the look of the simple cloth bodies, and faces.  I wasn't sure how it would be accepted, but I'm happy to say that I think she liked it.

She has wool felt details, and cotton appendages and body.  I added some embroidered facial features, and a bit of lace to dress her up.

Initially I wasn't going to give her a mouth, but Clark insisted.  He even designed it for me.  I gave him a piece of paper, and he drew out a little smile with a line on one side.  He has a good eye, so I agreed.

I love her black mary janes, and blushed cheeks.  I really liked her sitting on the shelf of my sewing room, but now she's gone.  That means only one thing, I MUST make more.

Shirr Thing For Spring: Day 2-Shirred Sunsuit for Baby

Shirred Sunsuit For Baby

For Day two of Shirr Week, I decided to share a baby sunsuit.  The shirring is used in basically the same way, gathering in the suit around the chest, but it is also applied around the leg openings.  I love the gathered look around the base of the bloomers. I love the idea of a one piece sunsuit for a crawling baby.

This project is based on the Baby Sunsuit Tutorial, from Rae of Made By Rae.  She is always coming up with clever patterns, and I absolutely love this project.  She provides dimensions to create a 6-12 month sized baby sunsuit, but also gives instructions on creating one to fit your little babe (no matter how small).

 The criss crossing straps on this project will surely help them stay in place.  I am a bit concerned that my straps are too long, I may have measured them incorrectly, but the great thing is that I can always add more button holes.

 Rae used a double gauze for her sunsuit, but I used a regular quilters cotton.  I've had this fabric in my stash for about a year now, and I think that this is a perfect project for it.  Nice and bright for a summer picnic. You absolutely must hop over to Rae's site to see her sunsuit modeled.

I didn't do the jumper any favors by hanging it on a hanger.  When it's worn on a little one it balloons out, and makes for a cute little outfit.

When shirring the legs I made my rows 1/4" apart.  I made three rows so that I was sure to have enough gather.

Shirr Thing For Spring: Mini Series Day 1 : Shirring Basics and The Sun Dress

Do you ever learn a new sewing technique, and then wonder what in the world you can do with it?  I do, and I thought that it might be fun to do a mini series of sorts, applying one sewing technique to five different projects.  Shirring is a technique that I first attempted at the end of last summer.  It is a simple technique that can be applied in a number of different ways to create a number of simple projects. It involves sewing with elastic thread in your bobbin, and standard machine thread in your needle.  The elastic thread in the bobbin pulls the fabric creating a nice gathered, or smocked, look.  The more rows of shirring that you sew, the more gathered it becomes.

If you haven't ever heard of shirring, or have been afraid to attempt it you may want to reference the following links and videos.  If you have a basic understanding of it, and are interested in creating a simple sundress like the one featured, you can read my basic instructions for the dress below.

Shirring Basics 

Now there are several shirring tutorials available online, and that is how I first learned to shirr.  Rather than repeating all of the same information, I thought I'd refer you to  my favorite shirring resources for instruction.


Kathlene from Grosgrain, has several video tutorials that are extremely helpful.  She offers helpful tips on getting the elastic bobbin thread to scrunch up, and on adjusting the tension on a Brother sewing machine.   You can find her basic shirring video tutorial here, and her Brother machine shirring video  here. 


Disney, of Ruffles and Stuff, also provides a great photo tutorial on how to shirr.  You can find her technique tutorial here.

The Ruffle Strapped Sundress

When I was a little girl I had a little yellow sundress that I would have loved to wear year round.  It was shirred at the top, and always fit my thin frame perfectly.  Shirring is a great way to create a basic dress that can fit a number of different body types.  I recently made this shirred dress for my 5 year old niece.  She is extremely petite, and I knew that making a shirred dress was probably my best bet on getting a good fit, without access to her measurements.

To create the dress you will need to know two basic measurements, the width around the child's chest (though this doesn't have to be exact....thank you shirring), and the desired length of the dress.

I couldn't just take my nieces measurements, so I measured Clark, who is three years younger than her, but he happens to outweigh her by about three pounds. I figured that the discrepancy in size couldn't be too great.  Once I had a rough idea of the circumference of the chest, and an idea of the length of the dress (this should be determined by measuring just below the arm pit to the desired length, whether it be to the floor, mid calf, or to the knee).  

The basic dress is created by cutting out two rectangles that are sewn together at the side seams, with a narrow rolled hem at the top, and a  narrow hem at the bottom.  Knowing this, you can determine the exact size that your rectangles need to be.  Each piece (front and back) should be the width of the chest measurement (plus seam allowance times two), and the length of your dress measurement (plus about 1-1/2" for narrowed rolled hem, and hem).

You will cut out your two rectangles.  Sew them together at the sides and finish off raw edges.  You should have a basic tube that is 2x the circumference of the chest, the shirring will gather in the top for a proper fit.  Once your side seams are sewn, create a narrow rolled hem at the top of the dress by either using a narrow rolled hem presser foot, or by turning the fabric under 1/4" two times, pressing, and stitching down. For the bottom hem I finished off the raw edge, turned it in 1/4", stitched down, and then applied a pom pom trim around the base (the second row of stitching).

Now that your dress is hemmed and trimmed, you will want to begin shirring.  I began shirring about 1/4" from my narrow rolled hem stitching line.  You will want to make sure that you lock in your stitches when you start and stop stitching.  My shirred lines are about 1/2" apart, or the width of my presser foot. I sewed about 13 rows of shirring.  For this style of sundress, you will want to sew enough to reach  the bottom of the sternum.

I wanted to create a strap with a bit of width to it, so I decided to make a little ruffle strap.  To create the straps I cut two long pieces that were four times the desired width, and long enough to reach from the top of the sundress, over the shoulder, and to the back, plus about one inch length for attachment. I pressed the strips of fabric in half, and then folded the raw edges in toward the original pressed crease.  This creates a strap with encased raw edges.

Next create your ruffles.  You are going to want to cut your ruffles four and a half inches wide, and twice as long as your straps.  Fold your ruffle pieces in half and press.  Using a long gathering stitch, gather your ruffles along the raw edges.  Leave threads long, and adjust the ruffles to the length of the straps. I next attached the trim the edge of the ruffles, with the trim facing away from the raw edges of the ruffles.  Sandwich your ruffles between the open edge of your straps.  Pin in place.  Stitch 1/8" away from the edge of the strap, catching in the edge of the ruffle.  Topstitch along the folded edge of the strap. Your straps are now created.

To attach them to the dress I recommend trying it on your model, and positioning them so that the straps sit right in the dip of the shoulder.  Pin the straps to the front of your dress.  Stitch in place.  Try dress on again, and adjust straps so that they fit well, and won't slip off the shoulders. Stitch the straps in place in the back.  Another option is to attach them to the front, and then create a button closure for the back of the dress.  This will give you more flexibility to adjust it for growth, you can add multiple button holes for size adjustment.

Now that your sundress is finished, you can tighten up your shirring by using a steam iron, and steaming (while not pressing, just hovering) above the shirred lines.  The elastic thread will tighten, and so will your fabric.

Next, accessorize.

I know that this mini series has the potential to become a bit monotonous, but I thought that it would be a fun way to develop my shirring technique.  If you get bored, just hang in there, I'll have something new soon.

Hip For The Holidays:For the Little Lady

Today I'd like to introduce you to the project that prompted this holiday apparel series, but unfortunately she doesn't have a name.  I found this remnant piece of patterned corduroy at Joann's a few months back.  I liked the print, but it felt overly winter like to me.  I almost didn't pick it up, but I am quite pleased that I did.  I love what it became.

  The pink, gray, and white floral medallions remind me of snowflakes, and I think that they are very appropriate for the holiday season. I have a little niece that will be celebrating her second birthday in a couple of weeks. I hope that this little jumper will help her celebrate her birthday, and the Christmas season in style (without being painted red and green).   

I used Simplicity pattern 2574 for the jumper.  This is a croquis kit pattern, allowing you to design the jumper you want by selecting your own skirt, bodice,  yoke, and embellishment details. It kind of reminds me of those fashion plates that I played with as a little girl....does anyone know what I'm talking about?  They were little plastic plates with different costume elements.  You'd select a skirt, a top, and a model, and then place a piece of paper on top of the plates and create a rubbing of your fashion creation. They were fantastic, and so are these croquis kit patterns.  Sorry I got a bit side tracked.  

The pattern also comes with a shrug pattern.  They have featured shrugs in faux fur on the pattern package, but I opted for corduroy.  Faux fur could be a nice choice for a holiday outfit though.  I just wanted this dress to be versatile, and to be worn frequently.

I know that this dress is a bit on the casual side when it comes to holiday apparel, but there is a lot more that goes on during the holidays than just photo shoots, church meetings, and skirt twirling.  I think that it is nice if a little girl can feel all dolled up while she runs around. I chose to make a simple pair of knit leggings to be worn under the jumper, after all it is winter here in Idaho.

For a great tutorial on making simple knit leggings visit Dana of Made. I'll also be turning those pink leather bows into either hair clips or a head band.  I like that they will repeat the bows from the dress.

Do you have any holiday apparel or accessory projects that you want to show off?  Link them up to the Hip for the Holidays Link Party. If you think that it is about time for some adult holiday apparel, hang in there, it's coming.

I'll be linking up here.

Ruffle Bum Baby Leggings

After making tops all last week, I needed a bit of a change.  I found this lightweight knit fabric at Wal-mart.  They have five yards for five dollars.  It was one of those fabrics that I really wanted, but could hardly justify purchasing due to the fact that I had no idea what to make with it.  I gave in.  I purchase five yards of material, but luckily I found the perfect project for the fabric.  Ruffle bum leggings, now if only I could justify making little girl leggings. 

I used Rae's free baby tights pattern.  I am not certain whether or not this fabric has enough vertical stretch to it, but I figured I'd give it a try.  The ruffles are a double layer.  I probably should have extended them out to the side edge, but what's done is done.  

 I even made a pair of brown baby  leggings using the same material.  When I was dying the elastic (for the second time) for my circle skirt, I decided to throw a yard of the material into the mix.  It turned out a hot cocoa mix brown ( a lighter brown with purple undertones).  The dye that I used was RIT Dark Brown.

The leggings were really simple, and very quick to make.  I even figured out how to use some new presser feet and overcast stitches on my sewing machine.  It was quite exciting.

I'm partying here today.  Thanks for reading.

Itty Bitty Baby Dress

I don't know if it is something in the water around here, but I don't know a single pregnant woman that is having a boy.  It seems that there are lots of girls waiting to make their entrance to the world.  It is actually quite a treat for me because it gives me the opportunity to try out some new projects.  I recently purchased some Joel Dewberry fabric, it is actually decor fabric, but the moment I got it I knew that I wanted to make a baby dress out of it.  Made by Rae offers this free online pattern for an Itty Bitty Baby Dress.  The pattern is for personal use so don't go out and try selling anything that you make from the pattern.  I was surprised at how simple the pattern was.  It really didn't take much time at all to make.  Rae's pattern is for a premie to newborn baby, but you can add to the pattern to accommodate a slightly larger baby.  Small babies don't really run in our family so I am always afraid to make anything that would be too small.  

I decided that this cute little dress needed some cute little booties to accompany it.  Normally I make a 3-seam baby bootie, just because they seem like they actually stay on the baby's feet, but this time I decided to try something a bit different.  I found this pattern for kimono booties at Home Spun Threads.  I used the same Joel Dewberry fabric and some dark green cotton for the sole.   The booties turned out cute, I hope that they fit the baby's feet.  Clark seemed to have huge feet when he was born; they were puffy and wide so I don't think that they'd have been able to squeeze into these dainty little things.  When I'm sewing for others I always strive for the cute factor more so than the practical factor. Hopefully the recipient of these booties has babies with narrower feet than mine.

Like I mentioned earlier I know multiple people having baby girls.  I had to give this Itty Bitty Baby Dress another try.  I decided that the second time around I would make a few modifications.  I chose to put pleats in the dress rather than gathering the skirt (I dislike gathering...I always break a thread).  I also squared the neckline off a bit.  I like the way that the dress turned out, but I did have a more difficult time lining up the seams with the pleated skirt.  I haven't made any baby booties for this little number yet, if anyone has some suggestions of where to look let me know. My camera's battery died mid-photo shoot, so I don't have as many photos of the little aqua dress. The fabric for the aqua dress is Michael Miller.  Now I think that these little dresses need some cute little headbands to add that last little something.  That will be a project for a later post (hopefully not a failed project).

I also no several babies coming this winter...anyone know of some great projects for winter babies?

Quiet Book Pages for Girls: Flower Garden and Hair Braiding

I just recently finished a quiet book for my nieces.  It was a lot of fun to make.  I love making things for people that I love (it makes sewing velcro onto everything that much more tolerable).  It was a nice change to make things for girls rather than little boys.  I thought that I'd share a few images from the Quiet Book.

 I found a great blog with some really fantastic Quiet Book pages, Crafty Chic.  I really loved her Hair braiding page and also a little puzzle page.   I wanted to incorporate activities that could keep the attention of little girls between the ages of 1-5.  The Puzzle Page seemed like a great option.  Lyric from Crafty Chic made her page with 9 pieces, but I chose to just have 4.  When making the actual images I had to plan out where I'd be stitching and embroidering so that it would be disrupted by the cutting of the image, 4 pieces just seemed much easier to work with.  I ended up making 3 puzzles, and apple, a bird, and a sunshine.  There is a pocket on the opposite page for storing unused puzzle pieces.  As with most pieces in the quiet book I used a double layer of felt to provide more stability when handling the pieces.  I am pretty pleased with how the puzzles turned out.

The Hair Braiding Page was a little bit intimidating to me.  I simply couldn't decide what the best way would be to attach the yarn.  I didn't want the doll to suffer with alopecia.  I ended up solving the problem by cutting several long strands of yarn.  I divided the length of the yarn into three sections with the middle section being a bit longer than the length of the hairline.  I braided the middle section, tied off the braid with some small pieces of yarn, and then attached the braid by stitching directly through the braid.  It seemed like a good solution to the problem (I am sure that this is one of those things that I have seen done and was stored in my mind only to be regurgitated at the proper moment).  If you visit Lyric's page you will notice that the design of my doll is incredibly similar to hers.  I love how simple she kept the face.  She is also quite clever with her storage solutions.  She made the body of the doll into a pocket, which I did also.  Inside the pocket are several elastics and ribbons for the dolls hair. (The cute Riley Blake fabric for the pocket was also used on the inner cover and crayon caddy, super cute!)

The Flower Garden Page is everywhere and in no way an original idea, but I still really like it.  You might notice that my small pink flower has three layers of fabric.  I did not sew all three layers of fabric together, in fact the bottom layer of fabric is stitched to the page, and the top two are stitched together.  Three layers of fabric is just too much for small fingers to handle when learning to button.

I also girled  up the tic-tac-toe board (no image).  I made flowers and butterflies for the pieces.  It turned out quite cute.

For the Name page I had to make more letters than I was used to. This book is primarily for my niece Ava, but her two older sisters will surely use it as well.  I made enough letters to spell each of their names (luckily they have some common letters which saved me some time).

If you are interested in seeing additional Quiet Book Page ideas be sure to check out the links on the right of my blog.