I was so relieved to get Molly’s dress finished and listed on Ebay Tuesday evening. I’m trying my best to get caught up on my sewing since I got a little behind with my foot injury. I’ve got 2 dresses that I can check off my Christmas list… Patsy and now Molly! Nyssa, my Kaye Wiggs, ball jointed doll, is up next and I’ve been trying to think of what I want to make for her Christmas dress… so far, I haven’t got a clue! I’ll have to get her out and stand her on my cutting table, hold a few fabrics up to her and see what makes my heart skip a beat…
I made a sweet tulle slip to go under Molly’s dress and it really makes it stand out nicely.
[Click on any picture and it will enlarge.]
There were several ways I could have gone with her head “accessory…” a hat, a headband, just ribbons, a bow… but in the end I went with a sweet little beret made from the same fabric as in her jumper.
I found a pair of brand new black shiny slip on shoes in my shoe drawer and added a red rosette to each one. I looked in my 1946 Sears catalog at shoes and socks, and there wasn’t anything quite this fancy in there, but I decided to just Go For It and give her something really sweet. The socks that were most common were just plain cotton bobby socks so I decided against the tights and made Molly a new pair of anklets.
When I found the little Molly Ornament in my stash of Christmas goodies, I knew it would work well with this dress set. I just had to come up with my Story line to use it.
I hope you’ll check out the listing on Ebay… (HERE) and see all the pictures of it.
Patsy’s “Snow Princess” dress set ended this evening on Ebay and some little Patsy in Ohio was squealing with delight…or so I was told! Did anyone hear her squeals? I was also told she wouldn’t stop doing the Happy Dolly Dance! That makes me smile!
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
Oh how cute everything turned out, Jeanne! Molly looks like a real little Scottish girl, which I think she must be, since McIntyre is her last name! Love what you did for the tam! I remember wearing those when small, kind of hard to keep on your head, but nevertheless, we wore them! The slip does wonders in helping the dress stand out and I love the little shoes and socks! Everything is so perfect, and to think you actually had a Christmas ornament with her name on it? Unbelievable!
HI Linda,
Thank you very much for all your sweet comments about Molly’s Christmas dress! I love it too and it’s always fun for me when it turns out like I had in mind in my head. I love this red metallic plaid…and need to try and remember where I got it. I’m almost out and it is a wonderful fabric to sew. It’s not slick like a taffeta, but it’s more like a fancy homespun only metallic.
Yes, I have lots of little Christmas goodies in my box and who knows what else I’ll find in there!
Thank you so much Linda,
Blessings, Jeanne
This Christmas dress for Molly is absolutely cute, cute, cute !! I love everything about it. I see that you made a wider gold sash for her waistline. Very nice. The Christmas ornament with Molly’s name is just the sweetest finishing touch.
I’ve already marked this one to watch on eBay so I just might be the one to win this wonderful Christmas dress for my Molly!!!!!
HI Jeannie,
I’m glad you like Molly’s dress…even to the point of maybe bidding on it… I’ll be watching at the end! Molly likes it, I like it, you like it… I’m happy!!!
Thank you Jeannie,
Blessings, Jeanne
I’m so glad you post right along when working on a dress and then we see the end result which is always so perfect and professional. It’s nice to see the creative process at work. The whole presentation is perfect. Thanks again for your wonderful Blog. I look forward to it every morning.
Now a question: Do you make your own patterns for all of the Ten Ping outfits? I’ve noticed you eliminated seams at the shoulders on the tunic and inset the sleeves before sewing up the side seam. No other way as it is so small !!! I’m still reluctant to tackle the tiny, tiny project. Thanks for sharing.
HI Susette,
It’s nice that you enjoy the process of me working on a dress. Some ladies churn out their dresses at least one a day, sometimes two! I don’t have that much time to devote to my sewing where I can get that much accomplished in a day, so I have to spread my creations out over a day or two…that’s why you get to see it in the “works” and then “completed” and listed. I’m glad you enjoy the journey along with me…
I have drafted a few of the patterns for Ten Ping and I’ve also used a dress pattern from a book called “Fashions for Small Dolls” where the sleeves are inset almost like a princess line on the bodice. It makes it much easier to do the sleeves this way. I have done them where the sleeves are set in like the regular way, but it’s pretty tiny to work in that space… it’s only about 1 1/2″ long at the most for the sleeve cap… plus you’re doing about an 1/8″ seam as well. I’m still tweaking to get things just right for her…
Thanks for asking Susette,
Blessings, Jeanne
Molly’s Christmas dress is so adorable. I love the way you put everything together just right at the end. In fact, I have a very similar plaid as the skirt to make up this week — I don’t think it has as much shine though. Nothing says Christmas like a tartan plaid.
Thanks for your generosity for showing your steps in making a dress on this blog. You’re the best!!
Oh, and the little Christmas ornament is the icing on the cake.
Thank you Anna,
I’m glad you like Molly’s Christmas dress. She does too! I just mentioned in a post above that I have to find out where I got that red metallic plaid from… I really like it and would like to get more. Yes, you’re right, nothing says Christmas quite like a tartan plaid!
If I didn’t show the dress partially done, I’d be missing some posts as some days all I get done is the “partial” parts…
I found those little ornaments at a hardware store here in town a few years ago…
Thanks so much Anna,
Blessings, Jeanne
Two outfits? What about Elizabeth’s beautiful blue dress? What could be prettier for the holidays than that?
Molly’s darling dress is a wonderful contrast — completely cute instead of stunningly beautiful. The gold bow on the tam was just what was needed.
We’re having our first snow here in Colorado. I wonder if Nyssa should be a caroler in beautiful snowy white, or maybe in forest green trimmed with the fur you used for Patsy? You once made her a plaid dress that I thought was worthy of Dior. Do you have those pictures?
How did your latest foot experiment go? You seem to be improving every day. It seems slow to you, but it seems to be that you are doing extremely well. Stay well.
HI Marilyn,
I guess the BlueBell Regency dress could be considered a Christmas dress, but I said it wasn’t and that Elizabeth would be modeling a Christmas Regency dress so I’ll just “HAVE” to make another one… too bad! :o)
Thanks for your comments on Molly’s dress…you’re right…it’s cute instead of stunning! I like that!
SNOW??? Oh I’m glad it’s you and not me… I’m not ready for winter yet…
Nyssa would make a good caroler… hmmm… and I searched through my Nyssa pictures and can’t find anything in a plaid dress for her that was sort of stylish like Dior… I made a red dress with a black and white leopard print jacket…? or a white tiered lacy skirt that had a black velvet camisole…?
As far as the foot goes… I’m just trying to walk very slowly and deliberately and making sure I don’t twist my foot… It is somewhat better…except when I twist it accidentally… then I wince…I still can’t put any pressure on it, so I know I still can’t drive… and I haven’t made it around the yard with Reuben or to get the mail.. I’ve been out 3 times in 2 weeks… Tonight my Blogging class is supposed to meet, but I haven’t heard back from the instructor about where and when yet… she said she’d email me. George said he’d take me…
Thanks Marilyn,
Blessings, Jeanne
Your work, and you are so uplifting and inspiring. Thank you, thank you!
HI Kathleen,
Thank you very much for your sweet words to me… I appreciate them and you being a subscriber to my blog. I hope you are having fun…
Blessings, Jeanne
Molly looks perfect with a Scottish beret to honor her heritage.. The touches of gold really make it festive. I have Scottish in my heritage as well and had a Madame Alexander doll as a child who came in a red plaid dress with a red jacket and beret.
I agree that having a Christmas ornament with her name on it is amazing. I am enjoying what will be the constant stream of Christmas dresses to see.
Thank you Laura,
Molly does look pretty Scottish doesn’t she? I love red plaids and I think Molly wears this plaid especially well! I think she’s such a pretty Molly doll! I’m so glad I bought her again…:o)
You’d be amazed at what I have in my Christmas stash… actually in my “whole” sewing stash… I have a little bit of everything… :o)
It’s kind of nice having a plan of what doll comes next…it keeps me thinking ahead of time what doll is coming up and what am I going to make her…
Thanks Laura,
Blessings, Jeanne
Now the outfit looks exactly like the ones purchased in Scotland for our daughters from their grandmother so many years ago. Love the tam/beret and the little socks. Like the socks better than tights for this one.
So nice to have the little slip too. It really makes the skirt stand out nicely.
Thank you Joy,
I appreciate your sweet comments about Molly’s new Christmas dress. What a sweet memory for this dress to remind you of dresses bought long ago for your children. :o)
I’m glad you liked all the details on her dress..all the way down to her bobby socks!
Thanks so much, Joy,
Blessings, Jeanne
Hi Jeanne ! I’ve been out of town visiting my sisters and then also had computer problems but our computer guy got it taken care of. The typing has been stalling though, like now. I’ve caught up with all your latest blogs.
All of your Christmas dresses are beautiful. I especially love Molly’s plaid dress. Remember the custom doll I got? I have Scottish heritage and this new doll,Trisha Sutterfield, does too. She would look lovely in Molly’s dress and accessories.
Hope your foot feels better each day. That has to be such an aggravation.
Blessings!
HI Paula,
I hope you had as lovely of a visit with your sisters as I did with mine a while back. I’m also glad your tech guy got your computer fixed… nothing is as aggravating as a computer that won’t work right!
Thanks for your sweet compliments on Molly’s dress and maybe I’ll see “you” at the end on this one too! :o)
My foot definitely is an aggravation…but I’m still able to move around somewhat…just not like I would like to be, but I probably needed to slow down… Hey, this way, I haven’t been able to spend ANY money at the fabric stores or the grocery stores…which is a good thing! George just brings home what he likes and I make do with what we have… (I do give him a list occasionally.)
Thanks so much Paula,
Blessings, Jeanne
Ohhh…loved Molly’s story. And the pictures of Patsy by the tree were so cute!!
HI again Paula,
I showed Rebecca my Molly dress this morning and she wanted to know if I took pictures beside a miniature Christmas tree. I told her I didn’t have one that size for the 18″ AG dolls… she said she could probably find one for me at the Goodwill… let’s hope she looks and finds one!
Thanks Paula,
Blessings, Jeanne
The beret/tam is just the right touch to complete the outfit. I think our rain last night muffled the sound of Patsy shouting with glee when she saw the outfit coming to her. Your broken foot does tell you it is OK to slow down and rest every once in awhile. Right! You don’t need to be super woman every day. A sunday off from the blog would be a good prescription for a doctor to write. Visiting each day is a highlight for all your readers and you would be missed but refueling for you and resting a little bit is necessary for most of us.
HI Jan,
I had to laugh at the winner telling me about her Patsy squealing when she was told the dress was hers! Someone else who does “dolly talk” just like me!
It’s going to take more than an injured foot to keep me from writing a post each day. I’ve just sort of gotten used to it and it would feel really strange to not write on. So as long as I’m able and have 2 hands and 10 fingers, I’ll keep writing… I’m glad you are enjoying the posts though!
Thanks so much,
Blessings, Jeanne
The dress looks great on Molly. I love everything about it! I often buy the Christmas fabric when it is on sale, and have tried to find a red and green plaid that would work for my dolls. Unfortunately, it has been difficult to find a plaid that is small enough. I’ll have to keep looking because yours is really cute.
Thanks so much Carolyn,
I”m glad you like Molly’s dress and especially the plaid I used. I wish I could remember where I got this one too… I’ve racked my brain and can’t think of where it came from. I agree with you, small plaids are hard to find…
Thanks very much for your sweet comments…
Blessings, Jeanne
Yes, the Tam that Joy suggested is just the right touch for her outfit! It’s really so coordinated and perfect. The plaid colors are so deep and photograph so well!
Glad your foot is getting better too!
HI Kathie,
It’s nice when you make something and everything turns out just as you had hoped, isn’t it? I’m thinking your dolls hair that you sent me a picture of, looked nice… Was that Lanie? I’m going to try the Comet on Kit’s leg and maybe her chin tomorrow… I ran out of time today and didn’t get to it… I hope it works.
Thanks so much for your sweet words…
Blessings, Jeanne