Well, all I can say is I tried; really I did, but there weren’t enough hours in the day…(at least sewing hours), for me to get Kirsten’s dress finished. I know you all have anxiously been waiting to see what my first dress of the year was going to look like, so I’ve pieced it together by laying the pieces where they should “probably” go and hope you can envision it… I think I’m about halfway finished with it, but it’s all the little details that take up time…sewing on snaps, adding trims, etc.
So here are a couple of shots of what I accomplished today…
[If you click on the pictures they will enlarge.]
Instead of making the dirndl all one piece, I decided it would be more fun to have separate pieces, so the skirt and blouse are separate. It’s nice to have a dressy white blouse to use in different ways.
The sleeve on the right is a bit droopy so I’ll fix that…
Instead of just using a pattern I already had…I HAD to try and get creative, thinking this dirndl needed a scalloped edge for the bodice… I hope it works. I’ve just laid it on the bodice…(crooked I might add too…)
Are you following what I’m trying to achieve?
This is what I’m hoping for…
…and a quick peek with the straps laid across the shoulders…
Okay, do you have how it will look in your mind? I hope you’re liking it… in person, it’s looking very sweet on Kirsten… She’s telling me she wants her braids let out…we’ll see about that!
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
That will be beautiful, Jeanne! I love the way the soft colors blend, yet stand out from each other. Oh yes, TIME, non-creative people just don’t get it. You need time to think, try out, imagine, do over, etc., and while it all works out in the end, it does tike a good chunk out of your day.
I love the blouse material, so delicate and lacey, the flowered skirt and dirndl, and oh, the sweet checked ribbon criss-crossing in the front! I can’t wait to see what you do with her hair, and maybe some sort of flowered wreath-thingy with ribbons, or is that too springlike?
HI Linda,
I like these soft blue and olive green colors on Kirsten too… I hope in the end she’s just as lovely as she is with it halfway finished….
Time…that is sometimes my biggest enemy… like today… I haven’t even made it to my sewing room yet today and it’s already 3:00…
Ooooo…I like your idea of the “flowered wreath-thingy” to quote you!
Blessings, Jeanne
Going to be beautiful. Love the way you have put this all together. Great job going on. You have a great eye for matching different fabric colors together.
Thank you Sylvia,
I hope it looks beautiful in the end when it’s all done… as it does now… Kirsten is looking awfully sweet on my cutting table… just waiting for me to finish it!
I appreciate your kind words…
Blessings, Jeanne
Great idea for a separate skirt/blouse. However do you get your growth pleats so straight? The ones I’ve tried never seem to go smoothly for me. I love them as they add so much detail. Can’t wait to see the finished bodice and what you plan for Kirsten’s hair.
HI Joy,
I just made a note to maybe do a tutorial on how to do “straight”, as you call them, growth pleats… it’s very simple…
I need to get crackin’ on her dress and see how much I can get done on it…
Thanks so much Joy,
Blessings, Jeanne
This one looks both very like Kristen and unlike any of the Kirsten outfits that I’ve seen you create — lots of new touches, beginning with the blouse. I do like the new blouse neckline, and Linda is right about the blouse fabric, just as Sylvia is about the way the fabrics are coming together. I always like the traditional caps you make for Kirsten, but a flower and ribbon wreath for mid-winter and the coming of spring is a very nice idea. You could do both and use the wreath as the accessory you like to include, though of course you may have something else already in mind.
I just noticed the lace trim on the sleeves. You are right about the detail, and I always think that’s one of your strong points.
Joy’s question about the growth pleat is a great idea for a tutorial.
I’m really looking forward to tomorrow’s pictures. Have you considered French braids for Kirsten? You do lovely French braids.
HI Marilyn,
I think this set is going to be a new favorite of mine for Kirsten…and I don’t exactly know why… I just like it so far… thank you for all the compliments Marilyn!
I haven’t decided yet about her hair “accessory” yet… a hat, a wreath, a cap, who knows…
I just made a note about the growth tucks as a tutorial…
I was thinking of a big thick french braid but then she said she wanted her hair down…so I guess we’ll see….
Blessings, Jeanne
I’m always amazed by the combinations of fabrics and how they come together in the details. It is so helpful to know that redoing something is part of the process and not a failure. Hopefully it’s a “look out for that next time” experience and gives me hope.
Thanks, Jeanne, for posting pictures as now I take ones of my work in progress. Thanks for asking as I’m working on quite a complicated project right now, but I can sit at the dining room (sewing) table and watch the rain. I don’t know who reads the posts and what I’m working on is a surprise, so no details. The song is certainly true: “It Never Rains in California.” I’ve battened down the hatches as well as I can and . . . “but, oh, baby, it pours,” has just arrived. Better get sewing.
Thank you Susette,
I think I like Kirsten best for combining fabrics for her dresses. Something about pulling fabrics out of my stash and seeing which ones work best is so much fun for me… and sometimes I have a hard time deciding which of all the fabrics work best…
I hope the rain helps you sew faster…. I like rainy days for sewing… :o)
Thanks so much Susette…
Blessings, Jeanne
I agree with everyone above about the beautiful soft colored materials and the way you are putting them all together. It will really look perfect on Kirsten (or any AMG doll), especially with her blonde hair and blue eyes. Your detail is going to be amazing as you’ve shown in the sample.
I can’t wait to see the outfit done.
Thank Heaven the rain in falling in California.
Blessings!
HI Paula,
I’m glad you like the colors and the way I’m pulling Kirsten’s dress together… I had to move Kirsten off my cutting table for something Rebecca was doing and I had her some brighter light and her eyes were just sparking… she’s so pretty!!! I love her and am so glad she’s back in my collection again…
I’m glad you’re getting rain… you must be close to Susette!
Blessings, Jeanne
Jeanne,
I’m totally amazed at your giftedness in putting together outfits. I think this is a totally beautiful outfit already…can’t wait to see the finished product.
Thank you Becky,
It’s nice to know that Kirsten’s dress is liked even before it’s totally finished! I’ll do my best to get it done ASAP!
Blessings, Jeanne
Yes, I do like it! I am late checking in to see what you have been up to today.
Jan M
HI Jan,
Thank you very much for your kind comments about Kirsten’s dress. So far I’ve only received positive compliments on it, so it must be right for now…
Blessings, Jeanne
Amazing and I just love where you have gone with this I love the lace and ribbon and can’t wait to see how you bring it all together…Lynne
HI Lynne,
Thank you very much for your compliments on Kirsten’s half finished dress. I just finished the vest part of it…and it’s looking good…. now on to the other things of it…
Thanks for watching…
Blessings, Jeanne
It’s 2 am my time on Wednesday, 2/6, and there’s no new blog entry. Where are you, Jeanne? I picture you finishing the photos of Kirsten’s new dress, but at the same time, I’m hoping that the flu hasn’t managed to get you. Stay well and we’ll see you in the morning, I hope.