Just a quick note: I got the last 3 comments answered on yesterday’s post, but it was after midnight…
…and don’t forget…Kirsten’s Mid Winter dirndl ends this evening on EBay!
I was hoping I could have gotten more done on Josefina’s dress set today, but I ran into a few snags… I wanted to see how the red snakeskin vest was going to look, so I made it first. After 2 attempts, I had it big enough in the armholes to slide over a blouse. It’s just a “barebones” vest for right now… Then I started out thinking a pretty peasant blouse would be nice under the vest. I used a very lightweight red and white gingham and made sure it was decorated with some machine embroidery on the front.
I had it all done except for the hem so I put in on Josefina and tried on the vest with it. It didn’t look right to me. The casing where the elastic runs through the neck, made it sort of stand up on her shoulders so when the vest was added, it was even higher and was raised up about 1/4″ at least.
I’m not sure if it would work, so I began another blouse…one with flat shoulder seams, short puffy sleeves and lined, so I could add the embroidery going around the neck opening.
Here’s that blouse…
Next I turned to the skirt. Well, my intentions were to cut a narrow waistband out of the fabric, since I only had one fat quarter of this fabric. I forgot…folded the fabric in half, and cut it up the middle. Then I hemmed it, made my growth tuck, gathered it up and then realized…DUH…where’s your waistband? So I improvised…with the green fabric.
I’m not done, but I should have cut the waistband on the bias, so it would hug the dolls waist better. I may end up taking it off and cutting it on the bias and also a bit narrower…it seems too wide. Again, I’m not done, but here’s what I got accomplished in my day…
I think maybe the vest needs to be shortened just a little bit too. It sits too far down on the gathers of her skirt…something more like this…
There’s still plenty to do, but for now, it’s past midnight, and I’m heading to bed…
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
I love it Jeanne! The colors pop on Josefina, and I can see where your expert eyes guide you to what works and what doesn’t! If that waistband was a mistake, well, it was a good mistake! I think the green fabric looks great with the skirt! What were you planning to do with the green fabric anyway? I think the vest looks fine as it is, but since you are the expert, I think you will do the right thing.
Will there be a hair accessory or ribbon? I can’t to see the finished outfit!
HI Linda,
Thanks for your thoughts… in person the colors REALLY pop! I love this fabric and wish I could have found another fat quarter like it…
I was going to make a belt out of the green and I guess I still could…
I’ll have to check it out in today’s light to see how I feel about it all…
Yes, there will be something for her hair…I don’t know what just yet, but something…
Thanks so much,
Blessings, Jeanne
I think that it is beautiful. You sure do have an eye for matching things up. I love seeing
the changes that you make and why you do it. It is going to be a beautiful outfit. Can’t wait to see the finished outfit.
Thank you Sylvia,
You should have said, “I like seeing how you “cover up” your mistakes and how you make them work.” That’s all it is… one mistake turns into a problem to be solved…
Thanks Sylvia,
Blessings, Jeanne
The skirt fabric is beautiful. Like Linda, I’m wondering what you were planning to do with the green fabric. I especially like the embroidery on the blouse. Your beautiful rescued Josefina looks content and serene in this outfit.
I hope you slept well.
HI Marilyn,
I love this fabric too. It’s a Robert Kaufman print but I’ve had it for a little while, so it may be OOP by now..
I was going to make the green fabric into a sash/belt for the set…and I guess I still could.
I’m very pleased with how this Josefina doll photographs… much better than my first one!
I slept fine… thanks..
Blessings, Jeanne
I was standing in line at Joann’s and saw a container with little dots in it and didn’t have time to read the package to find out what they were for. Were they maybe the little black spots outlining the new arc of the vest hem? Good calls on the vest and sleeves. Maybe she could use a belt of the medium-brown Ultrasuede that you used for a belt that was cinched through a round closure for Saige, I believe, or was it Josefina, late last year.
That fabulous red material would sure make great accessories like purses or a satchel, mod beret or any number of things. I will broaden my search for materials to use for sure. Sharing your process is my favorite part of your Blog, especially when I’m redoing things myself. The boots which were so cute will be easier since you have the pattern from last time.
HI Susette,
My little dots are actually asterisk’s made from Picasa…my photo editor. Those little dots may have been things for making pattern notches… (?)
I haven’t checked out my Ultrasuede scraps yet, but I should to see if anything goes with this set… a suede belt would be nice..
The red fabric is much nicer in person than it looks in my pictures. It looks sort of plastic-y but it’s not…it’s actually a stretch denim with the design on the top side. It doesn’t ravel so it’s pretty neat to sew…
A purse out of it would be a great addition to lots of my dolls… thanks for the heads up!
Thanks again Susette,
Blessings, Jeanne
I actually really like the first blouse. Perhaps, it might look good with another skirt later on. Or put it on one of your dolls in waiting with some left over fabric as a skirt. I think they would appreciate it. The new blouse does look nice with the vest. I’m not keen on the vest fabric, but I know it will look great when the outfit is complete.
HI Joy,
Since I have no other plans for the blouse, I may just include it and call it a mix and match set… let the buyer do with it what they want.
I hope you’ll like it when I’m all done…
Thanks Joy,
Blessings, Jeanne
Jeanne, I really do like how the outfit is coming along. The embroidery on the blouse is just the right touch to the small checks. Adding the festive print for the skirt is totally in keeping with traditional New Mexican dress. I see this type of clothing being offered when I travel to Albuquerque to see my daughter & grands.
Have a bright day!!
Thank you Jeannie,
I was hoping to get it right..and I’m working on it right now… adding all the final touches to it! The outfits for Josefina are almost as much fun as putting together a dirndl for Kirsten…lots of choices of colors and pieces…
Thanks so much,
Blessings, Jeanne
I would be so glad anything I made looked as good as what you replaced…I like vest shorter too. The skirt fabric is perfect. I like the waistband but the other suggestions are interesting too.
Which one of your machines makes that cute embroidery stitch? I have that stitch on the edge of a ruffle. It was a class for a LD dress…white on white and it is so pretty. I’ll send a pic to your reg email.
HI Kathie,
Thanks so much for your compliments on Josefina’s dress set. I’m working like crazy trying to get it finished…
My Baby Lock Esante Ese2 is the machine that does the embroidery… I love this particular decorative stitch and probably use it more than any other.
I’ll look for your picture…
Thanks Kathie,
Blessings, Jeanne
Hi Jeanne, I always enjoy reading your blog, seeing how your design process works, the trial and error, etc.
Two comments: 1–I also like that first blouse, but I think it would be really cute with a circle skirt in white with maybe a little gingham trim (for instance a narrow bias strip about 3/4″ above the hemline), and then a white petticoat. It would work perfectly for your 1950s girl, as I wore that kind of outfit during that period. On the other hand, in the late 1970s, square dancing was starting to become popular again, and it would make a great square dance outfit, if you add some ruffled pettipants underneath the petticoat! Don’t forget a wide cinch belt (colored elastic belting with some sort of buckle), which would work for either the 1950s (yes, I had a cinch belt, too!) or the square dancing outfit.
2–I’m not convinced about the green waistband on the skirt; I think either one of the deep tones from the skirt print or some of the red denim would be better. I’m probably in the minority here, but to me, at least in the photos I’ve seen, that green print just kind of glares out at me. JMHO, ya know….
Charlotte
HI Charlotte,
It’s always fun for me to see how other ladies think about things like I do….or differently too.
I’ve used that peasant blouse pattern for just about every Josefina blouse I’ve ever made..which is quite a few. It’s a very versatile pattern and like you said, it would easily make a neat 50’s blouse and the skirt you describe would be great with it.
As far as that green waistband… sorry it wasn’t your cup of tea. I did make it smaller in width and “sorry to say, but it’s listed on Ebay now” so we’ll see if I got it right or if you did!
Thanks for your thoughts Charlotte,
Blessings, Jeanne