I looked at my girls on the doll shelf today and told them I’d pick the girl who smiled the biggest… Well, Patsy won. There was no need to even ask you who you wanted me to sew for next…she won, hands down! She even helped me pick out the fabric. I had just a little bit left of this fabric that I’ve used before, but it’s the one she wanted.
The dark navy with olive green and purple is a different color combination, but it’s very pretty together. I might have to show it on Trixie when I’m done with it, because I held it up to her and it looked wonderful next to her dark skin.
I got the basic part of the dress done, but I still have plenty to do before I can call this finished.
I’ve laid out what I plan to do with it and then sat the white wool felt jacket cut out on Patsy’s shoulders, along with the felt flowers I think I’ll be using.
When I first started making this, I noticed something with the white lining on the bodice of the dress and thought I’d pass along a tip I do when this happens.
Do you ever make something with a white lining and when it’s turned, you see a faint sliver of the white lining along the neckline edge?
It’s not my favorite thing, so this is what I do to make it go away.
I turn it to the inside and take tiny whip stitches just catching the lining, not the bodice fabric, and make a little channel going right over the shoulders like this. (If you need to, you can slide an emery board or anything flat and narrow in the lining to keep you from catching the bodice fabric.)
I pulls the lining fabric in just enough to keep it from showing on the very edges of the neckline and armhole edges. Press it from the top side when you are done and it will pull the lining to the inside leaving your edges “white-less!”
Just thought I’d pass along that sewing tip. That will be my Tuesday Tip for Today!
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
I love that color combination, Jeanne! It’s one of my favorites all time! That will be a darling outfit once you get the jacket put together for Patsy to go for a Sunday walk, maybe with a little dog? Will she have a bow for her hair?
What a great tip you have for the material of the lining showing in the front. Yes, I have had that happen too. It’s the details like this that put you in the top tier of seamstresses!
We are going to the Mo. Botanical Gardens today while this beautiful weather lasts. have fun sewing!
Thanks Linda,
I’ll have to start thinking like you are, of what she’ll be doing in this listing. I do like the fabric much too!
It’s a pretty simple fix to a problem that bugs me…
I hope you have fun at the Gardens today… it’s pretty nice out…a little warm but a pretty day, nonetheless…
Thanks Linda,
Blessings, Jeanne
I can’t believe how much you’ve managed to get done on a new outfit already, and I’m looking forward to seeing how this looks on Trixie as well. Your fabric is perfect for this time of year and would work equally well for spring, so the buyer will get a nice two-for-one outfit. I’d love to see what you’ve used that fabric for before and I love the way that tulip is centered at the front of Patsy’s new dress. As Linda points out, it’s so often the details that make your work special.
The weather has been wonderful here too. Since Boulder doesn’t have a botanical gardens, which would be the best choice for a day like the ones we are having, I’ll just mow the lawn, but on a day like this, it will be a pleasure.
Hi Marilyn,
It should be this way… the smaller the doll, the faster her dress comes together. Sometimes it’s that way and sometimes not. So far, this one has been pretty quick to put together. We’ll see about the next parts…
Maybe I’ll look up the dress on my other dolls and show you tomorrow…
Oh dear, mowing the lawn doesn’t sound nearly as much fun as going to the Botanical Gardens like Linda is… but I guess you have to do what you have to do…
Thanks Marilyn,
Blessings, Jeanne
Pretty transitional fabric, a nice tip about the white lining:)
Do you cut out yout own felt flowers and leaves?
Thank you Shara,
I think the white lining tip is a pretty easy one that most everyone can use…
No, I don’t cut out my felt flowers and leaves, although I have before… when I needed a certain flower or a leaf shape. I generally find them on Etsy…just type in die-cut felt flowers or leaves. Lots of listings will come up. You can type in Wool felt die cut flowers and leaves too.
Thanks Shara,
Blessings, Jeanne
Love the dress/ensemble and love the tip on Tuesday! Thank you, Jeanne, for another very pleasing “episode” in the Dressmaker’s Shop.
Blessings.
Thank you Becky,
Thanks for your comments from The Dressmaker’s Shop! I love to be called that…
Blessings, Jeanne
Love that blue and green fabric. Perfect on little one. Great tip on lining too. Agree with Marilyn it’s a two season dress. Always appreciated.
HI Joy,
It’s always nice to know everyone liked what I chose, without their opinion… I’m glad you enjoyed today’s post.
Blessings, Jeanne
Love the dress so far. Here’s a little thing I do to keep that lining from showing–cut the lining a scant smaller at neckline and armscye. It makes for a good little roll of the fabric and a neat lining. Your way it great, just sharing my way!
Hi Ann,
Yes, your way is another way to “hide” the lining… I’m sure there are even other ways too… Thanks for telling us about your way of doing it. I’m glad you like the dress so far. Hope you like the finished look as well.
Thanks Ann,
Blessings, Jeanne
A darling dress in the making, Jeanne! I love the color combination for fall, and the lace will look lovely on the full skirt. Is it vintage? I think you may have a bit of a dilemma, though. The green leaves pull out the color of Patsy’s pretty eyes, but the purple will compliment Trixie’s skin tone very nicely. Perhaps they will vie for the modeling rights, or maybe they will share them? I just hope my girls don’t catch sight of this one! 😉 Tuesday’s Tip was terrific, too. It might be nice if you made a separate category for all your sewing tips and tutorials. You could call it “Seamstress Savvy!” Looking forward to the finishing details on this sweet dress, Jeanne.
Thank you Anne,
Yes, the lace on Patsy’s dress is vintage. It happened to be lightweight, and just the right color so I used it.
I’ve made a change from what I showed last night…you’ll see it tomorrow.
I need to do more sewing tips…thanks for the nudge…
Blessings. Jeanne
Thanks for the tip, Jeanne–I wouldn’t have thought to do that! I’m more likely to do what Ann Gray suggested, cut the lining a tad smaller at the neck/armholes.
Ordinarily, for a “people dress”, I’d use a lining that matched the background of the print, but with dolls, I prefer to use white or off-white, to help protect the vinyl “skin” from possible dye transfer. I often like to use a white-on-white or white-on-cream/natural print for the lining (and I seem to remember you doing the same thing). I think it makes a sort of “blah” part a little more interesting!
Hi Charlotte,
I just saw your comment…I’ve done it Anne’s way but it can get a little tricky pulling that shoulder seam over on a small dress like Patsy’s or tiny Ten Ping’s. I’ll stick with my way.
I do the same as you on people clothes…match the lining to the fabric…but I do use white on the dolls for the reasons you mention. I do try to find some pretty whites to use instead of just plain ole white.
Thanks Charlotte. I guess you survived the judging?
Blessings, Jeanne