A few days ago I showed you Janie’s new leopard fur coat and unlike the directions on the pattern, I chose to make mine unlined to see how it fit first. Well… after much deliberating… because it is stitched together and serged with black thread, today I decided to add a super lightweight lining to the coat. (I certainly didn’t want another doll to get stained from the black thread) I chose a fabric that is much like a batiste so there is hardly any extra weight or bulkiness to it. It still fits the dolls the same way and probably slides on a little easier.
I just cut out the same pattern pieces as the coat… stitched it together, pressing it as I went and then turned the coat wrong side out and stitched it all in by hand.
Just using tiny whip stitches, and turning the edges under slightly, it went in very smoothly. I tacked it at the underarms and on top of the shoulders to hold it in place and keep the sleeves from pulling out.
I decided to leave the hem loose, so it’s just serged at the bottom, but tacked at the side seams. Sometimes the lining can make your coat feel a bit too tight looking and sort of cups up at the bottom edge.
I snapped a few pictures of Janie, still in her “fluffy” wig from last night, but I wanted to show you that the coat still fits the same way…
See, linings aren’t so scary…
See you Monday,
Blessings, Jeanne
You did a wonderful job with the lining, Jeanne. I think it should make this an even more special coat for that special doll and owner. I appreciate your thoroughness in your work. Going these extra “miles” makes your work so special.
Blessings.
Thank you Becky,
Lining the coat was the right thing to do…it assures no “mishaps” for the winners doll!
Blessings, Jeanne
Thanks for showing your steps with the lining. You’re right – I do find linings a little intimidating. You make it seem less scary. Thanks!
Hope you have a good day.
Take care.
Hi Charlotte,
Now that I’ve done this coat with and without a lining, I’m ready to attempt another one…
Thanks so much,
Blessings, Jeanne
Fantastic! You did the right thing — you always do. This is great. Buying something wonderful and having it discolor the doll would be such a sad thing. This will completely prevent that. This coat is the sort of thing an owner might very well want to display for a whole season. She needs to be able to do that without risks, and you made the coat risk-free. Besides, your demonstration was so helpful and non-threatening that it was encouraging to all of us. And then there was the added bonus of seeing the hat with a new hairstyle — it’s just as charming. I hope it’s not too late to change your Ebay auction so that you can show the lining and both hairstyles.
Yay for another great blog entry.
Hi Marilyn,
I’m glad you enjoyed my semi demonstration on lining the coat. Now I can sell it without any reservations or fears of wondering about the black thread…
Thanks so much,
Blessings, Jeanne
Great idea on the lining. Does not look bulky either. Good job.
Hope it warms up a bit for you this weekend. Sounds like the ice you received would be a perfect slip factor. No sliding around on it please. I was thinking how nice it is for your mother to be inside and not have to venture out for anything in particular. Meals and activities down the hall are wonderful. Must be a lot less frightening for you too.
Hi Joy,
The lining really is lightweight but so much safer on the dolls. I’m glad I did it…
Monday is supposed to be our cold day…a span in the temps of 2 degrees to a high of 13! Yikes.
I am very thsnkful my mom is in a safe warm place…she asked me yesterday where she used to live… she didn’t even remember…
Thank you, Joy,
Blessings, Jeanne
Your lining is amazing !!!! Your sewing is always perfect … I can’t imagine making a small doll coat much less a lining for it. Your stitches are always so nice and neat. The close up of the end of the sleeve…my goodness. All of your work is nice and neat. I doubt at this age I would ever start learning to sew but you sure make it look fun and easy.
This little coat is so adorable.
Hi Paula,
Thanks for your compliments…even my little whip stitches thank you!!
You know, it’s never to late to learn how to see… a friend from church is wanting me to teach her some basics…:o)
Thanks Paula,
Blessings, Jeanne
Good addition, Jeanne:) one cannot be too careful with dark fabrics & threads!
I’m in the midst of trying to Oxy10 remove stains from black fishnet hose from a MA Cissy:(
Hi Shara,
I hope you get your stains out…it’s awful when that happens, isn’t it?
Thanks for sharing,
Blessings, Jeanne
Great addition. It will take away all the worry factor for you and the new owner.
Such a sophisticated look for her and I wish there was an adult size for this latest cold snap.
Must be off to clean some well-loved dollies!
Enjoy your weekend
Hi Kathie,
I wish I had a furry corduroy coat on right. My hubby and I have been shoveling off the parking lots at church and the wind chill factor is 14 degrees. We just finished and I think I have talked my hubby into a bowl of Wendy’s chili!!
Thanks for your kind comments!
Blessings, Jeanne
What a perfectly wonderful way to line the coat, and to have added protection to the dolls, Jeanne! You are the most conscientious seamstress I have ever known! You made it look so easy and yet you still did the perfect job on it, which can’t be all that easy when you already had the coat made. I always marvel at the way your items look on the inside, since mine………………well, we won’t talk about that!
I was wondering if any LD dolls are made of porcelain like some dolls are. Maybe you get to pick from vinyl or porcelain? Would porcelain dolls not pick up the colored items of the clothes as much as vinyl?
This winter is NOT fun, is it? Our high on Tuesday is supposed to be 4!! Who wants to go anywhere in that? Where, oh where is spring??
I’m glad you mother is well taken care of now that her memory is getting worse, and you don’t have to worry about her so much, like you used to when she lived alone. Yay for assisted living!
Thank you Linda,
Lining the coat really wasn’t that hard and it would have been even easier if I had done it from the start.
Yes, there are some Effner dolls in porcelain, but I’ve never seen one in person. I’ve seen lots of them sell on Ebay. I also think some of them are close or maybe even the same size as the Little Darlings. Maybe I remember something about Dianna starting out with the porcelain dolls…
This weather is horribly cold…MN days high is sup posed to be 13 I think…not looking forward to that.
We just finished shoveling and scraping the sidewalks at the church…it’s a windchill right now of 14 degrees. I just mentioned to someone, I think a bowl of Wendy’s chili is on the menu!!!
Thanks Linda,
Stay inside and stay warm…
Blessings, Jeanne