SPECIAL COMMENT::: I CANNOT believe so many of you sew over your pins as you are making something… I really was shocked! But… who am I to say anything… just be careful if you do it. I’ve had them hit me in the face before!
I have the cap to show you, along with the dress. The dress is totally finished.. all the snaps sewn on, it’s hemmed, pressed, and sweet looking on Kirsten.
I used a pattern for a Swedish or Norwegian cap and made it out of the salmon print I showed you earlier. The edge was finished with a bias cut piece of the dress fabric and then I gave it a little bit of interest with some felt flowers added on the sides. Instead of using a ribbon to tie the hat on, I made a tiny tube like cord from the collar and cuffs fabric.
Now it’s all tied together. I did find the vintage hankie I’m going to use but I didn’t get it finished so I’ll save that for tomorrow.
So how about a few more pictures of Kirsten in the cap? I might leave her hair in braids, but I was debating about taking them out and letting her hair be all wavy like… any thoughts? The cap sometimes looks a bit strange as it has to fit around her braids… just wondering…
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
What a pretty little cap, Jeanne! I also think it would look cute with her hair down, but right now, having her in braids makes it easier to see the dress, not to mention, makes it easier for you to work with. Both ways would be cute!
This is quite the improvement to the picture of her with a bolt of fabric sitting on her head! I knew it would work out to be something as cute as this!
I know you have some really pretty little hankies, that make such darling aprons, so am excited to see what you find in your stash! I’m old enough to remember getting hankies in my birthday cards, and still have a couple of them today!
As an extra note, when you sew over pins, they have to be perfectly straight for it to work well. But gee, I never thought anything of sewing over them, and am surprised that you don’t do that!
Very nice, Jeanne! I like that you used the dress fabric to trim the cap. It puts a nice finishing touch on it.
There are many styles of Swedish caps worn with national and regional costumes. Some look almost exactly like what you made, some are a bit shorter from the top to the lower edge, some have a sort of ruffle along the bottom, some are even similar to a Dutch hats! If you google “traditional Swedish folk hats”, you will come up with plenty of ideas! (I don’t know why they included the Flying Nun’s headdress, the Mexican sombreros or Queen Elizabeth and her crown, however! LOL)
I think I like Kirsten’s hair in braids best–as Linda pointed out, you can see the details on the dress better. If you look at some of those pictures mentioned above, you will see a few wearing their caps over long, thick braids like Kirsten has.
I meant to add, I very very rarely Ever sew over pins–it can damage/break your needle, it can damage/break your pin, it can even throw the timing off on your machine (which is a Lot more expensive to repair than it is to replace a pin or needle!). If I find I really Need to sew over a pin (to make sure the two seams are perfectly lined up, for instance), I sew very very slowly, practically one stitch at a time.
What a pretty topper! I love how you tie everything together, Jeanne. I too am looking forward to seeing what you’ll do with an antique hankie. You’ve made another beautiful outfit.
I like Kirsten’s hair in braids also. It fits with her era and you can see the details of the dress very well.
Sorry Jeanne, I have to go with those who sew over their pins! I have always done so, and at this point it’s hard to change old habits.
I think in part that it has something to do with your machine. Years ago I sewed on Vikings, and then Berninas. Something about the way the foot /feeddogs work allowed them to “float” over pins. Now I work mostly on a Janome, and it definitely does not like to sew over pins. Most of my pins have some degree of bend from being hit by the needle, I have broken numerous needles and pins, and I have been hit in the face by flying bits of pins and needles! I do Try to take out the pins before sewing over them, but ….old habits die hard!
Beautifully done. Nice to see the pattern of the fabric in the bonnet close up. I like the bonnet tie being not so frilly. I’m sure what you make from the hankie will be a wonderful finishing touch.
I remove the pins as I go along. I think that method may have come from a Vogue Sewing Book I bought in the early 60s. Why not? They have to come out anyway. I guess it does slow the process down? I’ve experienced broken needles on both my old machine and the newer Brother machine. Scary to have one hit you!
Sweet cap. I’m for the braids. That salmon color goes so well with the print fabric. Are you going to make a vest with the salmon to go over the bodice or just the vintage hankie apron?
I do agree with Kathy that the pin thing may come from the older machines. My first machine was a Singer Touch and Sew from the 60’s. Great machine of which it glided right over those pins. My new model cautions to “not” sew over pins. I try not to, but sometimes they escape.
Thats what I have, Joy, a Singer Touch and Sew from the 60’s! Still have and use it! Newer machines seem to lightweight to me. I like the sturdier ones, and it gives me no trouble.
Unfortunately, the gears gave out on mine and the presser foot had some kind of rubber coating that also is gone. When I priced the parts to fix it myself some years ago, seemed like a new one was in order. But, it is still in the garage so after reading this, I may decide to fork for those gears. That is if you can still get them. If you tried one of the new machines, I think you would like it. Just have to get acquainted with the computer functions. Mine has embroidery options, but still haven’t used those. Bad me. 🙂
My 18″ doll is not an AG but a Madam Alexander, but I do get the AG catalog and am familiar with all the dolls. Kirsten is one of my favorites. My next doll will be a Wellie Wisher. I love them and it will be hard to pick which one. As for taking Kirsten’s hair out of the braids, have you ever done this? My daughter took the braids out of a doll’s hair once and when I went to put them back in I realized they had most likely originally been done by machine. I never could get them as tight as they were.
Kirsten’s dress and hat are adorable and I love the color scheme. I rarely make hats to go with my outfits although when I do they finish things off. I think it’s because I never liked hats very much. I remember when we had to wear them to church. My grandmother and one aunt were amazing at millinery and, of course, loved hats, so they never understood me not liking the hat thing. They fully supported my mother in insisting I have a new hat every Easter even though I was in the choir and couldn’t wear it during church. Never thought my feeling toward hats would manifest itself in causing issues for my dolly children. I guess I need to start looking at it from their point of view. I’ll start asking their feelings on this.
Weighing in on the pin thing. I absolutely do not sew over pins. I have also had the experience, more than once, of hitting a pin, breaking a needle and having a piece hit me in the face. I try to remove the pins as I come to them, but sometimes I do miss one. Once I had a piece of needle come toward my eye. Fortunately I had on my reading glasses. Perhaps I should start wearing safety glasses when I sew.
Unfortunately removing the pins too early can cause the problem I had yesterday. I was putting in a sleeve and after I was finished I looked and the sleeve was not attached to the dress at the end of the seam. Taking out the pin allowed the pieces to shift. I could/should have basted it in if I was going to remove the pins I guess, but that’s extra work. Like going back and redoing the sleeve wasn’t….
I think Kathy and Joy hit the nail on the head. My first couple of Singers were workhorses and those machines left a lot of room for error. All they had to do was to sew a straight line. Even when they added the zig zag stitch, it was only two kinds of stitches. The newer machines are truly very precision instruments. I haven’t been able to sew over pins since my new machine in 2001. It replaced my machine from the 1960’s.
My old ‘vintage’ machines took so much abuse and the new one just laughs at me. I used to sew half inch thicknesses of heavy work jeans and canvas easily and glide over pins, too. I could even tack a thick batted quilt or pillow with her. The new one won’t even open her mouth wide enough for similar thicknesses of heavy canvas or batting. I can no way get it under her presser foot. So, no. I haven’t been able to sew over pins with my new machine. However, she does so very many other kinds of beautiful precise stitches that I more than forgive her. I have a Janome and I LOVE her! (Actually, I have three. 😉 ) Hugs, Ali
That’s a sweet little cap, and the colors coordinate so well. That style is perfect for Kirsten. I don’t sew over pins, as I find the stitching is not quite straight where the pin goes under the presser foot, and of course, there’s a chance to break a needle if it hits the pin. One bad habit that I did have to break myself from was sticking pins in my mouth when pinning patterns. Not good! I would hate to swallow a pin, so I had to force myself to quit doing it, but it was hard to break the habit.
I don’t know if this comment will ever be read because I’m posting it late at night, but I just had to comment on Carolyn’s comment. I always stuck my pins in my mouth too and knew that wasn’t a good idea. So I bought a cute little daisy pin cushion that hooks on my wrist with Velcro. I love it. The only problem is sometimes I forget to put it on before I start to sew. Thinking I did, I end up sticking myself with a pin where the pin cushion usually is. Ouch!
Hahaha….been there, done that, Barbara! I’ve also tried to put my coat on over my wrist pincushion! I’ve worn them for many years (have even worn some out!), and couldn’t sew without one! So handy!!
The mother of my friend Maggie can do Carolyn one better. Maggie’s mother was quite flat chested in an era when not being was fashionable. She wore heavily padded bras and stuck the pins into the padding as she removed them from her sewing. Little Maggie started to do the same thing when she began to sew. Fortunately her mother caught her hand and the pin quickly.
I usually try to avoid sewing over pins because hitting one doesn’t do the needle or the pin any good. I’ve seldom had problems, but seldom and never are not synonyms.
When I saw the cap I was so pleased — it does pull everything together and look charming. I’d stick with the braids — most bidders will be buying for Kirstens with braided hair and that’s the way they’ll want to see it — besides, Kirsten’s braids are lovely and the blue bow looks so pretty.
On my computer the tiny plaid looks pink and I haven’t liked it. Finally your close-up of the cap and the dress showed me how all the colors do come together. It really is nice. I’m looking forward to the apron.
Fun to follow the discussion on sewing over pins! I try hard not to….I must have had some emphatic Home Ec. teachers. In teaching my granddaughters, it’s been an uphill battle to get them to take the pins out…. but, not taking them out too soon.
Friends whose grands have taken Kirstin’s braids out, have never been satisfied in the re-braiding and have ended up taking them to American Girl for a professional touch.
Cute outfit, as always. Fun to follow the sewing process and I will remember that cuff method. I have a similar pattern for the traditional Swedish hat. One variation suggested was to put a piece of elastic between the two back neck seams. I pinned two darts back there and am more pleased with the result. It hugs the top of the head and gets rid of the gap above the forehead. Now, Kit is wearing the hat. I have Kirsten’s braids still in their loops and any hat is just not flattering sticking out that far! She gets a flower crown!
Always look forward to the final presentations of the completed outfits!
What an adorable little cap Kirsten is wearing and her dress is just darling. I think her hair in braids are best. It’s the iconic look for her. The dress is so sweet as well.
As to sewing over pins, NO. I sew up until the pin and then take it out and continue on.. That’s the way my mom sews and my grandmother did, with a tomato pincushion on the side to deposit them in.
it’s been a cray day here… two kitties to the vet for dental cleanings ( one needed an extraction) and then the car battery died. At least that occurred at the vet’s office.