Shara, I had to break out the old seam ripper today in order to fix Kirsten’s dress. (Shara commented about seam rippers the other day in her comment.) I had to use it to take off those crooked buttons and it took me FOREVER to get them sewn back on straight. I bet I spent 2 hours (no joke!) Then I had to use it to take off the snap section on the back right side. I manipulated the lace that came over Kirsten’s right shoulder just a slight bit to try and make the point where the laces meet a little more V shaped. The snaps were in the way. The seam ripper was used to undo my hand stitching where I stitched down the lace on the under side. All in all, it was work that won’t be noticed “too” much, but I just couldn’t let it slide…
Marilyn was the first person to mention something about the dress looking a bit “Alice in Wonderland-ish” and even though I thought about that when I was making it, I really didn’t dwell on it too much. Then Laura sort of seconded Marilyn’s comment and ever since then I can only see it as an Alice in Wonderland dress. Maybe I’m crazy, but see if you do…
I’ll probably still list it as a Kirsten dress but I might tuck that little thought in the auction just to get someone to think about it. :o)
Okay, let me know if you think what “I” did makes the dress better.
First let me show you the new straightened buttons… Actually, here are the crooked ones first… then the straight ones…
Something else I did to make the dress a little less “boxy” was the stitch down the outside edge of the lace partway up the side front. Let me start over… when I stitched the lace on, I just stitched it down on the inside edge…the outside edge was left loose, but to me, it didn’t hug Kirsten’s body, but just sort went straight down and pulled away from her body. So here are some pictures of it before I stitched it down on the outside edge…
…and here it is stitched down… so it’s closer to her body and a bit more curvy…
Can you see the difference?
Then I removed the snaps in the back and took out the lace on the back right side, repositioning it a little more so it formed a better point…
Again… before…
…and after…
Okay, now just enjoy a few pictures of Alice, I mean Kirsten… I found a cute bear and she liked him, so he might be her accessory!
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
Are you sure she doesn’t want a rabbit instead of a teddy bear? The buttons and lace point look nicer. It is worth the time and effort you put into the details you and we care about.
I totally agree, Jeanne, and would have done the same thing (and spent the same amount of time on it!). I refer to myself as a “picky sewer”, so I do get out that seam ripper if things aren’t lined up just perfectlyl!
I have to agree, stitching down the outer edges of the lace is a lot more flattering to Kirsten. The other way was quite acceptable, but this way is just Better!
I did a little bit of doll clothes sewing today, also!! To be continued….
Oh yes, Jeanne, I do really see a difference in the alternations you did, and they are spot on! This is just beautiful, and Kirsten is NOT going to be happy when she has to take it off!
Like Christal says, don’t you think a little white rabbit would be better for Alice, excuse me, Kirsten, to hold?
Boy, did we have a storm last evening, but yesterday was beautiful out, and I got a lot of things done outside! I don’t know how many times I have cleaned up leaves from the flower beds, only to have others blow right in the same spot! Now if it would only stay that way!
A LOT of tweaks and adjustments, but the end results are perfect! If you didn’t make the changes , they would haunt you every time you saw photos of the dress:) The strap treatment is inspired!
I don’t see Alice..other than it’s a blue dress and a white apron. The navy is very rich and the lacy apron is so beautiful.
Wishing you the best in the auction ??
So glad you fixed the back. I couldn’t figure out why the lace didn’t meet correctly, but didn’t want to make a negative comment. 🙂 Little Alice, hee hee, is such a sweetie in this lovely outfit. I really like her bear. If you don’t have a convenient rabbit, maybe she can have her tea party with him. I’d love to see a tea party setting for this dress. Would be so cute.
I saw where some dolls were stuck in Chicago. Maybe that is the hang up? My latest is due to be mailed from Kentucky today. Love informed delivery 🙂
Once you showed the before and after pictures, I can see what you were seeing. Since I don’t sew (except for sewing a button on once and awhile) I don’t pick up discrepancies as you and others do. The dress is adorable. The lace is so pretty. The only thing that would remind me of Alice, is her hair being down. Maybe having braids or wrapping braids around on her head with flowers or something similar?
I tend to sometimes look at the pictures before I read the whole blog. Thankfully I don’t make a comment until I do read it. I read the first part of the blog and then looked at the pictures of the dress and thought the buttons still looked off but maybe it was the way you took the picture. Then I read on and realized I was looking at the “before” picture. The buttons look fine now. I totally agree about sewing down the lace on the outside edge. What a beautiful difference that makes. But you would have to see the contrast because the other looked fine too. It’s just that it now looks even better. The back looks good too. It is a lovely dress.
I cut out the Easter dresses for Gracie and Camille yesterday. They are not going to look at all the way I envisioned them in the first place. I’m really excited to see how my new idea turns out. The first seemed pretty but plain when I got to thinking about it so I searched around and came up with something more “interesting”. I did manage to have an oopsie though. The only real pattern pieces are the bodice, sleeve and collar. The rest is measure and cut. Underskirt, overskirt, overskirt trim and my “oopsie” the underskirt trim. Left that one out, on both if you can believe it. Problem is my trim piece is a half-yard cut. And, while I had the right measurement for my WW, I’m going to have to put a seam in the trim for my 18″. If I play my cards right I think I can hide it under the overskirt. Fingers crossed.
I take it Bailey has not arrived yet. I’m waiting in anxious anticipation for my Cleo. She’s supposed to arrive between March 27 and April 7. At least she should be here to join the others in time for the Easter picture. You seem to be pretty much back to your normal self. I really think this crazy “sinus infection” is a virus because I had a touch of it and my son and daughter-in-law said that they had about three days of horrible headaches and no matter what they did it wouldn’t go away, then it just did. My Chorale director had it too. Strange…
Happy Monday Jeanne,
I’m glad to see you are feeling better and back in your sewing studio. Yeah!
My goodness what a stickler for perfect details you are! You did a wonderful job on this one and I think it’s lovely. The lace you are using makes the dress!
So your Baily is arriving soon, how very exciting! I can’t wait to see what you do with her. You are so brave to try your hand at face painting. I recently saw one that had a generous sprinkling of sweet little freckles. I loved the way she looked. Anyway I hope she’s home soon. Enjoy your day
Hugs
Ingrid
It does put me in mind of Alice In Wonderland… lovely. One of my favorite old stories!
My first thought was that Kirsten needed a rabbit. Then I looked at the first comment — and several others. Also — it’s Easter. Rabbit, yes, if possible. We think mostly of the Disney Alice, but there are variations, and this might be one. Also, for people who aren’t collecting Kirsten, this might be children’s classic or Victorian. I’m for appealing as widely as possible. You were right about changing the sewing on the lace — the difference shows. With all the lace, I like the simple headband. The white socks and black shoes add to the Alice look.
Altogether, it’s a lovely look. You’ve made a splendid recovery. Stay well.
Everything looks just perfect now. The difference on the lace is noticeably better to me. Once again I agree with Marilyn that you have to appeal you as wide an eBay base as possible. I’m not currently is the market for any dolly items, but I think things aren’t selling quite as well on eBay since the ” sales tax” was enacted. Once again I’m glad my PC/early AG collections are finished.
As others have said, does the toy box have a bunny (white or brown) instead?