I happened to find myself in Joann Fabrics on Saturday and guess what I was looking at? Not fabric, not lace, not buttons, but patterns. I was trying to get some ideas for rompers and overalls and shorts for our “girls!” You know “play sets” like you all suggested. :o) I probably had something in my pattern stash at home, but the Simplicity patterns were only $1.99 so when I spotted one I hadn’t see before… Simplicity S8940, I decided to give it a try. The dolls on the front of the pattern looked pretty generic to me and I didn’t recognize them but it said it was for 14″ dolls and the Little Darlings are 13″ so I thought “maybe” it might work. I thought it would at least be a good starting point for something fun for the girls to wear.
The overalls first caught my eye, but as I walked back into the 100+ heat index outside, I thought on the way home, “how about those shortalls?” I didn’t make any modifications on the pattern for this first trial run. I wanted to see how close it was to actually fitting the Little Darlings.
I found a pretty pink fabric in my stash and some little patches that worked together and cut the shortalls out. They went together fairly well, but it was still early and I needed to see how it worked with a shirt underneath.
The straps were placed where they said to put them, and I was pretty sure the “slack” in the straps was to allow for a top underneath.
I thought I’d try the tee and see how it worked. Well, my goodness, my fabric must have been to stretchy because this was my 2nd try and I had to take it up and take it up again the sides just to get it even close to fitting Emmie. I did a little lettuce leaf edge on the bottom and a decorative stitch on the sleeves. I used a decorative stretch elastic on the neck edge. Then I used an ultra thin piece of Velcro down the back. It’ll do, but not necessarily my favorite. I’m not sure what I’d say about the tee pattern…
When I put the shortalls on over the top, it looked like this…
…and from the back…
Okay, so what I learned from this trial run… the Little Darlings have a slight fullness in the breast area and that made the bib of the shortalls push out at the top and created a sort of ripple just above where they were sewn on to the waistband. It needs to be tapered just about an eight of an inch on the bottom side edges and it would make that ripple disappear. I will show you when I try these again, which may be soon. The straps need to be tapered slightly out from where they are sewn in at the top of the bib. The shoulders of the Little Darlings are not the same… One is higher than the other one and if they were angled just a little bit out it would help them not the go “just straight over the doll’s shoulders.” It might help if the straps were cut on the bias too…then they would “hug” the dolls shoulders and work out better. They’d have a little bit of give and stretch to them.
The waistband needs to be just about a half inch longer. There wasn’t enough at the end and I had to add a little extra piece.
The split area in the back of the shorts that allows you to slide them up over the dolls hips, needs to have a little extra fabric added to it. There was only a 1/4″ flap and that really is pretty skimpy to me. If it was at least a 1/2″ turned under, it would stay tucked under better.
I can show you the things I’m talking about, probably in tomorrow’s post. I just wanted to show you the start of this and see what you thought.
I’m thinking of making a little camp style shirt to go with this too… I think I might like that better…we’ll see…
Okay, that’s all for this Monday…
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
Dear Jeanne, she looks adorable. I love the color choices. I can’t wait to see the outfit when it’s finished.
HI Dorothy,
I’m late, but wanted to let you know I saw your comments and thank you for them.
blessings, Jeanne
I guess it has been a while since I’ve looked at doll clothes patterns–I didn’t realize they had them for 14″ dolls in the “big 4″ companies now! It makes sense, though , as the AG Wellie Wishers are quite popular, and I think they are about 14″ tall. I would imagine that’s who this pattern was designed for.
I do like that you show us such nice close pictures of what you’ve made. It’s particularly helpful when you are trying out something new, so that those of us who sew can learn from what you’ve done. With that in mind…
The shortalls turned out very cute! I love the patch with that fabric–perfectly coordinated! You’re right, I think the straps are intentionally loose to allow room for a top underneath.
The top turned out cute, too, but I think you’re right, it was too stretchy for that pattern. Was there a stretch guide on the back of the envelope or in the pattern instructions? When you check the stretch, I recommend folding the fabric down a bit first and stretch along the fold, it will give you a much truer representation of how much it stretches. Also, did the pattern recommend stretch knits for that top? Perhaps it was designed for woven fabric, although from the picture, it certainly Looks like a t-shirt. I do like the ruffled edge you used for the hems, and the decorative elastic, too–adds a nice touch, I think.
For the back opening of the t-shirt, I usually try to make sure I have At Least 1/4″ (3/8” might be better) to fold under along the CB openings. I stitch them down, and then sew size 4/0 snaps for the closure. I’m always happier with snaps than with velcro!
I think you’ve made a really good assessment as to the fit of these shortalls, although I don’t know that I’d worry too much about that “sort of ripple”–I would think most shortalls fit that way on most people! That said, I know we sewers are perfectionists, and want our (and our dolls’) clothes to fit just right!
I have to add…..I never realized the LDs shoulders were different heights! Maybe because mine are, too, so it looks normal to me?! Haha….Very clever of you to pick up on that.
I think I’m going to bookmark this particular post, so if I get that pattern, I will already have your expertise to help me along with it. Thank you!!
(Guess who’s going pattern shopping?!)
HI Charlotte,
I think this 14″ pattern is new… It’s the first time I’ve seen it.
I hope you’ll like tomorrow’s post… I’m showing a lot of details about the overalls…in a “remake!”
I didn’t see a stretch guide on the pattern, but I’m sure my knit was too stretchy for this pattern. I tried again, but the neck didn’t turn out on it… ugh!
I almost always use snaps, but I used this ultra thin Velcro as it is more streamlined for this back of the overalls.
Wait and bookmark tomorrow’s post.. .it will be more helpful than todays!
Thanks Charlotte,
blessings, Jeanne
What little girl…..or doll, wouldn’t love to play outside on the playground in this adorable outfit? It looks perfectly good to me, although I do see what you mean by all the various little adjustments that you needed to make. You should see some of the “adjustments” I make for my dolls outfits! Since my dolls are only for display, you don’t see the back most of the time, so with all the pinnings and whatnot in the back, you can’t tell from the front, and that’s the way it goes here! I do sometimes get clothes off Ebay that are for the larger PC dolls, which my dolls are not, so a little adjusting makes all the world of difference, …and who knows? But you are a perfectionist in what you sew, and yes, you sell things, so a good fitting outfit makes a world of difference! You have a reputation, and it is an EXCELLENT one, to preserve, I might add. One never is disappointed in a Jeanne Marie creation!
Rain today, and cooler weather!! Hallelujah!! No more home PT visits for me, but now I go for therapy. I’m getting there!
HI Linda,
I remember doing some of “those” adjustments when I used to just sew for my own dolls. The back didn’t matter because it didn’t show! :o) Been there, done that!
So glad your therapy at home is done…but now you have to be a good patient and GO to therapy… I’m so glad things are going well for you! Really glad!
Blessings, Jeanne
Oh now I want to play with dolls again and make more clothes.
This turned out pretty — all of these doll patterns require a bit of adjustment to personal preference. I believe yours will be just perfect once you get the rhythm, then you can make many in all styles and colors
Well done Jeanne
Hi Rosemary,
Well. Get out your dolls and play!!! We’ll let you! We want you to!!
Today was filled with lots of tweaking and tweaking and tweaking!
Happy sewing,
Jeanne Tweaking Marie!!
Love this pattern and the great review. I always think that maybe I’ve done something wrong when I sew a pattern for the first time and then find out it was the pattern’s poor design. All your points are so good to know. And it turned out very cute. Thanks for the tips. Next time Simplicity is on sale, I’ll have to go to Joann’s. 🙂
Hi Joy,
Usually the first time sewing any pattern is just like a test run! I was busy today as you’ll see tomorrow!!!
Hope you see a tip you like!
Blessings, Jeanne
I didn’t realize they even had patterns for 14″ dolls. The only thing I’ve ever seen (and I was looking just the other day) was for 18″ dolls. I love this pattern. It’s cute and it has a lot of possibilities.
I thought the outfit you made was really cute and, with the slight adjustments you mentioned, would make for some pretty adorable outfits. I like the top you made. In spite of the problems you had, it turned out sweet and I like it with the shortalls. It seems there are a lot of possibilities for what to put under the shortalls. Can’t wait to see what you come up with.
While I love the look of things made with knit fabric, I don’t particularly like making them – but I do. The girls insist. You have to pay such close attention to the way you cut out the pieces to get the stretch right. I once made a really cute shorts outfit for my granddaughter when she was a toddler. Her mother doesn’t iron so I went the knit way. There is a pattern system called Mod Kids that has the cutest patterns for knits and pointers on how to sew them. I made the outfit but when my daughter-in-law tried to put the shorts on Jaiden, they didn’t fit. I had forgotten to turn the pattern piece to catch the most stretch. And there are so many different stretch fabrics each with their own idiosyncrasies. There are some sewers who won’t even sew with knits. Pixie Faire has “NOT! For Knits” patterns so people can make t-shirts with woven fabric. I’ve done a few.
I agree with Charlotte about the “ripple”. Every shortall or overall outfit I bought or made for either of my children seemed to have that. I tried adjusting straps, buttons, etc., but it was always there. It seems to go with the territory.
I gather from comments I’ve read on this blog and elsewhere that Velcro is considered somewhat gauche when sewing even doll clothes. I must confess I use it freely. I always hated sewing on snaps and tiny buttons. I used to sew a lot for my BAB bunny and used snaps, buttons, and hooks and eyes. No matter how well I sewed them on, in time they came loose. I sewed snaps on Camille’s dress the other day because it closes in the front with an array of buttons with the snaps under the buttons. I can’t tell you how many times I lost part of the snap and had to get another, or stuck myself trying to sew them on or couldn’t find the holes to stick the needle through. Grrr!!! I don’t like doing buttonholes either but I solved that problem by doing them with my embroidery machine. I have all sizes and they are always perfect. Even with buttonhole attachments on my machine I could never get them perfect. When I discovered Jo’s Doll Shoppe I saw she always uses Velcro so I decided why not do the same when making doll clothes. Most of the patterns I have use Velcro as an option and many of the clothes I have purchased have Velcro so I guess I’m not alone in this. But I was wondering if it does make a difference in the ability to sell an outfit for a decent price.
Do all the Little Darlings have the differences in shoulder heights? I need to go check mine. I’ve done several outfits with straps for them and I didn’t have to make any adjustments.
Sitting here waiting for our lovely front to come through – and some rain with it. Really wish it was October so we could look forward to more, but we’ll take what we can get. Mornings in the 60s and afternoons in the mid-80s with low humidity. In July in southeast Texas! What’s not to like about that, even if only for a few days.
Hi Barbara,
I’ll have a lot more tips in tomorrow’s post. I hope it helps…
Knit fabrics can be quick to sew…”sometimes” but they can be a headache if you don’t get something right!
I really should show a straight-on picture of the Little Darlings shoulders…they aren’t the same…
We had lots of rain again today. I don’t think some of the farmers ever got their crops out…
Thanks Barbara,
Blessings, Jeanne
The trial outfit turned out really cute. We all know your stash is amazing! I don’t recognize the dolls pictured so comparing measurements is not an option, do you still have the hearts for hearts Nahji, or Betsy McCall? The straps are always a challenge when you’re making them to share among the various girls, that’s why Velcro works for me. I agree the straps need to angle out from the bib a little, I usually like a tad wider strap too. The camp shirt sounds really cute. I think any style blouse top/bodice that looks good under a pinafore would compliment these overalls whether the short or long ones. Even a peasant blouse! This is why I love your blog, it gets me excited about mix and match options and styles.
Have a great day all.
Thank you Dorothy,
I sold my Nahja doll but I haven’t tried these shortalls on Betsy McCall. I need to do that.
I like the idea of a peasant top too…a really soft one!!
You’ll have to see what I did today in tomorrow’s post… :o)
Thanks Dorothy,
Blessings, Jeanne
That outfit is still absolutely adorable! I hear Stella, the 2 My Meadow’s dumpling girls and LoL EllaJane asking for similar! 🙂
Hi Melody,
Well, you better go buy this pattern and make your girls happy!!
Thanks so much!
Blessings, Jeanne