Do you remember this fabric I bought a few months ago when a fabric store nearby was going out of business? I decided it would be used for my next Christmas dress.
Now I had to figure out who was going to get it…
Yes, Molly was the recipient and she was THRILLED! She was standing on my dolly shelf trying to look nonchalant, but I could see she really wanted to be next, so I picked her and then I heard a sigh from all the other girls… :o( If I hurry, maybe everyone will get a turn!
Don’t you think she looks pretty in these colors! I found some time and got a little bit done on the dress… enough that you can sort of see the direction I’m headed.
I used a piece of that pique-like fabric for the collar… I love the texture of it and don’t know what I’ll do when I run out…
2 rows of a dainty lace were added across the bodice and around the sleeve cuffs…
Stay tuned for more to come…
Have a great Monday…
Blessings, Jeanne
Oh, I do like how this dress is starting out, Jeanne, and really glad to see Molly was “next in line”! It’s definitely a “Molly fabric,” I think. Of course, *my* Molly’s favorite color is red, so she is automatically drawn to anything red, and is sitting here, dropping not-so-subtle hints that maybe she needs a new dress! The style looks appropriate for that era, also.
I am sending you a couple of pictures from Halloween, of my April Eleanore in her nurse’s uniform that I made. I realized tonight that I hadn’t done that yet!
Hi Charlotte,
You better get your Molly a red dress made for Christmas! She’ll hold it against you if you don’t!!
I’m glad you like the dress so far…now to get it finished.
I received your pictures of April Eleanor’s nurse’s costume! Thanks for sharing!!
Blessings, Jeanne
Ha, ha, Jeanne, when I first saw the material, I thought immediately, that’s going to be for Molly, and sure enough, as I scrolled down, there she was! Having the aquacolor in the red plaid gives it a contemporary vibe, so even the modern dolls will be able to wear this dress.
I love what you have started, from the pretty, white pique collar to the rows of delicate lace dancing round the bodice and sleeves! This will be something special for Molly, or any other doll!
Tomorrow we go down to Whitewater, MO, a tiny town close to Cape and Jackson, where Michael’s cousin and her husband have a pecan farm to pick up some pecans. I’ll be ready for holiday baking,……….. if there are any left!!
Hi Linda,
I figured you’d guess it was for Molly right away. I do like that the color mixed with the red is a sort of light aqua color instead of the regular Christmss tree green. It makes it more interesting to me.
Oh, it’s too bad we weren’t planning a trip to Cape or Jackson…we could have met and had lunch… maybe the next time you go, let us know ahead of time… I don’t think I’d enjoy the ride this time, not being able to see distances clearly. A few more days and I will though!!!
Thanks for your kind compliments, Linda,
Blessings, Jeanne
Is Molly’s dress traditional red and green or does it have the modern twist as Linda said? I never really trust my screen on colors. It’s going to be so pretty either way.
I finished my last pumpkin. It’s in crochet and I added a curly green vine. Then it was back to self care sewing. I made my second pair of dungarees from a Pottery Barn Kids shower curtain. The fabric is a denim in citrus stripes. Very comfortable. I know I’ll make another but I might try a different pattern. Today I’m going to start a jacket in some fleece I’ve had for aaaages!
So much fun!
Thank you Anne
I’m glad you like Molly’s dress so far…
Blessings, Jeanne
Hi Julia
The fabric is a pretty red and sort of aqua plaid. It is a very pretty color combination.
How fun to be sewing for yourself. I’m going to get back to sewing for me one of these days. I used to sew for myself ALL the time…course that was before my dolls came along…
Thanks Julia,
Blessings, Jeanne
First I’d like to get in early with the keys for retrieval: CTL Z. If you click on them together and quickly enough, what you have accidentally deleted will reappear. Give it a try.
Molly is my favorite doll and the sleeves are perfectly ’40s. I really like the wider band added at the sleeves. Red is certainly her color. The colors really pop now, don’t they? Looks like you’re inspired to sew for sure and ready to go for the holidays.
When I had the cataract surgery, the surgeon waited a month between surgeries to be sure everything was fine. I would recommend waiting to get glasses if you will need them for a few months because changes may occur slowly that will change the prescription. You may want to ask about that. I need them only for distance and will have them made as transitions for sunglasses.
Hi Susette,
I’ll remember it now…Control Z!!! Thank you!!
I’m hoping to get things moving along as quickly as I can… don’t remember how many dresses I got sewn for Christmas, but I don’t think it was very many!
I’m hoping I don’t need any glasses after my left eye is done, but I’ll wait a while as you mentioned, just “in case” things change a little.
Thanks Susette,
Blessings, Jeanne
Very pretty and festive plaid perfect for the AG dolls!
Thank you Rosrmary,
This fabric really is nice for a Christmas dress. I almost didn’t buy it…now I’m glad I did.
Thank you so much!
Blessings, Jeanne
Oh, the first thing that caught my eye was not the fabric, although it is lovely, but the collar. What a grand feat. Love the fabric and how it sits up just a little at the neck. I can just see Molly carrying a small wrapped package to place in the Toys R Kids barrel at the fire station. I’m sure she is very compassionate.
Thanks so much Susette about the Control Z thing. I knew there was some way, but couldn’t remember it. 🙂
Finally finished putting away everything hastily packed. Everyone has been allowed to return home after evacuation so things are looking up for most around here in northern CA.
I wonder if the paint color for the kitchen cabinets will look the same after recovering from the cataract surgeries? Just curious.
Thank you for the collar compliments, Joy!
I DO love a pretty white collar on a dress. I used to be a collar setter at a dress factory here in town. They wanted me to put on 13 collars an hour…I think I only made that one time…usually I could do 11…
I have been wondering the same thing about my kitchen paint color I picked out. I HOPE it will be okay… I do like my trim and it’s the same color, so I SHOULD be good.
Thanks Joy
Blessings, Jeanne
Oh, I think we have an unknown about Jeanne, or perhaps I missed it. A collar setter! Please explain to us soon exactly what a collar setter involved. 🙂
Dear Jeanne, Molly looks adorable already and only the top part of the dress is done!
I echo Joy, I love the white collar.
Can we only be a few weeks away from Christmas? How did that happen?
Hi Dorothy,
Welcome back!! I missed you!!
Wait till you see the skirt added to Molly’s bodice. I hope you still will like it.
Christmas is very close and I’m VERY unprepared!! Oh dear… how does this keep happening?
Thank you
Blessings, Jeanne
Yes, we don’t have that extra week between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year. I have a party here on Dec 3 so my girls are going to help decorate..and the only date we could come up with is Nov 10😳 so l guess I’ll bypass Thanksgiving decorations and go right to Christmas. Yikes
This new dress is going to be outstanding. I just never get tired of seeing how well your bodices fit. The sleeve bands are perfect. The collar and neck area…perfect. I’ll look in my boxes of vintage fabric and see if I have any pique. If I do it won’t have that pretty pattern in it though.
I have a feeling you are already sewing this morning…Go Jeanne!
Hi Kathie,
I might have to skip Thanksgiving decorations and go straight to Christmas too!!
Thst piece of white pique I have is from a white jacket or blouse I bought st the Thrift store. The design in it has been so much fun to use. I probably have enough for maybe 8 or 10 more collars and then it will be gone.
I haven’t made it to my seeing room yet. But 2 more comments to answer and that’s where I’m headed!
Thanks Kathie
Blessings, Jeanne
Oh I love that plaid!! And then the beautiful pique white collar… just so sweet and crisp looking. This will be a lovely Christmas-time dress. It will look great on Molly or as someone said, maybe a more modern era.
I like the lace trim too. That’s what make your creations so unique- the added touches that accent the material of the basic outfit. It will be fun to see this dress developed!
Hi Paula
Thank you for your sweet comments on Molly’s Christmas dress. I’m thinking this could work for a fifties girl, like Maryellen.
I’m going to get in my sewing room and see how I can “develop” this dress some more! :o)
Blessings, Jeanne
I love plaids and this one is truly lovely. Next to loving plaids, I love white collars and cuffs and this fabric is really pretty. The lace accents are sweet. Molly has always been one of my favorite AG dolls. I only have a mini Molly but she is so cute and I actually have patterns to sew for her. Haven’t tried them yet though.
Using the tulle as a lining for the pinafore for Lolla Rose’s Christmas dress worked out perfectly. Thanks for the idea and the mention to treat it like tissue paper. True confession though I had to throw the first bodice away. I read the instructions wrong and you don’t rip stitches out of anything tulle. The one thing I would mention to anyone trying this method is to be very careful when turning a bodice right side out. That might not be a problem for everyone but the tulle blended in so well with the organza fabric I had to make sure I didn’t grab and pull the wrong fabric. But it slid through perfectly and is going to be a great complement to the dress.
Can’t wait to see April Eleanor’s nurse outfit. My mother was a nurse, so I can’t wait to see the style. My Chorale concert is this coming weekend. It’s a concert of patriotic songs and we’re doing it the day before Veteran’s Day. Our fall concert is usually more toward the Christmas season but having it over well before Christmas will give me extra time to make dolly Christmas dresses. Got lots of ideas, and plenty of dolls.
Does anyone know about the Eyes of Texas dolls by Brenda Mize? Does anyone have one? I learned about them through Doll magazine. They are from a Dianna Effner mold the size of the Boneka doll. They are around $200 and come fully clothed with shoes, etc. I checked them out but the ones I liked best were already sold.
Thank you Barbara
Well good. Everyone seems to like what I have sewn so far…now to get back in there and finish things.
I’m glad you had success using the tulle as a lightweight liner for your pinafore. You’ll be using it all the time now!
I guess I won’t be the only one sewing dolly dresses up until the very last feasible moment, will I?
I have seen the Eyes of Texas dolls, but I don’t anything at all about them…
Thank you Barbara
Blessings, Jeanne
That is the perfect style for Molly! The fabric is really pretty. I find myself more and more attracted to plaids, and the small ones are perfect for the dolls. I noticed how you centered in on the bodice. Good job!
Hi Carolyn,
Yes, I did a little “fussy cutting” on this dress…
I love plaids too.
I’m glad you like it!
Blessings, Jeanne
Just like Linda, he minute I saw the plaid I knew that Molly would be getting it. I think plaid was iconic to the ’40’s. The bodice is really sweet with the double row of lace as well as lace edging the sleeve cuffs. I like the different metallic threads running through the fabric as well. The peter pan collar is perfect
I’m sure all the dollies want a turn to model a beautiful Christmas dress.
Hi Laura,
I was thrilled that Molly looked so pretty with this plaid draped across her…she was even MORE thrilled!!!
I’m so glad everyone thinks I made the right call. So happy I picked this piece up when I got the others. It’s turning out prettier than I hoped it would… I like those the little shimmery threads running through the fabric too. In person they are really beautiful.
Thank you Laura,
Blessings, Jeanne