I’m sorry I didn’t get to your comments today. I’m having to make the most of my time as my sisters are coming this weekend and I have lots to do! It looks like the blue dress might have a slight advantage in the “likeability” aspect, but wait till we are finished to decide for sure! :o)
Please excuse my pictures too… the color is a bit washed out… The dresses are both much prettier in person…I’ve got to figure out how to capture that color before I list them…
My hubby came in my room today and saw I had Nellie standing there on the table and I hadn’t started any “embellishing” on Samantha’s dress yet. I told him about how the challenge was going to work and the winner would get a pair of those beige shoes shown on Nellie. He waited just a few seconds, looked at Nellie, then looked back at Samantha’s unfinished dress and he said, “You’re going to try and make the blue dress just as pretty as the beige dress, aren’t you?” I had to smile… I told him I’d do my best! :o)
Today I worked on Nellie’s dickie first today. It was just a simple one made with a pretty ecru lace I had. It wasn’t wide enough to make all in one piece, so I pieced it together and came up with this…
It doesn’t add any bulk under the dress because it’s so sheer. I hope this is what you all had in mind when you mentioned filling in the “V” with something… The back closes with a piece of ultra fine Velcro.
I also made a slip for Nellie’s dress, as it was pretty sheer. I might have made it a tad too full, so I might make another one and give this one to Samantha for under her dress… But anyway, here is how it looks on Nellie right now…
This is how it looks under her dress…
Then I started working on Samantha’s dickie… I picked a piece of white lace that I had but had to sew it to a very sheer piece of dotted cotton. The lace was just a tulle and wasn’t the right fabric to use for a dickie. I added her collar and a few little silver beads. Rebecca was already in bed, but she might have something I could use that would be nicer…maybe a charm or something… It will be an easy fix if she does… Samantha’s dickie closes in back with Velcro as well…
I made a hair bow for Samantha out of the same wired ribbon as her sash. It’s sewn to a snap clip so it’s easy to put in…
The sash is finished and I chose the square button because my hubby said he liked it the best. Since he’s on the “blue” team, I let him have his way on that one… I pleated up the wired ribbon and tried to copy Nellie’s sash as best I could.
I let Samantha try on Nellie’s slip and this is what it looks like under her dress. It might be a little too full for this dress as well. Maybe I need to need to make one of my slips with the yoke at the top and have the gathers start at hip level…
I still need to get Samantha a pair of thigh high’s made and find her some shoes…
Looks like we are on the home stretch! Hope you’ll stay tuned to what happens tomorrow.
Have you made up your mind yet about who you will be voting for? :o)
See you then,
Blessings, Jeanne
Wow, those dickies turned out beautifully!! Each one uniquely suited to the individual dress. When I first saw Samantha’s, I wasn’t sure, but with the dress over it, it’s perfect, too! And I see you did her sash a bit longer than Nellie’s, as someone suggested. I like it that way!
Yes, I think a yoked slip would work better under this dress style. Save the poufier one for under a 1950s style dress–it would be perfect!
Going back to the dickies: I remember in the 1950s/early 60s seeing dickies in catalogs. Sometimes they were a sort of turtleneck; other times they looked like a button-front blouse, with a collar. So, a dicky can be pretty much any style, it seems.
Hi Charlotte,
I think I might have to make Nellie’s sash a bit longer for everyone…
…and I need to make 2 new slips that aren’t so poufy…no problem on that…
I looked in a 1900’s book I have and like you said, there were a lot of different style duckies.
Thanks Charlotte,
Blessings, Jeanne
The dickies turned out to be a wonderful accessory, so pretty and not overpowering. So far I still like Nellie’s dress Best. I prefer less slip fullness, the longer sash was my taste, less puffy sleeves. Can’t wait for tomorrow!
Hi Dorothy,
I’ll get right on that longer sash and skimpier slip for Nellie…
And thank you for your compliments on the dickies…
Blessings, Jeanne
What do I like the best? I would love to have both, Jeanne! I am so happy that I mentioned the dickies, and you ran with it! They look much more “finished” and each one is just perfect for the dress it is with!
I prefer the skirt not being so full, and Nellie’s dress is just perfect in that last picture, plus I like the droopier sleeves. I also like the three small buttons on the bodice, but think only the beige dress should have those. The blue is perfect without it. I think the slip is too full for the blue dress, making it look too much liike a 50’s dress. Maybe taking out a few layers would help? Nellie’s dress looks perfectly full enough, but I understand the transparency issue. She does need “something” underneath!
About dickies, I had a white sweater-knit one that looked like I had a turtleneck top underneath whativer else I had on and it served me well all through college, and later too. I could never stand wearing two different tops, too hot, and the dickie did it’s job keeping my neck warm. I wish I had one now! They used ot be so easy to find, but not anymore.
This pair of dresses is one of my favorites!
I’m not replying to myself, but just adding that maybe you could make a cotton slip instead of a net one, which would be more in the keeping with the Edwardian dress. Did they have net petticoats back then? A nice cotton with a lace edging would be more in keeping with the beige dress, not make it too full. Unless you already made one!🤭
Hi Linda,
I’m glad you like both dresses and yes, maybe a cotton slip will be better…can do!
Thank you for suggesting the dickies…perfect solutions for both dresses!
Samantha is a shorter doll than my Nellie but I’m going to measure from the shoulders down to the seam where the skirt is attached…it lokks like Samantha’s dress is more of a drop waist look where Nellie’s isn’t…
Thanks Linda,
Blessings, Jeanne
I noticed that, too, Jeanne, and wasn’t sure if it was the dolls or the dresses!
I do know that AG dolls can be stuffed differently. My Molly is a bit slimmer than AbbyRose (both PC dolls), but AbbyRose has quite a tushy!! LOL
Two lovely dresses. I’m sure there will be lots of bids. I really do like the sash length on the blue dress. Will you be changing the beige to match? A lot of work on those dickies. I was just thinking of a triangular button in filler piece like on nautical dresses in the same fabric as the dresses, but these are lovely and can probably be worn under many other things too. It might be fun to see one under a sweater or top not included in the auction.
Around here, they let back in a lot of evacuees yesterday. Those living nearer to the burn areas can’t go back yet to see if they still have a house. At the other end of the fire in Napa County, they evacuated two more towns. No control on the fire yet.
hi Joy,
Yes, I suppose I better change that sash length…enough people have mentioned it so I better do it….
I’ll try to get the dresses shown on a few other dolls…thought maybe I could take some outside pics but its way too windy today…
Thanks Joy
Hopefully rain will come soon!!
Blessings, Jeanne
This outfit has had its problems, but your solutions are not only great for the moment, they’ll be useful in the future. These lace insets are just what was needed. I agree with you and Linda on skirt with and petticoat fullness. The dresses are beautiful.
if you don’t yet have your ballot (Colorado’s will be mailed next week) but want to be ready to fill it out and return it quickly, you can get a sample ballot from https://ballotpedia.org/Sample_Ballot_Lookup . I think most states have State Ballot Information Booklets. Search Google, adding the year and state.
If you want Vote tees or jewelry, check out Etsy.
Hi Marilyn,
Today will be a day of changes…more streamlined slips and changing Nellies sash..
Thank you for your kjnd compliments on the “ever changing dresses!” I’m glad they turned out to be so likeable by everyone…
Blessings, Jeanne
Those Dickies are so impressive! IMHO they absolutely make the dresses just pop. I can’t remember who suggested them but what a nice addition.
Love the laces you chose and that blue ribbon in the hair is just the right size.
It will be fun to see the outcome of your “George contest”. Have fun finishing them up .
thank you Kathie,
Linda was the first to suggest the dickies and she couldn’t have been more right on!
So glad you like them…
I’ve got plenty of changes to work on today!
Thanks,
Blessings, Jeanne
I’m still on team blue!
In Minnesota, our ballots came yesterday. Since I am not at home, hubby will mail mine to me.
Yay for team blue, Julia! You can be the captain!! :o)
Blessings, Jeanne
Both dresses are beautiful, but the blue catches my eye a bit more. I just wish I had someone to wear either so I could bid. 🙂
Hi Melody,
Believe it or not, I’ve had ladies buy my doll outfits before they even had the doll…. :o)
Thank you for your kind comments,
Blessings, Jeanne
Teraz ze zmianą sukienki u mnie mają remis. Świetny pomysł.
Hi, I think you asked about what sewing machine to buy. For sewing most things you don’t need a fancy sewing machine. One feature I wouldn’t do without, however, is the threader that kind of automatically does the threading. Most all machines probably come with them now. Happy sewing and welcome to the followers of Jeanne’s blog. ❤️
Now with the change of dresses I have a draw. Great idea.
Thank you Alina,
I glad you are enjoying seeing these dresses come together!
Blessings, Jeanne
I love what you have done with the dickies, they are lovely and change the look of the dresses completely. I still like the blue one better but only marginally. I like both dresses better without the tulle slip. Like Linda I think a simple cotton slip, not too full will help. If we are still thinking of the era of the little girl in the photo she probably had a simple shift petticoat. Oh I remember the fifties!!! Anyone remember the paper nylon slips? They were banned at my school because they were so noisy lol. I made myself a tulle slip and I vividly remember pushing the tulle through the machine and sewing through my finger!!!!
Marilyn, it is interesting that we both have an election at more or less the same time. Ours is about two weeks before yours on 17th Oct. I have received my voting card in the mail (not a ballot, the card just proves I am enrolled, saves them time looking for me on their lists). I can vote from Saturday on though the votes aren’t counted until election day. Saves queues at the booths and of course under current conditions with the threat of covid gives more opportunity for social distancing. We use the MMP system here (Mixed Member Proportional) so we get to vote for the party and the local candidate and they can be different parties if we want. It means we rarely have one party governing alone, they usually have to form a coalition with another party. Like a lot of bedmates they often fall out though not usually publicly! Fun times!
My family tries to get together at least once a month though it has been a bit difficult the last couple of months and we haven’t had a get together since beginning of August. My youngest has organised a barbeque for us on 18th Oct which promises to be very interesting. My older son and I are on opposite poles of the political spectrum (and are often very vocal about it) so getting together the day after the election promises to add spice to the afternoon, but also there is a big International Rugby match on that afternoon as well between the Australian Wallabies and the All Blacks and Darren hates Rugby. whereas Russell, Sam and I love it. Still at least no one in the family supports Australia. My friend is married to an Australian so makes these big matches a bit fraught lol. Promises not to be boring a boring afternoon anyway lol
Hi Anne
I’m going to be working on some of those changes today… I hope the changes will be acceptable to all…
I bet you can’t wait to get together with family…my sisters and hubbues are coming Friday and I can hardly wait…
Thanks Anne,
Blessings, Jeanne
Anne, please print out all of your posts and you will have a wonderful book to share with family unless you decide to also publish. Wonderful writing. 🙂
The dickies are beautiful and look so good with the dresses. I prefer less poufy under that style of dress so the yoke slip would work better. Did you ever do a tutorial on the yoke slips? I really need to learn how to do that one. I like the beige dress but I think I’m falling in love with the blue one and I do like the longer sash. Did you use your perfect pleater for the sashes?. I won’t need to enter the contest for the beige shoes. Natalie/Gracie’s came today.
I forgot to mention how lovely the blue dress is that you showed yesterday. I think you said Marilyn had that. Really pretty dress.
Hi Barbara
I just finished the slimmer style slips a little while ago… the dresses look better…
Great news that your shoes arrived. The winners pair I ordered are coming Saturday…
Thanks for the compliment on Marilyn’s Blue Diamonds dress. I always liked it too!
Thanks Barbara,
Blessings, Jeanne
You and George turned this into quite a challenge. I still like the biege dress the best. The dickies would make great tops of dresses by themselves. Pretty fancy for school dresses. Great job!
hi Susette,
I know…the dresses seem to fancy for school dresses but as I looked at a few in some books from the 1900’s, even their school dresses were pretty fancy… so I guess Ill keep calling them that…
Thanks so much
Blessings, Jeanne