…because it takes me forever to figure out what I’m doing… I don’t have any young teenage girls in my “world” so to speak, so I don’t know what is in and what is hip and what is out and what is current and what works and what doesn’t and what shoes go with what pants and what tees work with short skirts and if I have two different era’s working against each other and on and on and on…
I LOVE to do copy cat things… like from pictures or pattern books, but to just come up with something on my own is plain ole hard for me. I guess I’m more of a seamstress than a designer…
But I tried… I really did… and this is what happened…
I first wanted to see if the newest jeans I made would fit my bigger bottomed girls… and I think Molly is actually my biggest… in the waist and hips… and you know what, they were tight but they fit… so they should fit “most” any dolls, just depending on how tight you want your girls to be in them… I’m still going to tweak my jeans pattern but just not now…
Then I searched for a knit to make Chrissa a sweet tee to go with her jeans and pink furry jacket. I found a baby pink knit and used it…
It closes in back with soft and flexible Velcro…
Now here is Chrissa with the tee on under the furry jacket…
I thought it looked okay so I decided to move on to something for her head… I found some yarn that had a denim and pink verigated look to it, but I just couldn’t get the hang of the pattern I was trying to create… it’s always the hardest for me to get started… don’t quite understand the part after you make a slip stitch, then chain 4 and go back to the first stitch and do a slip stitch. I never know which hole they are talking about… so I tried a few rounds and kept going until I was utterly lost and had no idea if I was hole number 8 or number 20…so I pulled my yarn all out and tried again… and again and again… Then I thought it was the yarn so I switched to a red to see if I could figure out what I was doing wrong… then to a black yarn that was bigger and hoped for the best… I never made it all the way around the center hole to suit me so I stopped crocheting and decided to make a hat…
I didn’t want a ball cap and I didn’t want a beret this time and I didn’t think this looked like a fancy hat, so I decided to try a newsboy cap… This was my prototype… and just quickly put together… and not even finished…
…see this is where I get into trouble… I liked the fabric I picked… a pretty pink and black and white polka dot pinwale corduroy and a black corduroy brim… I had no idea if it worked but I just kept going and now it’s time to show you…
It’s a little bit hard to tell what it really looks like because my picture can’t capture the 3D aspect of it… the brim is black and it blends in with her coal black hair and sometimes it looks like she has curved bangs, but in person you can see it much better. When I cocked it a little to the side it seemed to look better on her…
I tried showing it from a few different angles…
…then finally decided to sleep on it… when I wake up I guess I find out the “verdict!” :o)
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
First of all, I love the pink t-shirt on Chrissa; it looks really nice under her furry pink jacket (although I like the floral blouse with it, too).
I’m sorry about your problems with crocheting; it’s not my favorite needlework (I prefer sewing and knitting), but I’ve finally gotten at least somewhat comfortable working with it. I think something you might do is bring your work in to a place where someone knows crochet, and ask them to show you what’s what. There’s also a program on public TV called Knit and Crochet Now, and they have Lots of videos online on their website, I understand; you might check there (I think it’s just the name of the show with “.com” after it, but you could also google it), as they might have a video that would show you what to do. I’ve been impressed with this program; they really show good close-ups of someone doing, say, a particular stitch, first slowly, then repeated, then several more, so you can really SEE what they are doing. Or go to youtube and search for “crochet in the round” or “crochet starting ring” or something like that.
However, the newsboy cap is cute, and I love the polka-dot fabric. You might have one of your blonde girls model the cap for some close-up views, so people can see the contrast band more clearly. In the last picture, I can definitely see the wales in the corduroy, but it is a pretty close match to Chrissa’s hair color, so at least one picture of it on a blonde (or redhead) might help.
I have been working on a nightgown for one of my RRFF dolls, and am just about ready to sew the side/underarm seams, and then the hem. I have flannel for the other one, and also for Pearl, my one LD that doesn’t yet have sleepwear! She’s been waiting patiently for over a year for her nightie, and can’t understand why “everyone else” has one! LOL
Yes, I understand why you love to make traditional dresses, Jeanne! You are an expert on that, and I see why you would like to try something different, but current fashion is so fleeting, and like you mentioned, if you don’t have younger girls to help out, so it is difficult!
I think Chrissa’s hair is too dark for us to really “see” the cap like you do in person, but it is a cute touch! I like the jeans and shoes, but that jacket dresses it up, and I think leggings would be more in style with the cap, tee and jacket. Probably black leggings, instead of jeans, and some pretty flats would be better. Did you put the tee on with the blouse over it and opened up? That might work better with the jeans and shoes you have.
I think if you added black leggings to this, you could have a pretty good mix and match set, and show them with different shoes too. The hat would work with the coat, and maybe you could add a cute headband for the jeans outfit, perhaps one that matches the first blouse you made. I hope you aren:t getting dizzy just reading all of this!
Enough from me, I’m sure others will chime in on what you could do! You will get it figured out, for sure, Jeanne, you always do!
Back again! As I looked again, I thought Molly fit the jeans and boots perfectly, because she had her braids, and resembled a younger girl. When I saw the pictures of
Chrissa, she looked older and too “fancy” for that, but looked perfect in the furry coat and pink top! Two different dolls, two different looks!
I showed this to my granddaughter who is very into fashion, trends and what the young crowd is into. She is 22 and has more clothing and accessories than anybody I know. Me, I am happy with a pair of black slacks and 4 top (one for each season). I never wore jeans, leggings sneakers but am a boot person. I like all the items you have made and the only change I would make is black boots.
Us “older” people are too set in our ways to think out of the box as she told me, followed by “no offense Nan.”
She thinks the outfit looks great, love the hat and pink top and jacket. The only change she suggested is the brim of the hat blends in with her hair. Maybe us a different color that is in the hat. The boots are nice but she would put black boots on her. Do something fun with her hair like a narrow braid on each side and fasten in the back under the hat using a black elastic. A backpack or laptop bag would look cute. A great place to get ideas for the young crowd is Pinterest or a teen magazine.
I sew for fun and relaxation. If something is neither, I’m not doing it. Jeanne, you don’t have to make modern outfits. Don’t fix it if it isn’t broke! Your audience has always been eager to buy the beautiful dresses you make. You do you. No one can be all things to all people.
As for crocheting, YouTube is an excellent resource. I love crocheting and am very comfortable reading patterns. I have turned to YouTube for knitting. Learning to knit is still a goal of mine and I have learned many things from YouTube. Even so, I have yet to do a wash cloth or simple scarf. Sigh. One day, maybe.
When you’re back to the jeans, the back darts help a lot with the removal of the elastic. However, they still look pretty baggy to me. Around here, all I see are tight jeans. I suppose if you turned up a cuff or rolled them up mid calf they would work for a 40’s camping look which would be really fun and would work with a plaid shirt. 🙂
Tee’s are always welcome and this pink one is sweet. Looks great on Chrissa.
Maybe I would like the jacket more if it were shortened to the upper hip. The jacket seems to be overpowering Chrissa. The long length reminds me of when we wore similar fabric in more muted tones as a coat. It was pretty warm as I remember.
The cap is a cute accessory. I’m trying to remember, but maybe 60’s Mod look? I think your crochet/knitted idea would be fun too. As I mentioned Saturday, I believe that black shoes or boots would be more appropriate especially if you can add a pair of black leggings instead of the jeans. However, all I see right now on teens are white tennis/sport shoes, so maybe those would work with a white t-shirt. 🙂
All of the above is my opinion of course. Just trying to get the look. Maybe Chrissa needs a pair of cute glasses or sunglasses. That might tie all of the elements together. 🙂
We have sun today!
The ladies have some good ideas that might help you decide on the best way to go. The jacket is really pretty and her hat is cute and perky. Is the word perky even used anymore- sorry. I think both tops look great with the jacket and especially with Chrissa but I agree, a lighter hair doll might show the hat of better.
You always put 100% in all your outfits, the ideas and complimentary pieces.
I really like the fuzzy jacket. It’s so cute on Chrissa. I am going to agree with what others have said about the cap and the color of hair. It takes an extreme close up to be able to differentiate what is cap and what is hair. The jeans aren’t really trendy, but they are the classic style that always work. I actually liked the fit better on Molly.
I’m sure your head is spinning by now with all the suggestions. Jeans need to be made from stretchy fabric and fit tight . Love the black legging ideas. When I got Bella I was impressed with her outfit….look her up for ideas😉 love her jacket. The pink t shirt is darling…sleeves need to fit right against the arm though.
I laughed when I read your explanation of trying the hat pattern…knowing what hole to go through was always my issue too🥴
Omgosh…the hat it just brilliant! Have a good week!
The outfit is cute. The pink tee is sweet with the little open hearts. I do like the newsboy cap. I didn’t think at first you were making modern, so I was going with hmmm you don’t have the 1980’s jeans quite right, and the floral blouse wasn’t quite right for the era either. Floral was in, but slightly different style. There were straight legged jeans, but mine had pinstripes. We also almost always wore flats with our jeans.
Then the furry jacket made me realize, oh, it’s not 1980’s, it modern. I will tell though that newsboy caps were definitely in in the ’80’s tweed wool, patterns, bright solids, and khaki.
Some of them had a chin of gold across where the top met the brim. 1980’s has been in my mind since Courtney debuted. LOL
You really have a niche with the older dresses and eras, especially since all those dolls are archived now and people who can afford new doll dresses will snap them up. AG has plenty of modern choices.
Not for modern, but the old Sears catalog showed what was in style through the early 1990’s. In my teenage world Seventeen and Young Miss also showed the latest fashions
Yes, a mix and match would be cute. I think I’ll let the other ladies do most of the helping as I barely look at AG modern line and only have two pieces of clothing from it.
Jeanne, I agree with Julia, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. Your era is definitely older style dresses if trying to do modern is stressing you why put yourself through it? I love the outfit, I do have teenage grandchildren and pretty well anything goes these days so long as it is teamed with jeans, though as Kathie says, jeans these days are almost always made of stretch denim and fit tight to the leg. And distressed!! Beyond my comprehension why anyone would pay exorbitant prices for something that is already worn out and why they would want to go out in public in something I would have given to the ragman!!!
I’m not very creative as in coming up with something completely new. I am good at seeing something and able to tweak it to suit me but very rarely come up with something that is entirely ‘me’. Sam is the one with the imagination. She is very good at coming up with good ideas that are completely new. Trouble is, sometimes she wants me to execute said ideas and they are beyond me, especially with the cake decorating! Lol
Hi Anne,
Yes, I never did get the rationale behind the distressed or ripped look jeans. I know acid-washed came in in the late 1980’s, but my friends and I wore our jeans dark (rinsed) although I think I had a pair or two of stonewashed. The ripped and distressed was definitely a 1990’s-2000’s thing. I remember seeing pair of ripped jeans in the mall store windows and a price tag of close to $100 for some. To me, they were ready for the rag bag. We wouldn’t have been caught dead wearing things like that. If you did have a tear in the knees of your jeans then they were fine for yard work or doing something that was messy (painting), but you would have been mortified if a friend showed up when you were dressed like that.
Try the hat on Julie.
It looks to me like you have pieces of several outfits instead of one.
We all like the coat with Christa’s hair. Most people like the idea of black leggings to go with the coat. In that case I’d go with a tunic top.
Tee shirts have ended to be longer, as most tops have been, but I have seen some recently that are upper hip length. I’d do as Linda suggested and put this shirt under the print one. or put the tee under overalls and the print shirt over them.
Let’s ask the sofa sisters when straightleg jeans were in. I can’t see that you’s be too far off with an oversized sweater with them. My sister says they are coming back.
And back to your team of readers — maybe we could send pictures of girls in cute clothes for Jeanne to collect in an ideas file. We could also suggest catalogs and websites that would help, as well as Pinterest categories.
I love your dresses and all the accessories that you use to make an outfit “complete.” I totally support you if you never try to make modern again! I don’t think you are enjoying it.
I missed the blogs about the construction of the jeans, so I’m sorry if you’ve already tried this: I think you have to make the jean legs wider at the pointed edge of the crotch to avoid the smiley wrinkles on the dolls behind. Then you may be able to take in the jeans at the side seams so they fit tighter. They look a little like “mom jeans” right now.
This doll really is beautiful and I can’t wait to see her in something blue!
Dear Jeanne, I’m not very good with fashion trends. I like the comments from Sandra’s granddaughter.
I do like the light pink top with the jeans.
If you could find a cell phone, that would top off the outfit. No matter what a doll is wearing in today’s society, a cell phone makes it “current” (laugh).
well, personally, I love this outfit; because that’s how I dress myself! hahaha. And the pink fuzzy jacket – my favorite color, and who wouldn’t want fuzzy in this weather! 🙂